Where is God? Christians Respond to Senseless Violence Luke 18:1-8

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1 Where is God? Christians Respond to Senseless Violence Luke 18:1-8 Rev. Michael D. Halley November 12, 2017 Suffolk Christian Church Suffolk, Virginia Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost Veterans Day Observance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Because of recent events, I have put our Seven Deadly Sins sermon series on hold for today. But, as I was reminded, murder is also a deadly sin. It was just one week ago that we were horrified to learn about the senseless violence, death, and injury, at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Twenty-six dead, ranging in age from 18 months to 77 years. Also, one unborn child was killed. Senseless. Absolutely senseless. Where is God in all this? And, looking back, since July, 2003, there have been sixty-one episodes of mass shootings of three deaths or more. We have added many names to our vocabulary of violence, names like Sandy Hook, Fort Hood, Virginia Tech, Washington Navy Yard, Orlando night club, Las Vegas strip, and now, Sutherland Springs. This is not to minimize other, less well-known shootings. And the total victims in these 61 shameful episodes is somewhere around That does not account for many serious injuries. Where is God? I hope to address that question with you, as we Christians respond to senseless violence.

2 Page 2 No, I am not going to get into the debate over guns. I wish it were a debate, though. In its best definition, a debate is a regulated discussion of a proposition between two matched sides 2. We need that kind of discussion, a discussion where all sides listen to each other and where politeness and consideration rules. Unfortunately, we are not there yet. Someday, I certainly pray, we will be able to discuss it. In the meanwhile, we Christians must look seriously at these tragedies and offer to our world a word of hope and a word of encouragement. When Christians respond to senseless violence, what is our goal? What is it that we have to offer our world. What is the answer or the key to our ability to go forward, confident that God is right there where He should be? Interesting parable 3 we just read. Here is a judge who doesn t sound like a very nice person. The Easy-to-Read Version describes him like this: He did not care about God. He also did not care what people thought about him. 4 The Living Bible puts it this way: he was a very godless man who had great contempt for everyone. 5 Contrast that with this widow who came to the judge over and over, seeking justice against those who were against her. This is no small plea. Please understand that. In the first century widows were in a very bad place. This widow was the symbol of all who were poor and defenceless. It was obvious that she, without resource of any kind, had no hope of ever extracting justice from such a judge. But she had one weapon--persistence. 6 Over and over she persistently appeared in this heartless judge s court. Finally the judge relented. He said, Even though I don t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won t eventually come and attack me! The widow s persistence paid off. She was faithful in seeking what she needed.

3 What does this have to do with the senseless wave of violence that has become an epidemic in our country? Did you catch that Jesus told this parable to illustrate that we should always pray and not give up?... will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. Isn t that the answer we seek? I think when we are in the midst of troubling times, we believe it is the worst situation ever encountered by humans. Of course that is not the case. Take the fourteenth century for example, the 1300's. 7 By any measure, it was A very bad time for humanity. There was continuous war, oppressive taxation, political corruption, rampant crime, church schism, insurrection, and then, to top it off, the Black Plague, which killed a full third of the population from Iceland to India. That s kind of what many of us are feeling right now, isn t it? Unrelenting anguish with a questionable future. Page 3 But in spite of this anguish and pain, the fourteenth century produced some very vibrant expressions of spiritual life. Julian of Norwich, an English theologian authored the first book of theology written by a woman. The poet Dante wrote his Divine Comedy. Meister Eckhart, the renowned German theologian preached in pulpits all over Germany. And, at the dawn of the 14 th century, Thomas a Kempis wrote his classic, Imitation of Christ. Truly, the darkest of times produced the brightest of lives. God raised them up. They were the ones making a path of human dignity in the midst of dehumanizing circumstances. They were the ones who found God relevant even in the midst of immense suffering and violence and death. They were the ones who taught others to walk the path out of madness and into the hope, peace, joy, and love that changed the world. That s why

4 Page 4 we call them saints! So, what will this twenty-first century will do to us? Will we be mired in the insanity around us or will we rise above it, walk the path of God, pray without ceasing, and change the world around us. Dr. William Barclay, the renowned Bible scholar wrote, That is why Jesus said we must never be discouraged in prayer. That is why he wondered if [our] men s faith would stand the long delays before the Son of Man should come. We will never grow weary in prayer and our faith will never falter if, after we have offered to God our prayers and requests, we add the perfect prayer, Thy will be done. 8 If we follow the path of prayer we will learn that it doesn t depend on political strategy or legislation, but upon the transformation of our lives. Total transformation, inside and out. Political solutions are important. They are important now more than ever. But, our political gridlock has us in such a grip that we can t really get anything done. Now is a time for action that will heal our land, but that will require that parties on opposite sides find a way toward the middle. We need action that will heal our land, action that will demand the courage to listen to each other and to compromise and to find a solution for the common good. When John the Baptist began his ministry of preparing the way for Jesus, he went into all the region proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Is there any repenting going on today? When is the last time you repented? I mean really repented. What we have today, it seems, is entrenchment, not repentance. Everyone, it seems, is holding tight to their opinions and positions, and are not willing to listen to any other point of view. If you don t believe this, then take a deep breath and read a few posts on Facebook.

5 Maybe we need a modern-day John the Baptist to lead us. Some in that day I am sure thought John was crazy. Coming out of the wilderness, no proper place to bathe, he s wearing next to nothing, very rough clothing. But he has fire in his eyes, calling people to the waters of baptism. I am sure that many thought, What good is a little water ritual against the onslaught of violence and oppression? But John is telling them -- and especially us -- that to save ourselves from all this senseless violence we have to leave our opinions and habits in the waters of baptism, get rid of our ideas and agendas, put aside our words and our positions. I want to close this morning by reminding you what God has to say about fear. I can t read all the Bible verses dealing with fear, but these are words of true comfort. Fervent prayer and a reliance on the promises of God will get us through these challenging days. Isaiah 35:4 says, say to those with fearful hearts, Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you. Page 5 John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Psalm 94:19: When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. And finally, this from Romans 8:38-39: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,

6 nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Page 6 Submit your ways unto the Lord. Allow God s Holy Spirit teach you the ways of Christ. Repent of your sins. Be fervent in prayer. Give God what belongs to God. Be at peace with everyone. And remember, There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18). +==+==+==+==+==+==+ Sunday Sermons from Suffolk Christian Church are intended for the private devotional use of members and friends of the church. Please do not print or publish. Thank you. Suggestions for sermon topics are always welcome! +==+==+==+==+==+==+ 1. These figures were compiled from a Dr. Google search. The date of 2003 was chosen because as far as I could determine, that was the first mass killing since the horrific terrorist attack on September 11, The five worst are Las Vegas, NV 58 dead 10/01/2017 Orlando, FL 49 dead 06/12/2016 Blacksburg, VA 32 dead 04/16/2007 Newtown, CT 27 dead 12/14/2012 Sutherland Spgs, TX 26 dead 11/05/ From 3. Parables are Stories, especially those of Jesus, told to provide a vision of life, especially life in God s kingdom. Parable means a putting alongside for purposes of comparison and new understanding. Parables utilize pictures such as metaphors or similes and frequently extend them

7 Page 7 into a brief story to make a point or disclosure. Nevertheless, a parable is not synonymous with an allegory. From Parables, by Dr. Peter Rhea Jones, Holman Bible Dictionary, edited by Trent C. Butler, Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), copyright 2006 by Bible League International 5. The Living Bible (TLB), copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation 6. Quoted from Dr. William William. "Commentary on Luke 18:4". Daily Study Bible, This illustration is from PEACE, by Chris Neufeld-Erdman, a sermon preached on December 6, 2015, at the Davis Community Church, Davis, California, found at 8. Daily Study Bible, cited above.