There is No Quick Fix to the Surging Violence in America

Fifty people are dead in Orlando today because an American Muslim was taught to hate homosexuals. In Afghanistan (the shooter's family's country of origin), Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Yemen (among other Islamic nations), engaging in a homosexual act is punishable by death.  Since America won't be punishing homosexuals, American Muslims will do it themselves.

So naturally, just mere minutes after gunshots were fired, and long before anyone ever heard the name Omar Mateen, Facebook and government officials were sounding the alarm to ban assault rifles.  "When is enough, enough?" they cry.  This (and other gun regulation) is put forward as the ONLY way to fix the problem by most on the left side of the societal and political system when any and all similar terrorist acts are carried out on American soil.

Let's put aside for a moment the very sensible argument regarding criminals still easily acquiring assault rifles regardless of the law because... they're criminals.  In fact, let's set aside legally banning guns of any sort.  Such arguments go round and round, with little traction.

There is a deeper solution - one that is not "new" by any means, but certainly one that is often immediately cast off as unattainable if not unacceptable; imposing if not impossible; and much too arduous, if not much too audacious.  The solution: A return to Christian values in public schools.

I know, I know.  The main argument against is two-fold: 1) We're not a Christian nation anymore (as if that has resulted in nothing but rainbows and unicorns), and 2) Such an idea would take another 50 years for its fruit to yield.

America, we made this bed.  Since 1963 (when Bibles were banned from public schools), we began teaching our 5 year old children that God - if He even exists - isn't involved with "normal" life anymore.  His morals are simply "one way" to live - not necessarily the best way.  All religions teach the same thing.  And oh, by the way, all wars have their roots in religion.  So religion is bad.  John Lennon's "Imagine" should be your personal anthem.  Just follow your heart, and you're sure not to go wrong.  You don't need a set of "rules to live by," just do what you feel is right (insert evil laugh here).  OK, scurry along now.  And remember, what happens in kindergarten STAYS in kindergarten.  Come back tomorrow, and we'll learn how to stretch a balloon over a banana.  You'll thank me later.

When I was a youth pastor between 1994 and 2002, each year I had at least half a dozen parents of our 200-student-sized youth group come to me with a common problem:  Their 14- or 15-year-old son or daughter was rebelling.  They had "lost control" in their own home.  My specific advice always depended upon each unique family, but I often started my counsel with this question: "Do you have any younger children?"  Parents would give me "the tilt" (tilt the head, as if they couldn't find the relevance).  So I'd say, "The things I'm about to suggest to you today require immediate implementation with your younger children."  It's not that all was lost with their rebellious teens, but the road back from rebellion is a long one, and rebellion itself *can be* (not 100% of the time, perhaps) avoided with attentive, character-building-minded parents who love the Lord and model Biblical integrity in their home.

The same principle is true in society.  Genuinely reforming the character of a nation starts with our 5-year-olds.  And this approach, of course, is unacceptable.  Why?  Because it takes too long.

What an alarming statement that shines a floodlight on the collective mind of American society!  The obvious answer to seeing a long-lasting sharp decline in violence in America is rejected because it isn't QUICK?

God, have mercy on this nation.  May she see the error of her ways and return - with abandon - to You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.