When will the violence stop?

When will it stop?

Another deadly attack. Another school shooting. Another church shooting.

Chlastak

Another candle lit for the dead and wounded.

Another lament of “Lord, hear our prayer,” posted on social media sites.

Thankfully recently a shooter was stopped by a former college football standout at the University of Oregon when he tackled an armed student at a Portland, Oregon, high school before anyone was injured.

We’d all agree that it’s happening too many times all around the world.

It’s happened to a group of worshippers in North Carolina, it’s happened to a group of worshippers offering prayers in a mosque on a Friday evening, it’s happened to a group of worshippers on Easter morning, it’s happened to worshippers in a synagogue on the last day of Passover, it’s happened to college students and high school students sitting in a class room, it’s happened at a neighborhood cookout.

When will a neighborhood cookout simply be a place of good times and laughter and not a place of violence?

It’s happened all around the world, whether with Christians, Jews, Muslims, Shiks, Buddhist, or atheist gathered prayerfully and peacefully.

It’s happened in San Diego, Sri Lanka, Pittsburgh, Christchurch, New Zealand mosque, in Blacksburg, Charlotte, Denver, and the list goes on and on.

It’s sad when an 8-year-old girl can no longer feel safe in a house of worship or children no longer feel safe in a classroom.

As Isaiah challenged his people some 2,700 years ago and us today to remember, “Then he will judge disputes between nations and settle arguments between many people. They will hammer their swords (guns) into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nations will never fight against each other, (people will never fight against each other) and they will never train for war (violence) again.” Isaiah 2:4

We ask, “When will we beat swords into plowshares?”

We ask as the Psalmist David ask, so long ago, “How long, O Lord?” Psalm 13:1

Or as the writer of Habakkuk laments “How long, O Lord, am I to cry for help, but you will not listen? I cry out to you, ‘There’s violence!’ yet you will not come to the rescue.” Habakkuk 1:2

When will the violence stop?

How long, O Lord, will our churches, synagogues and mosques, schools, theatres, neighborhoods be the site of terror, violence and hatred?

How long, O Lord, will we stay blinded to the humanity in our brothers and sisters?

How long, O Lord, must we wait until we are freed from the web of violence on our streets, our homes, our holy places? (Excerpt from prayer at Washington National Cathedral)

Some in our nation try to simplify the issue by saying: The problem is not guns. It’s hearts without God. It’s homes without discipline. It’s schools without prayer. It’s courts without justice.

I might be naive, but I think that the problem goes deeper than that.

It is not something that is recent.

It has been around since Cain and Abel.

In the Book of Genesis it first rears its evil head, “God accepted Abel and his gift of lamb, while He had no regard for Cain and what he presented. Because of this, Cain became extremely angry and his face fell. God notices Cain’s reaction and confronts him. God said to Cain: ‘Why are you angry? And why do you look so despondent? Don’t you know that as long as you do what is right, then I accept you? But if you do not do what is right, watch out, because sin is crouching at the door, ready to pounce on you! You must master it before it masters you.’” Genesis 4:4-7

In 1673, Samuel von Pufendorf lamented “More inhumanity (to man) has been done by man himself than any other of nature’s causes.”

An unknown author wrote in 1929, “More of man’s inhumanity to man has been done in the name of religion than any other cause.”

In 2009, Anthony Venutolo noted “Man’s inhumanity to man crosses continents and decades.”

The quotes go on and on about violence and hatred.

Perhaps the end to humanities’ inhumanity to each other begins with each of us.

Perhaps it will end when we all realize that in the beginning, “And God created humankind in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

We must teach our children to respect people of other cultures, religions, life understandings, and the colors of their bodies.

Some say that it too late for the older generation (like myself) to change its ways, or as the old saying goes, “Can a man or woman change skin? Can a leopard get rid of its spots? So what are the odds on you doing good, you who are so long-practiced in evil?” Jeremiah 13:23

But the Gospel says that with God it’s possible.

“Looking at them, Jesus said, ‘With humans this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” Matthew 19:26

Let’s each begin to believe that and claim it.

Or as the song proclaims, “Let there be peace on earth; and let it begin with me Let there be peace on earth; and let it begin with me. Let me walk with my brother (sister) in perfect harmony; Let peace begin with me; Let this be the moment now; with every step I take; Let this be my solemn vow.”

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Editor’s Note: This is a regular series featuring area religious leaders writing about faith, family and community. To participate or suggest a church, contact us at news@darnews.com or 573-785-1414.