FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART
OP-ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
There has been an exponential increase in the number of black men and women being killed by the police since 2015 and an increase in mass killings since 2019. The increase in killings has brought up the question, more and more, “When will the killing stop? The question is not being asked only in the United States, but on a visit to see my sister in Canada the other day, I heard the same question, “When will the killing stop?”
My friend who writes op/eds for a paper in his home country of Jamaica, a country that is very challenged by gun crimes, is constantly asking the same question. I can see the frustration in my friend, as he blames the government and offers solutions that, at points I consider impractical, but I identify with his feelings.
I hear the same question coming from Syria, Somalia, Israel and Palestine, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and Eretria, and after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinto Abe, I hear it from Japan, “When will the killing stop?”
I hear the question again after former attorney Alex Murdaugh is arrested for killing his wife, Maggie and son. Maggie left her property to Alex in her will before she and their son were mysteriously killed on June 7, 2022. Since the death, Alex has been at the center of a storm of allegations – including accusations that he misused money from his law firm – which led to the suspension of his law license. One of his attorneys said Murdaugh also enlisted a hit man to kill him so his surviving son could cash in on his $10 million life insurance policy. “When will the killing stop?”
The question is momentous and not just on a contemporary basis, but one I am sure that even Adam and Eve might have asked as soon as they experienced the death of their son Abel at the hands of his brother Cain (see Genesis 4:1-12). Since then, the tragedy of killing has been progressing rapidly worldwide. To this extent, we hear the boast of Lamech, Cain’s great-great-grandson. “And Lamech who said to his wives, ‘Adah and Zillah hear my voice; oh wives of Lamech give ear to my speech. I have slain a man for wounding me and a lad for bruising me. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” (Genesis 4:19-24)
Maybe it strikes you strangely that Lamech was boasting about his killing of his enemies in the way he did, but it is typical of the attitude of many killers who have been killing and seem to feel no remorse. Just think of all those who have promoted revenge killings and wars; you have to wonder if they have any conscience, at all.
We are having a great debate today about the killings, the estimated 45,000 gun fatalities each year, taking place across the United States. The pressing question for us is, When will the killing stop? As stated, it is a crucial question. It is a question that reveals the stain upon humanity. When will the killing stop?
The Scripture offers a straightforward solution that, if followed, would help us to stop asking the question; it says, “You shall not kill.” or “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:12). The commandment is clear. It can be viewed as a legal issue governing human relationships. But we should note that it is also a demonstration of our respect for God. Humanity was created in God’s image, and to kill another person means disrespecting God.
Therefore, when Cain killed his brother Abel, God said to him, “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.” (Genesis 4:10-11). The covenant with Noah states more explicitly, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” (Genesis 9:6 ESV)
Yes, the killing will not stop until we have greater respect for God and one another. But, of course, respect for God and one another will only come when hearts are transformed. So here is a mix of eight solutions that I offer to break the curse of killing.
- Put away the guns and other instruments for murder.
- Stop the rage – when we get into the rage, we often do not think about what we are doing.
- Get rid of the hatred – hatred is the hotbed for killing.
- Ask God to give you peace in your heart. If we have the peace of God we would not be so easily offended.
- Sow the seed of love. Love covers a multitude of offenses.
- Put away covetousness. Covetousness leads to murder.
- Learn forgiveness. If you can’t forgive you will always be filled with toxic hate.
- Pray for Jesus Christ to come soon and bring in the reign of peace. It is then that the swords and guns will be “beaten into plowshares,” to use a metaphoric phrase from scripture.
Yes, when humanity is removed from this world to the kingdom of peace, then the killing will stop. We need to pray for the day, wait for it, but do all we can now to make sure that we do not have the same question every day.
