It Just Happens

Divorce. Incarceration. Child abuse. Incest. Homosexuality. Addiction. Overdose. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised when I was told, by a fellow Christian, that the events listed above in bold, “Just Happen“. To my chagrin, they not only “Just Happen“, however they “Just Happen” in most families. It’s the norm.

And, sure. I don’t live under a rock or in a cave or anything. Still, we cannot, as a body of believers, excuse sin as just something that happens. We cannot minimize sin in our homes, families, neighborhoods, communities.

As loud as the world is screaming and boasting their sinfulness, why has the Church gone silent? I applaud Florida Governor DeSantis and HB 1557 Parental Rights in Education commonly misrepresented as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill.”

There was once upon a time, when teachers didn’t even share their political party affiliation. I had a teacher who told us she was pregnant just before leaving on maternity leave. We had all figured it out, but still.. When did things progress so far?

For a time, I stopped reading the news, not wanting to hear bad news. I suppose one reason people are desensitized to everything going on is because of the media. Most of what we read about in the news is one tragedy after another. Another factor is, the shows and books that are produced today for our children. Things that my parents wouldn’t have dared to allow us to watch, even as teens, are mild in comparison to the violence, sexuality, and even homosexuality seen in children’s shows. And I don’t know if you have teenagers.. I’m a reader who raised readers (some of them) and if I don’t read the book, I will read a detailed review, just to be sure.

We had a teen at work lose complete control of herself, to the point of threatening suicide, when she was not able to have a book that was sexually graphic and one of those “gangster” novels kids like to read in jail for whatever reason.

We must monitor what we ourselves are taking in, and what our children are taking in (or whomever we may be accountable for). As soon as they come in, I ask, Do you have a Bible? If not, I get them one.

After I started paying attention to the news again, I started noticing a trend of gun violence. It felt like they were reporting at least one shooting about daily. So, I started digging…

I had wondered if there was indeed an increase in gun violence, or if I was just imagining things, or exaggerating it in my mind… But the numbers do not lie. 2020 saw a sharp increase in malicious deaths, injuries, even unintentional shootings. According to the website above, as of 4/7/22, the US has already seen a total number of 11,292 deaths to gun violence for 2022, with 6,402 of those being attributed to suicide.

I mean, maybe, these things Just Happen. But, are we okay with that?

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:20‭-‬23 KJV

Let’s spread the Word and the love of Jesus. Let’s no longer minimize or excuse sin away, rather as we pray for others and ourselves in the Holy Ghost, Jesus will teach us/show us what it will take to minister to our lost brothers and sisters.