Today as I browsed through some of my favorite news sources I stumbled upon another article detailing a brawl captured on video. This time the brawl was in a New York City bodega, but the situation was similar to many of the other such occasions. Apparently, one woman’s outfit was not appreciated so she was brutally mauled by three women. The victim received a slash to the face that required medical attention. It should also be noted that there were witnesses to the attack standing within feet of the brawl and not one of them stepped in to help the defenseless victim. It was only after the attack carried on for some time that a store employee stepped in to quell the situation.
This got me thinking.
I am not so naïve as to think that America is free from depravity, but every time I encounter the ugliness of sin I am shocked. I understand that Pagans will act as Pagans, but I still cannot help the shock that I experience when the harsh reality of depravity so boldly makes itself known.
How low have we sunk as a nation if this is becoming the norm? How barbaric and uncivilized is it to find such things entertaining? And how disgusting is it to see someone in need and do nothing? I feel like the people in these videos would make the priest and the Levite from the parable of the Good Samaritan blush. A helpless woman is pummeled by three attackers and bystanders, with the ability to halt the monstrous act, watch as if it is an episode from one of their beloved television programs. How sick!
So my question is: what are we as the Church in America doing if this is the fruit of the people to whom we proclaim the Gospel?
Or is that question assuming something that is not being done.
If so, better questions: are we, the American Church, proclaiming the Gospel? Are we preaching the sound doctrines of God from the pulpit? Are the words we speak to friend and stranger dripping with the Gospel or worldliness? Is it clear by our actions outside of the Church walls that Jesus even matters to us?
The power of the Gospel is transformational. It can change a heart of stone to a heart of flesh, it can bring reconciliation to a family plague by abuse, and it can even change communities and nations.
Maybe these incidents that are becoming the norm on our nation’s news programs are meant to wake us up from our slumber; a sort of “slap in the face” from God to get up off of our behinds and live the lives we were called to lead.
So why do I post on this happening and ramble on? To spur my fellow brothers and sisters in the faith to not grow stagnate, to not let our faith be something confined to Sunday mornings, to not make faith simply academic, but to go and do; to preach the Gospel through word and deed. We may be broken people, brittle clay pots, but what we have in Christ transcends our weakness. The power of God working through His people can overcome all things. There is not one enemy that can stand before the Lord and halt His plans. We as the Church, especially here in America, need to grab hold of the truth and power of the Gospel and go forth as faithful witnesses of Christ for the glory of God. The world is dying and we have been called to preach about the One who gives life and to be His hands and feet. Let us press on brothers and sisters for the Kingdom of God is at hand.
