Heart Condition

I wasn’t going to say anything. Some things spark an angry flare in me, and I have to vent. My Daniel listens, usually agrees, and then that’s the end of it. But this time…

Here’s the spark – during Sunday Night Football last night at the end of half time show, Bob Costas commented on the tragic murder/suicide incident endured by the Kansas City Chiefs this past weekend. I was appalled when he ended up blaming our ‘current gun culture.’

I don’t usually comment on issues that are considered ‘political’ as I know that a multitude of opinions out there exist and I’d rather search for uniting concepts. Plus, I’m a terrible debater and don’t wish to engage in one. But Bob’s comments made me too mad. Not because I’m so attached to my ‘right’ to bear arms in this country, which is still hanging on by a thread, but because blaming something like this on access to guns ignores the real, much more important issue in this case. The same issue plaguing so many other tragic events we hear about, read about, maybe even experience.

Is it not true that, murders are committed with a variety of weapons – knives, poisons, water in bathtubs, electricity, steep stairwells, blunt objects like tire irons and crystal vases, arson, car ‘accidents,’ even bare hands?

The issue here is not the instrument of violence. There are far too many such instruments to completely sterilize our society from hurting ourselves and each other. If the individual is so inclined, the act will ensure. Therefore, the issue here is the condition of the heart.

The Bible mentions the heart nearly 1000 times. It talks of pure and upright hearts, it warns against hardened and evil hearts. It talks about writing the law of the Lord on the heart, and harboring bitterness in the heart. The condition of the heart is very, VERY important. It provides ‘life’ in far more ways than simply pumping blood through our veins.

I’m not judging this NFL player who died. I cannot say that he was evil to have committed this crime. In fact, it sounds like he was more troubled and lost than anything. When is this Nation going to wake up and see that God’s peace is the only healing factor that could have done anything to persuade this unfortunate man toward peace?

Perhaps not having access to a gun would have prevented or just postponed this tragedy, or ones like it – Aurora movie theatre for example. Or perhaps a sick heart will find a way to act out no matter what instrument is in hand.

So let’s start addressing the heart of the issue. Let’s start loving, caring, giving up a little time to be genuine friends, form sincere relationships – even with people seeming to rebuff our attempts. Let’s stop getting offended or standing behind religious traditions that divide rather than unite and start basing our liberties on Jesus Christ. And for God’s sake, let’s stop blaming inanimate, moral-less objects, using tragedies to advance a ‘political’ platform, and start taking responsibility for the condition of the heart. 

Thank you, Dry Ground friends, for letting me express these thoughts that well up in my own heart. Don’t worry – I don’t plan on renaming this blog “Lori’s Soapbox Hour.”

Have a great week. And please consider investing in the life of those you have contact with this week.

Proverbs 4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Phil 4:7 – The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Col 3:1, 15 - …set your hearts on things above… Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body we were called to be peace.

(photo by photobucket.com)