[Biblemat] Good News for Norwalk: Volume II, Number 37: September 16, 2007

[Ethan R. Longhenry]

Good News for Norwalk

For I am not ashamed of the good news, for it is the power of God for 
salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)

A publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
Volume II, Number 37: September 16, 2007

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Violence

Columbine High School, 1999. Virginia Tech University, 2007. Students 
opening fire on fellow students and their teachers, leaving some dead, many 
more wounded, and great pain. Everyone wanted to know: why did these things 
happen? All kinds of solutions were sought, but few wanted to actually 
explore society and its values to see if there was perhaps a corollary. The 
day of the Columbine massacre also saw the greatest day of bombing in the 
Kosovo campaign; the Virginia Tech massacre occurred in the midst of the 
violence surrounding the Iraq war. In reality, violence permeates our 
society in many ways. Let us consider the nature of violence and what the 
New Testament has to say about it.

Violence has been part of the world since the fall of man in Genesis 3. As 
anyone who watches nature show can attest, nature is a very violent place: 
animals kill other animals for food, status, or some other form of benefit. 
Most people see this from the safety of their homes; nevertheless, ancient 
persons had much to fear from animals, and the Bible records instances of 
people being attacked and killed by animals (1 Kings 13:24, 2 Kings 2:24). 
Furthermore, we humans often feed on other animals, and while modern man is 
often shielded from the violence, getting meat in nice sanitary packages at 
the grocery store, such has not always been so. There were in sacrifices and 
procurement of meat constant reminders of the violence necessary for humans 
to live and to have sin forgiven. Violence, then, is indeed part of the 
natural order of things, since it is present in nature and inherent in how 
we get our food. Nevertheless, such does not make, in and of itself, violent 
people.

In reality, our society is blameworthy. Unnecessary violence is everywhere. 
Violence is now a staple in movies: Saving Private Ryan can be shown on 
television with more people concerned about profanity than the extremely 
violent scenes permeating the film. The nightly news is little better: 
images of violence, both here and abroad, both "illegal" and "legal", are 
carried across the airwaves daily. Children are not immune from this: video 
games continually simulate violent conditions and violent actions. It does 
not take long to become inured to violence in modern America; few, if any, 
think much about the violence to which they are continually exposed. "Real" 
or "unreal", violenceis portrayed as the norm: conflicts are to be resolved 
by violence, glory and honor are to be gained through violent means. Why, 
then, should we be surprised when people continue to act violently?

The Bible demonstrates that violence and bloodshed come as a result of a 
lack of knowledge of God in the land (Hosea 4:1-3). While violence was an 
unfortunate necessity in terms of physical Israel, God has no desire for 
members of spiritual Israel to engage in such violence. The Lord Himself 
said in Luke 6:27-31, 35-36:

"But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate 
you, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you. To 
him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him 
that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also. Give to every one 
that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise...but 
love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your 
reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind 
toward the unthankful and evil. Be ye merciful, even as your Father is 
merciful."

Jesus established similar truths in Matthew 5:38-47 and exemplified it in 
His own life, suffering the violence of others (Isaiah 53).

Paul provides similar instruction in Romans 12:14, 17-21:

Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not...Render to no man evil 
for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. If it 
be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. Avenge not 
yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is 
written,
"Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense," saith the Lord.
But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in 
so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome of 
evil, but overcome evil with good.

Factors that lead to violence-- enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, 
rivalries, and envy-- are all condemned in Galatians 5:19-21 as "works of 
the flesh"; that which makes for peace-- love, joy, patience, kindness, 
goodness, self-control-- are manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit, 
which ought to mark the Christian (Galatians 5:22-24).

There are also examples that put these concepts into practice. We have 
already seen how Jesus Himself suffered violence but did not act violently 
in return; Stephen, when he was being stoned by the Jews, did not himself 
pick up stones but asked for the forgiveness of those who were killing him 
(Acts 7:54-60). There is no example in the New Testament of any Christian 
accomplishing the will of God through violent means.

The New Testament, then, is extremely clear that Christians are not to be 
violent in any way toward their fellow man. Such invariably places 
Christians in conflict with the world, since the world currently operates on 
the premise that violence is the means to success. When the world would 
fight, Christians are to seek peace. When the world would persecute, 
Christians are to pray and bless. When the world would seek to do harm, 
Christians are to seek to do good. In so doing, we "heap coals of fire" upon 
the world, and hope and pray that some realize the error of the world (1 
John 2:15-17).

Let us exercise love, peace, patience, goodness, and self-control, not 
repaying evil for evil, forsaking violent means so that we may be found 
pleasing to God!

Ethan R. Longhenry
evangelist at norwalkchurch.org

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How to Stay Safe

Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all 
fatal accidents.
Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.
Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to 
pedestrians.
Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve 
these forms of transportation.
Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. Above all else, 
avoid hospitals.

You will be pleased to learn, however, that only .001% of all deaths occur 
in church assemblies, and these are usually related to previous physical 
disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at 
any given point in time is at church! Bible study is safe too. The 
percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less!

For safety's sake, attend church and read your Bible. It could save your 
life!

--Anonymous

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The church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio

Thank you for reading the electronic version of our bulletin, Good News for 
Norwalk. If you live in Norwalk or happen to be traveling in the Norwalk 
area, we would certainly love to have you visit one of our assemblies!

Our location:

386 North Edgewood Drive (just off US 250 just north of Norwalk's city 
limits)
Norwalk, Ohio 44857

Our assemblies:

Sunday morning assembly: 10:30am
Sunday evening assembly: 6:00pm

Our Bible studies:

Sunday morning Bible study: 9:30am
Wednesday evening Bible study: 7:00pm

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For More Information

If you have any questions or comments about anything you have read here, or 
desire more information, please contact our evangelist, Ethan Longhenry, at 
evangelist at norwalkchurch.org.

Good News for Norwalk is a publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, 
Ohio, for the promotion of God's truth in our world. For more information 
about the church of Christ in Norwalk, please visit our website at 
norwalkchurch.org.

Ethan R. Longhenry/ disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com
Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
 (http://www.norwalkchurch.org)
Website: http://www.deusvitae.com
AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ#: 28317056
MSN Messenger ID: deusvitae at hotmail.com
Yahoo! Messenger ID: discipuliiesus

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