15 people have been killed in a school-shooting spree in Winnenden, Germany. Even though it is a world away, I feel as though it might as well have been much closer. In the past week, the professions that both my wife and I find myself in have experienced gun violence – a church and a school.
These are but a small sample of the violence that erupts daily around the world. Genocide continues in both the Congo and Darfur regions. The news is full of reports of violence even in communities that we consider insulated. Moreover, there are natural disasters that rip communities apart from their base, from the Tsunami to Hurricane Katrina. I am a pastor at a church, and I believe in the peace of the gospel, yet history proves much violence has been created in the name of Jesus.
So, what should our response be to this continuing cycle of violence and destruction? As a follower of Jesus, how do I truly serve? The answer to that question is going to be different for everyone, but I’ll start by saying that action is better than inaction; doing something is better than doing nothing. I believe that the way that we respond to situations like these might just indicate how willing we are to step beyond our comfort zones to respond in love.
In the meantime, I am saying a prayer for those who have been affected by violence – any kind of violence. May God’s peace prevail beyond our understanding.
