Society’s Misguided Hate
This week – yet again – another senseless violent crime occurred against an innocent…
This week, four Chicago teens have been arrested for kidnapping and violently assaulting a mentally disabled young man with a knife, tying him up, and subjecting him to other heinous abuses—all of which were live-streamed on Facebook.
The details of this crime can be easily found on the internet,
and,
somehow,
this particular crime lies heavy on my heart.
My immediate instinct is to protect the victim,
my immediate instinct is to ask ‘why’,
my immediate instinct is to pray ‘to understand’.
Did this assault have anything to do with racism?
Or,
on a broader view,
is this simply a random act of hatred?
If hatred had motivated this heinous crime,
what instigated such violence from young people?
What is going on with our young people who show such disregard for others?
Disregard for life?
Disregard for God?
I hate to say it, but society has much to do with these actions.
A society that is self-centered.
A society that embraces what was once wrong is now right and visa versa.
A society that does not celebrate life but rather death.
A society that has chosen to embrace ‘Godlessness’ above ‘God-filled’.
***
As a mother, I can attest to the fact that hatred is learned; it is not a natural emotion with our young.
Children naturally accept and love everyone – no questions asked / no differences seen – and as they grow it is up to their parents / guardians to ‘teach’ them about goodness and God…
but,
once ‘out in the world’, we encounter a society that fans the flame of violence without any consequences.
It is my belief that those who ‘hate’ have no understanding as to ‘why’ they ‘hate’.
‘Hatred’ and acting out has become ‘the norm’….
Frightening, isn’t it?
And this ‘hatred’ is not limited to ‘the worldly’,
it exist even within Christian communities though not admitted.
As with anything, hatred builds.
Hatred is a poison that fills your body. It becomes impossible to think of anything else but the object of your hatred. Sometimes if you don’t encounter the object of your hatred for a length of time, the hatred may dissipate throughout your body. You may be under the impression that the feeling is gone. The truth is that is has spread like a cancer. And the irony is that most of the time, many cannot pinpoint why they hate.
Racism indeed falls into the category of ‘hate’… shadowed by ‘righteousness’.
But,
no matter how you spin it,
hate is hate is hate.
***
I cannot speak for the four who tortured the mentally handicapped boy – I don’t know them. But I can speak for all adults. If we are to see a change within society, it is time adults embrace their ‘adulthood’ and stop being the children. Our youth needs us. It is up to us to teach and prepare them to enter ‘the world’.
But many adults are running amuck fanning the flame of hate however and whenever they can.
STOP IT! Kids imitate adults and without role models they’re orphaned to run wild not knowing ‘the rules’.
We are not called to like everyone – not even Christians – but we are called to respect each other.
If someone is opposed to your beliefs or values, ignore them – do not ignite a fight! Each of us is entitled to our own beliefs whether we agree or not.
We can not control hateful comments – as long as ‘man’ walks the earth, ignorance will remain with many. In speaking of racism, let us not limit it to black/white but a much larger spectrum of hating anyone that is different. Has not anti-Semitism gone on the rise? Is it not now vogue ‘to hate Jews’? Why? Who knows but the hate is surely accelerating. Nationalities hating other nationalities? Religious beliefs trumping others? As a Roman Catholic I can attest to the many who unjustly judge Catholics with only ‘rumors’ and not facts. And, yes, many ‘hate’ Catholics.
ENOUGH!
In America, ‘different’ is our heartbeat! America was built on being a melting pot of many different people and beliefs – this is what differs us from Europe!
But,
more importantly,
it is time for Christians to truly and humbly get out of God’s way and learn His way.
I firmly believe that if all were who they say they were that hate would not exist.
A wonderful start is for all Christians to recommit themselves to the Lord – to ask for a cleansing and be humbly open to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
In God’s world, hate does not exist. Nor does fear.
It is not good enough for Christians to proclaim themselves as Christians… who cares?
It is more important to ‘live’ as Christians and be slow to judge… Once the Holy Spirit dwells within each of us, we see, hear and understand ‘differently’ – more ‘Godly’ knowing we are not God – there is only One Lord…. We are merely His servants.
Through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, we see Truth and no longer seek divisions. We also are aware of evil which currently is saturating our times. And we ‘understand’ without needing to be ‘understood’.
If we really want to change the world, we must learn to get out of God’s way and ‘let go and let God’.
It begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
As 2017 commences, my prayer is for all Christians to renew their relationship with God and allow His Grace to fill each with the Holy Spirit…. One person at a time is all it takes… will you say ‘yes’? Let it be Him that makes us the woman / man we are meant to be so that, with His wisdom, we can guide our young to be fully free.
Following video:
“Breathe On Me” –John Michael Talbot
