No More Thought and Prayers for Mass Shootings Christians!

How much longer will thoughts and prayers be offered when there is a MASS SHOOTING? If we are a Christian nation as many suggest, is it biblical to JUST offer thoughts and prayers for families who have been victimized by mass shootings who are asking for HELP? I say NO!

There was another mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama, September 21, 2024, with 21 people injured and four dead. Mass shootings have become so common, we no longer shake our heads about it. Social media does become flooded with when will America do something about weapons, and I have the right to own guns. But no solution is ever reached to stop the death and suffering of people. And of course, there are thoughts and prayers offered.

In the Christian Bible in the book of James 2:14-16, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith SAVE him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I WISH you well; keep warm and well fed, "but does nothing about his PHYSICAL NEEDS, what good is it?

Many people believe they are doing God's will by PRAYING for people to be well or to have their needs met. Of course, praying for one another is biblical. But we DEMONSTRATE Christ to the world by our ACTIONS. When there is a person or a people CRYING out for help, the Christian must go BEYOND prayers.

At least 131 people have died this year in those mass shootings, which are defined as incidents in which four or more people die within a 24-hour period, not including the killer — the same definition used by the FBI. Last year ended with 217 deaths from 42 mass killings in the U.S., making 2023 one of the deadliest years on record. Who is NOT aware of the suffering?

Gun control is always presented as a Second Amendment right. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states that "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". The amendment was ratified to ensure that citizens would still have the right to own weapons, even though the federal government would have the power to create a standing army and navy. Our forefathers made sure we were allowed to protect ourselves as citizens.

But what is a nation to do when what was meant to be a right for self-protection has become what the nation needs to be protected from? This may be where the citizens who also hold to the fact that our nation was founded under the guidance of religion, show their faith. The citizens, actively living their faith will balance laws which have gotten out of control.

The word INFRINGE in the Second Amendment means to actively break the terms of (a law, agreement, etc.). And gun owners will say the government cannot TAKE away their guns. But if a Christian knows his brothers and sisters are in NEED of help to try to stop the pain of mass shootings by semi-automatic rifles, there should be a WILLINGNESS to help instead of offering thoughts and prayers and walk away from their desperate need. There should not be a need for anyone to BREAK or infringe on the right to own weapons when the Christian willingly says I want to help my brothers and sisters in this area.

Christian gunowners who turn their back on the need for gun control which is killing our children and then offer up prayers for the safety of children in school, are not demonstrating their faith in God. James goes on to say in 2:17-18, "In the same way, faith by ITSELF, if not accompanied by ACTION, is DEAD. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." SHOW me FAITH without DEEDS, and I will show YOU my faith by WHAT I DO."

Is the Christian by refusing to allow gun control to help others demonstrating their faith for THEIR security and life is in THEIR own hands and dependent on owning weapons? Where does God figure into their lives? Those who do not practice Christianity, or the WORLD, as Christians refer to them, put their trust in THEMSRLVES or others. The Christian's faith is in God. I know your response to this statement is God gave me the good sense to protect myself. Yes, God did. And surely, he gave you the good sense to help others in need through love and compassion.

We can read just offering thoughts and prayers is not a biblical stance for the Christian. John 17:14, Jesus prays to the Father, saying, "I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world". Some say that this verse means Christians should be "in the world but not of the world", and that this means not following the world's values, beliefs, and actions. Instead, Christians should follow Christ's word, represent Christ's kingdom, and show the Father's love and kindness. Continuing to stand by something so destructive as allowing assault rifles to be in the hands of any and everybody killing people in large numbers, and just think of self is not biblical. It's not Christian.

Christians choose soap box SINS to rail against while not living out the Word of God. Christians try to have things both ways and every way. It is NOT possible if you are living as the Bible which instructs Christians how to live daily. Christians are to see differently and behave differently. They are to be Christlike and that is demonstrated through their ACTIONS. Many people BELIEVE just because they advocate for Christianity, proclaim Christianity, and talk about Christianity they are GOOD Christians. Once again James says in 2:19, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the DEMONS believe that - and shudder."

Don't get me wrong. this isn't an attack on Christians. It is just one Christian saying to another, how are we loving and caring for our brothers and sister and even enemies. In the Bible, Luke 6:32 says, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them". This verse is part of a passage that continues, "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." People have chosen sides about owning certain guns, one being good and the other evil. Christians have lost their FOCUS on their Christian walk by taking sides on material things.

Christianity goes far beyond THOUGHTS and PRAYERS. It must be demonstrated by actions through faith. 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE. Does a Christian demonstrate the three when they turn their back on the need and loud request of people in large numbers to try to ensure the safety of their children as they attend school? If the answer is gun control, isn't that a simple request when your faith and hope is in God? Is this an opportunity for those who follow the Christian religion to stand and say I am not like the world putting my faith in worldly things to care and protect me? Is this an OPPORTUNITY to point others to live trusting God?

Living as a Christian is not a solo ENDEAVOR. Christians walk daily with the trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, each encompassing LOVE. Our FAITH must be shown in our ACTIONS. Thoughts and prayers are SOLO actions. Turning your back is an action. Addressing a need is an action. 

Christian's must make decisions daily. They must die to their flesh daily. Our flesh, which is worldly, is concerned about our OWN wants, desires, and needs. In the Bible passages in James I quoted, we are encouraged to be CONCERNED about our brothers and sisters. Offering them words of COMFORT is not enough when they are in DISTRESS. 

WHEN WILL A CHRISTIAN nation realize thoughts and prayers are not enough? Even the Good Samaritan came to the aid of his enemy, Luke 10:25-37, when the religious men passed the man in need by. The passage said the Samaritan had COMPASSION for the man.

Thought and prayers regarding mass shootings allows the Christian to DO nothing. It justifies turning the back on a painful need. WHY pass up an opportunity to demonstrate FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE? Talking Godly is much easier than living Godly.

America's deadliest modern mass shootings. This PAIN requires Christian action.

1. Route 91 Harvest music festival, Las Vegas, October 2, 2017: 60 killed, more than 850 injured.
2. Pulse, Orlando, Fla., June 2016: 49 killed and 53 injured.
3. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., April 2007: 32 killed and 17 injured on campus.
4. Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Conn., December 2012: 26 killed.
5. First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Texas, November 2017: 26 killed and 20 injured.
6. Luby's Cafeteria, Killeen, Texas, October 1991: 23 killed.
7. Walmart, El Paso, Texas, August 3, 2019: 23 killed, 26 injured.
8. McDonald's, San Ysdiro, Calif., July 1984: 21 killed.
9. Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas, May 24, 2022: 21 killed.
10. Schemengees Bar and Sparetime Recreation, Lewiston, Maine, October 2023: 18 killed and at least 13 injured.
11. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Fla., February 2018: 17 killed.
12. University of Texas Tower, Austin, Texas, August 1966: 16 killed around campus.
13. Inland Regional Center, San Bernardino, Calif., December 2015: 14 killed.
14. Edmond post office, Edmond, Okla., August 1986: 14 killed.
15. Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas, November 2009: 13 killed.
16. Columbine High School, Littleton, Colo., April 1999: 13 killed.
17. Binghamton Civic Association, Binghamton, N.Y., April 2009: 13 killed.
18. New Jersey neighborhood and local shops, Camden, N.J, September 1949: 13 killed.
19. Schoolhouse Lane neighborhood and Heather Highlands Mobile Home Village, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., September 1982: 13 killed.
20. Wah Mee club in the Louisa hotel, Seattle, Wash., February 1983: 13 killed.
21. Century 16 movie theater, Aurora, Colo., July 2012: 12 killed, 58 wounded.
22. Star Ballroom Dance Studio, Monterey Park, Calif., January 2023: 12 killed, 9 injured.
23. Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., September 2013: 12 killed, 8 wounded.
24. The Borderline Bar & Grill, Thousand Oaks, Calif., November 2018: 12 killed, several wounded.
25. Virginia Beach Municipal Center, Virginia Beach, Va., May 2019: 12 killed.

Parents Jailed For Children's Crimes

 

Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty (Feb. 2024) of involuntary manslaughter because she did not stop her 15 year old son from shooting and killing four people in a Michigan school shooting. She became the first parent in the U.S. to be held responsible for a child carrying out a mass school attack. Victims of the crime cheered while parents across America groaned.

We often sit around and complain about the horrible condition our state or country is in. We see our youth, young men with their pants hanging off of their butts and young girls displaying sexuality early in life. The children display a lack of interest in education, oftentimes disrespectful to educators and other adults. Parents complain/explain their children fell in with the wrong crowd leading them astray. Drug use is always a looming concern and source of entertainment for children. Well, these are legitimate complaints, but what can be done about them? Do we lock up all of the parents in America when their underage child commits a crime? 

IS THAT FAIR TO PARENTS?

I believe and strongly advocate change begins at home. The Bible states we are to train a child in the way they should go and they will not depart from it, Proverbs 22:6. Many people mistakenly assume this passage means to force your child to attend church each Sunday in their youth and they will become a Christian later in life. THIS IS SO WRONG.

Also, parents believe what they SAY to their children, if it is said often, is the meaning of training their child in the direction they should go and they will not depart from it. But, TRAINING means living by the WORDS you teach. Being a present example not displaying hypocrisy or empty preaching.

Being a military veteran, while in boot camp, our drill sargeants were tough on us. Barking out one instruction after the next. Correcting us on the spot at every mistake. But, there was another thing they did while being unrelenting in our training. They SHOWED us how to execute what they required from us, and were doing it CORRECTLY at every turn WITH us, ALONG side of us. They DID what they expected us to DO. THEY were fit soldiers. A living, breathing, EXAMPLE of what it looked like, what WE could, would, eventually look like and be capable of doing and being.

The EDUCATION and TRAINING of a child is mainly in their home enviroment. From the day the bundle of joy is brought home from the hospital, they are a sponge soaking up their enviroment mimicking those that surround them. The adage of do what I say and not what I do IS SOOOO WRONG. The children do as their parent does and will not depart from those lessons.

If parents have a household filled with cursing--the children will learn to curse and not depart from it.

If parents have a household that acts one way behind closed doors and another way when people are looking or when in public---they will raise a DECPTIVE person who knows when to turn it on and to turn it off. They learn how to manipulate people through deceptions and lies.

If a parent's words do not mean anything in the home and lying comes easy to them about small things-- the child will learn lying is o.k. and won't even notice the ease in which they do it. I have had people lie about their real or fake hair at church (a not even necessary lie) and not realize if they lie about small things they more than likely lie about big things too, in my opinion.

If parents DISRESPECT people at home, their children will disrespect other's: property and authority.

And if you do not VALUE your child as a individual with a gift that should be nutured at every step in life--your child will not have respect for human life. This is why drive by shootings can exist. This is why mass shootings can exist. The child does not feel seen or heard at home and if that feeling carries to outside of the nome, they do not believe there is anyone who cares about them. If you do not value your own life you, will not value the life of others.

There are many cases where mental illness plays a factor. Parents also must pay attention to their children's mental health. Mental health issues requires professional help. Just as when you child has a cold, or an injury, the parent seeks medical help. Mental disorders are medical issues and the proper physician needs to be found for the particular issue. You don't take a child with a cold to a cancer specialist. The same is true for mental health concerns. The right doctor matters.

The quickness in which teens fall in and out of love is astonishing. In the dating world of today it is easier for toxic relationship habits to form. Abuses in teen relationships surface with each other not returning or responding to texts soon enough, keeping up with each other's location, constant contact monopolizing each other's time, and forcing each to not have any contact with the opposite sex in any way socially.  Parents should monitor boyfriends and girlfriends and skills they are learning in relationships. Practicing bad relationship skills as a teen can lead to the child not having any respect or boundaries in and for future relationship partners in the future.

People are quick to say marriage takes work. Well, parenting is a job. A child IS their parent's responsibility. If the parent is not responsible for their own flesh and blood, who should be? I once was a child. many moons ago. I did things that could have gooten me into serious trouble as I learned through trial and error. But, in the end, I knew my behaviors would reflect on my parents and I would be held accountable for my actions. I think this may have limited some of the choices I made, even though I made a lot of dumb choices.

Parents are first in line to take ALL the praise when their child succeeds and reach wonderful acheivements, but wipe their hands clean or even blame others when their child gets into trouble. Parents will insist a child they have had influence over for 13 years can be swayed by other 13 year olds in a month to do things they were never exposed to before. Of course peers influence children. Children have a relentless need to fit in and belong. But, 13 year olds should have to put up a hell of a fight for longer than a month to wrestle and undo what you have invested into your child. It should not be so easy for others to waltz in and take your child's entire soul from you. 

EDUCATION OF CHILDREN IS DONE BY EXAMPLE. Jesus demonstrated this through his life on earth. He came to earth in human form to SHOW by example how Christians were to live holy lives. Just telling us as in the Old Testament was not good enough and too hard for us to maintain so he said "copy me" and you will be fine. Do we get it right? Not by far, but we keep trying, those who love Jesus. There is nothing worse than disappointing those who love you and who you love. People who love Jesus realize they represent Jesus and do not want to reflect a bad light on him.

The hand that rocks the cradle--the hand holding the future and direction of our society, in most cases are single women. We are already off to a bad start with our children not experience the balance of  mother and father working together on a common goal of raising well adjusted children. I just noticed female starts with an 'f' and father starts with an 'f' and male starts with an 'm' like mother starts with an 'm'. Both are needed in a child being well-rounded, exposed to the human condition.

Anyway, moms-- you can directly influence the direction of our states, of our nations. If you are politically concerned and savvy--your children will be. If you are seen reading a lot, your children will read. If you are constantly challenging yourself to try new things and think outside the box--your children will be inquisitive and seek higher and higher goals in their lives.

Finally, if you love God and others when no one is looking and make love and doing kind and good deeds daily for no recognition but because it is the right thing to do--your kids will be concerned with the good things and create good for themselves and others.

Believe it or not, children, are at their core, more like their parents than you know. Their philosophy on life began with the parent. They may do different things but they attack it with the worldview they formed, revised, and edited, they learned in their home. Inately, children want to make their parents proud.

Girls expect to be treated well in relationships because they saw their mom treated well and demanded to be respected for her mind and personality and not her body by her husband.

Boys will treat women well in relationships if they see their mothers demand to be respected by men for their minds and character and not their body. Remember, mothers rock the cradle whether there is a man presence or not.

Give your parenting skills much thought. Don't just wing it. The kid will grow up whether you instill anything in them or not. But help mold people you want to meet in your daily life. Do you want to be around someone always ready to fight or who talks about you as soon as your back is turned? If that is the type of person you don't care for, then don't you do it in your home in front of young developing minds.

Break the tradition of THAT'S THE WAY I WAS RAISED AND I'M FINE. You may be fine but are you a productive member of society for it's good or are you only concerned with your little part of the world?

Answer this question to know if you are fine:

Are you the same person you were in your early 20's, 30's, 40' 50's etc. or have you changed and grown adding more positive skills and experiences to your life?

If you are still the same person enjoying the same things and people you did when you were a teen; then what do you have to offer your children in their education of life? You haven't tasted the diversity of people and thoughts that this God given world has to offer.

Offer your kids amlife filled with more than the same old same old. Read, learn, grow, pray. Ask God to help you discover that wonderful talent he gave to you at your creation and to help you guide and direct the talent instilled from God in your children.

God gave parents the gift of children. Children belonged to God first and He intrusted parents to help prepare their children for their kingdom work and life.

So moms (and fathers), I encourage you to begin from day one while rocking that cradle. You are changing the world for the better or worse, but you are having a hand in the future.

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