Another Tragedy: Faith, Action, and the Call to End Gun Violence
Another…
Another school. Another act of evil. Another mass shooting.
Like many of you, I find myself asking: When will it stop? Why does this keep happening? I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do know this—our society has deep wounds that need healing.
Instead of seeing those who disagree with us as neighbors with different perspectives, we too often label them as enemies. We are quick to hate and slow to forgive. Quick to judge and slow to understand.
Children should never be afraid of a shooter outside their school window. Never.
Prayers are essential but prayer alone is not enough. Our prayers must lead us to action. And that action begins in our own hearts. Work on being kinder, more forgiving, and less eager to dismiss another’s point of view. If you’re tempted to shake your head “no” before someone even finishes speaking, pause and truly listen.
It doesn’t stop there. If you pass someone who looks or acts differently and immediately feel judgment rising up, remember Jesus’ words about the log in your own eye. As followers of Christ, we are called to the way of nonviolence. Christ calls us to forgive. And Christ also calls us to seek justice.
As a hunter, I value the rights we hold in this country regarding firearms. But I cannot ignore the reality we face today. How has our mental health crisis contributed to a world where the leading cause of death for children is a gun? How do we as a church create an atmosphere where we can have a healthy and real dialogue about guns, laws and safety? Has the political atmosphere poisoned us into violent rhetoric instead of peaceful compromise?
I cannot shake the image of parents running toward a school, desperate to know whether their child is alive. That should never happen. NEVER!
I grieve knowing this will likely not be the last such tragedy in our nation. Yet I also hold to hope, because our faith calls us not to despair but to action. The United Methodist Church is clear in its Book of Resolutions #3428, which calls for an end to gun violence. I encourage you to read it.
So today, I urge you: stop, pray, and act. Use your faith to make a difference.
-Rev. Jeffry Bross