A MURDEROUS HISTORY

 A MURDEROUS HISTORY

Proverbs [ESV] 6:16-19 There are six things that the LORD hates, even seven that are disgusting to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind devising wicked plans, feet that are quick to do wrong, a dishonest witness spitting out lies, and a person who spreads conflict among relatives.

Jeremiah 17:7-10 Blessed is the person who trusts the LORD. The LORD will be his confidence. He will be like a tree that is planted by water. It will send its roots down to a stream. It will not be afraid in the heat of summer. Its leaves will turn green. It will not be anxious during droughts. It will not stop producing fruit. "The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable. No one can understand how deceitful it is. I, the LORD, search minds and test hearts. I will reward each person for what he has done. I will reward him for the results of his actions.

James 4:1-10 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Aren't they caused by the selfish desires that fight to control you? You want what you don't have, so you commit murder. You're determined to have things, but you can't get what you want. You quarrel and fight. You don't have the things you want, because you don't pray for them. When you pray for things, you don't get them because you want them for the wrong reason-for your own pleasure. You unfaithful people! Don't you know that love for this evil world is hatred toward God? Whoever wants to be a friend of this world is an enemy of God. Do you think this passage means nothing? It says, "The Spirit that lives in us wants us to be his own." But God shows us even more kindness. Scripture says, "God opposes arrogant people, but he is kind to humble people." So place yourselves under God's authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners, and clear your minds, you doubters. Be miserable, mourn, and cry. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves in the Lord's presence. Then he will give you a high position.

1John 3:14-16 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn't grow in love remains in death. Everyone who hates another believer is a murderer, and you know that a murderer doesn't have eternal life. We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers. 

  Beginning with the single murder of Abel mankind has a historical record of expanded killing for selfish reasons.

  Though we don’t like to admit it, every one of us is capable of murder whether imagined or consummated. (Jer.17:9) Jesus said “out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders”. James points it out, John wrote of this truth about us, and history provides the narrative. Tragically the record includes past and current multitude of people claiming Christianity defined explicitly as followers of Christ.

  As a youth wallowing in feelings of rejection I was at times a dark-hearted 1John 3:15 murderer. I and other candid men I’ve talked with agree we didn’t act out because of fear of social loss, incarceration, and at the time highly probable execution at an early age.

  How far is it from thought to action? Judging from Cain and the rest of our history, soon for some, eventual for others; the Cains are typically impatiently impulsive; the others are patiently methodical.

  In God’s eyes it matters not whether impulsively or impatiently, whether private action or by government sanction . . . the shedding of innocent blood is murder.  And murder actual or thought does kill our spiritual manners.

EBB4