The Spirit of Violence

I am very much concerned about something: It seems as if a spirit of violence is permeating the American culture at this time. It is even appearing is some segments of Christianity.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9). If peacemakers are called the children of God, what are people who stir up violence called?

The Bible says the following about wrath and violence:

•  "Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous" (Proverbs 27:4).
•  "Do violence to no man" (Luke 3:14).
•  "Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually they are gathered for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man" (Psalm 140:1-4)
•  "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:20).

These and many other similar passages are scriptural admonitions worth remembering in our present time.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:29-32).

Further, Paul says in Galatians: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).

That's a very strong statement, indeed. Then Paul goes on to contrast the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

Help us, Father, get beyond the division, strife, bitterness, and hatred that are manifested in the lives of so many today. Help people to realize that the answer is to be found only in the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.