PODCAST
Out of the Heart
October 22nd, 2020
1 John 3:11-18
The FBI identifies a mass shooting as any shooting that involves four or more victims. Mass shootings represent less than one percent of all gun murder victims.*
A side issue has developed around the role of hate groups in inspiring such shootings. Several high-profile shooters have been involved in internet chat rooms providing a platform for these groups to espouse their racist and murderous ideologies.
Jesus was not confused about the source of such ideas, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person (Matthew 15:19-20a). John affirms the same message. Hate for a brother or sister is the equivalent of murder in the eyes of God.
We want to quantify or qualify such a statement: how much or what type of hatred? We seek to find some kind of loophole that will disqualify our hatred from God’s clear judgment. There is none. If God’s love abides in our life, there can be no room for hatred.
Author: Duane Brush
October 22nd, 2020 at 9:14 pm
Amen! May his loving presence abide in us always through the power of His Holy Spirit which indwells in each one of His believers. “For the mouths speaks what the heart if full of.” Matthew 12:34