Cease to do Evil

This is going to be a short one today.

21 dead in Texas. Lord, have mercy.

We have once again failed. We have failed each other. We have failed ourselves. We have failed our babies. 

On a fundamental level, we know there is a need for change. But the desperate, sweaty, evil clutch that fearmongers have on the levers of power means that we won't find change until we find a way to wrest away that power. Lord, have mercy.

 I hate, I despise your festivals,
    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them,
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
    I will not look upon.

Take away from me the noise of your songs;
    I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
 But let justice roll down like water
    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. - Amos 5:21-24
We will keep crying out, hoping that someday someone will listen. They have to. There is no other possibility. Because the possibility that we will continue down this abominable path is unthinkable. 

For from the least to the greatest of them,
    everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
and from prophet to priest,
    everyone deals falsely.
They have treated the wound of my people carelessly,
    saying, “Peace, peace,”
    when there is no peace.
They acted shamefully; they committed abomination,
    yet they were not ashamed;
    they did not know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
    at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,
            says the Lord.
Thus says the Lord:
Stand at the crossroads and look,
    and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it,
    and find rest for your souls.
But they said, “We will not walk in it.” - Jeremiah 6:13-16

Of all the scripture verses the one that has been sitting in my heart was brought to my attention by David Frum in this article in The Atlantic

When you stretch out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
    I will not listen;
    your hands are full of blood. - Isaiah 1:15

I didn't do this. You didn't do this. But on some level, we own this. This violence is a result of a degraded and sinful idolatry, and we have yet to shatter the golden calf.

Peace be with you. Please.

Jeff Fox-Kline 

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