From Pastor Fraley: Two more mass shootings, and all of the usual suspects are making the usual statements about the usual issues, to stir up the usual groups. One group is sure that some form of gun-control is the answer and the other group is sure that gun-control is not the answer – how do we respond?
The usual answer is that somebody should do something. But not me; because none of this is my fault. We all want the problem fixed, but the solution shouldn’t cost me anything. I don’t want to pay any more taxes. I don’t want to change the way I live. I don’t want to be inconvenienced in any way. Just fix the problem and leave me alone! It’s OK if other people have to change the way they live (they probably need to). It’s alright if other people have to pay more in taxes (they probably should). Just do not hold me responsible in any way.
Two Sundays ago we talked about how the Holy Spirit can dwell in us and cleanse us from the inside out. We need this because if we are not cleansed, then the hurt and the sadness and the isolation begin to pile up. And sooner or later, the filth on the inside will erupt to the surface. It has happened before. Our society functions in the same way. These shootings are not an aberration ... they are who we are. We are an angry society. We are mad all the time. Big things ... little things ... imaginary things – everything just makes us angry!
Let’s quit being angry. Whatever we need to do ... we can do it better without anger.
The usual answer is that somebody should do something. But not me; because none of this is my fault. We all want the problem fixed, but the solution shouldn’t cost me anything. I don’t want to pay any more taxes. I don’t want to change the way I live. I don’t want to be inconvenienced in any way. Just fix the problem and leave me alone! It’s OK if other people have to change the way they live (they probably need to). It’s alright if other people have to pay more in taxes (they probably should). Just do not hold me responsible in any way.
Two Sundays ago we talked about how the Holy Spirit can dwell in us and cleanse us from the inside out. We need this because if we are not cleansed, then the hurt and the sadness and the isolation begin to pile up. And sooner or later, the filth on the inside will erupt to the surface. It has happened before. Our society functions in the same way. These shootings are not an aberration ... they are who we are. We are an angry society. We are mad all the time. Big things ... little things ... imaginary things – everything just makes us angry!
Let’s quit being angry. Whatever we need to do ... we can do it better without anger.
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