It would have been hard for anyone watching the news recently to have missed the big story out of New York! As the New York Post and other news outlets reported, a rowdy mob of Tren de Aragua-linked gagbangers turned on two NYPD police in Times Square in a shocking assault. All caught on video. It’s been reported that at least three of these gang members have been rounded up including a reputed 12-year old baby- faced ring leader. Thankfully the officers weren’t seriously injured, despite being pelted with scooters, a basketball and makeshift weapons.
Not long ago there was another violent ‘club’ attack where a woman was brutally attacked, beaten and robed. Watching the news coverage, I noticed something interesting. One of the teens attacking the woman had on a T-shirt with ANTI-SOCIAL SOCIAL CLUB written in large block letters on it. Lights immediately went on inside my head. Aha – no wonder people are savaging cities, causing mayhem & violence.
They are anti-people! they are in opposition to our lawful social order. It’s not rocket science!!
Remember that old 60’s Beatles song, “All You Need is Love?” That’s true – the challenge is to love as Christ loved and to share his message of forgiveness. But the world hates that message. Many even object to Christian groups distributing food with these tidings to foreign countries because they see Christians as intolerant. They don’t like the message of Jesus that teaches there’s no other way to be saved. Telling truth can be difficult!
Yes -it’s challenging in these times to show Christian love that points to Jesus. And yes, it’s hard to love our enemies. Truth is, it’s impossible without the love of God. But as I John 4 tells us, “We love because He first loved us.” It’s as simple as that.
There’s a story told from World War II of Japanese captors who were forcing Scottish soldiers to labor on a jungle railroad, Times were miserable and the crushed Scottish soldiers had degenerated to barbarous behavior against each other. But one afternoon something profound happened: a shovel was missing.
The officer in charge became enraged and demanded he missing shovel be produced or else. When nobody in the squadron budged, the officer got his gun and threatened to kill them all on the spot. It was obvious the officer meant business.
Then one man stepped forward The officer put away his gun, picked up a shuffle and beat the man to death. When it was over, the survivors picked up the bloody corpse and carried it with them to the second tool check This time though, no shovel was missing. There had been a miscount at the first checkpoint.
Word spread like wildfire through the entire camp – an innocent man had been willing to die to save the others. The incident had a profound effect on the men. They began to treat each other like brothers. When the victorious Allies swept in, the survivors – now human skeletons – lined up in front of their captors. But instead of attacking them, they insisted: “No more hatred. No more killing. What we need now is forgiveness.”
We have many troublesome days ahead of us. Even as we talk to people we can sense uneasiness in their voices. Most people are like a ‘gun-shy animal’ – they jump
at the slightest sound, at the first words from the news media. And depending on where they live, they live in fear their family could be victims of the next tragedy.
I love the story of the church secretary who always answered the phone, “Jesus loves you, Sharon speaking. How may i help you?” One day she was super busy when the phone rang. “Sharon loves you, Jesus speaking. How may I help you?” There was a long pause before the caller replied, “Somehow I thought your voice would sound different.”
As Christ-followers that’s us! We are all Ambassadors for Christ, we represent Him, and love is our weapon! So — just a thought – new T-shirt: PRO-SOCIAL SOCIAL CLUB! Come on – we can do this!
Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information, you may contact them at DPcitychurch.org
