What Can I Do?

There is great amount of discussion concerning the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut.  So many hearts are broken, filled with anguish and even extreme anger. All of which are totally understandable.  

In light of this tragedy along with previous tragedies we learn that the perpetrators have a history of mental illness.  Immediately there is an outcry from people suggesting we lock up all individuals with mental illness.  I am writing to say this is not the answer.  

The Lord reminds me of His words:

Jeremiah 17:19 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”  

Ecclesiastes 9:3 “This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.” 

Matthew 13:15 “For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”

Mark 7:21,22  “For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.”

As you can see, all mankind is capable of such desperately wicked things.  So what can we do to try to change things?  What is the answer?  

I will address the aforementioned question first.  

First of all I am not making light of mental illness. 

  *One in four adults—approximately 57.7 million Americans—experience a mental health disorder in a given year.  *One in 17 lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder.  *About one in 10 children live with a serious mental or emotional disorder. * About 2.4 million Americans, or 1.1 percent of the adult population, live with schizophrenia. *Bipolar disorder affects 5.7 million American adults, approximately2.6 percent of the adult population per year. (http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=About_Mental_Illness&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=53155)

In light of the facts concerning our wicked hearts and the percentage of people with mental illness, why do adults/parents continue to purchase and allow ourselves and our children to watch violent movies and play violent games?  God’s Word tells us:

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  

When someone has an addiction we do not purposely place the affection of that addiction in front of said person.  If one is a sex addict we would not send them a subscription of a pornographic magazine; if one is addicted to alcohol we do not give them a bottle of wine for Christmas.  So considering that God’s Word tells us that our hearts are inherently wicked why then do we continue to place before our minds wickedness?  Why do we buy violent sinful video games and watch the same such things on our TV screens or go to said movies?  As a society we cry out in disgust when we hear of a parent giving alcohol to their child or a father sharing his pornography with his teenage son; yet we allow such violence to enter our homes!  We must stop funding these industries that promote violence and such things.  

Let’s start teaching our children by being good examples ourselves and begin modeling what is true, pure, honest, right, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy, and excellent.   Let’s turn off our TV’s and video devices and start talking with our children.  Let’s start playing innocent games, one which are free from violence, (i.e. Pictionary, Dominoes, Monopoly, etc.).  If we put junk food in our daily diets we become overweight and unhealthy.  The same is true if we put such junk in our minds!

Now to answer the second question I had mentioned above.  What is the answer?  Actually the correct question should be, Who is the answer? 

 Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

 John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

 Yes, Jesus Christ is the answer.                 

Proverbs 4:23 we read, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. “ 

We can only guard our heart if we have asked Christ into our heart to be our Lord and Savior, for without Christ our hearts are most wicked. 

I myself do not know how to answer everyone who asks “Why?”, but I know the ONE who IS the answer. We live in a horribly wicked most sinful world.  Unfortunately tragedies will continue.  But we as Christians, especially Christian parents can make a difference one child - one life at a time by shining His Light through our lives.

My prayer for all of us:

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:16-17 NLT).   “…God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT) “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. “ (2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT)  AMEN.