Culture of Hatred and Violence

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

NKJV

One of the names of Jesus in scripture is Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).  In Matthew 5:9 Jesus is in essence inviting those interested in making peace to join him in being called sons of God.  Our world unfortunately is a world of violence that began when Cain killed Abel (Genesis 4:8).  Since then violence and hatred have escalated to where today it seems to dominate our culture.  In fact, three examples of the culture of hatred and violence have dominated this week's news. 

1)      Hamas v. Jews in Israel – Even though Palestinian factions agreed to a cease-fire, hostilities continue between the Jews and Hamas in Israel.  (1)  I was at a retreat this weekend and one of my friends asked why Hamas hates the Jews so much.  I tried my best to answer the question by trying to explain that the culture of radical Islam is a culture of hatred towards anyone not choosing to believe in Allah.  As a Christian who has chosen to believe in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, as my Lord it makes no sense to believe that someone’s religion would teach murder is okay.  After all, one of the 10 commandments is thou shalt not kill or murder.  However, Islam is not a religion of peace like Christianity or Judaism and calls for the elimination of the infidel.  Those choosing to adopt the radical or fundamentalist interpretation of the Koran believe this is a call to kill all the infidels.  Their belief is so extreme that they believe death by a suicide bomb that kills infidels is a death with honor.  Generations of individuals raised in this culture have no desire for peace until the elimination of all the infidels.

2)      ISIS v. Christians in Iraq – The same level of hatred directed at Jews by Hamas is what is driving the Christian Holocaust currently occurring in Iraq.  (2)  Radical Islamists see no difference between Jews and Christians and view both in infidels.  Now that our troops have left Iraq, they are emboldened, believing they will face little resistance as they attempt to establish a radical Islamist state in Iraq.  I believe the government of the United States that abandoned the people of Iraq by leaving before the job was completed, have a duty to assist the Christians facing martyrdom by doing everything that is necessary to destroy ISIS and remove them from power in Iraq. 

3)      Riots in Ferguson MO – Once again the tragic shooting of a young African-American has escalated into riots and as usual, the racial ambulance chasers have come on the scene.  (3)  These race hustlers seek opportunities to stir up violence by finding issues or events that offend people and exploit these issues.  In addition to stirring up violence and hatred by using the tragic shooting of an African-American young man, they also exploit issues like the name of the Washington Redskins as a means of raising funds, much of which most likely ends up lining their own pockets.  (4)  The most dangerous contribution to our culture by race hustlers is that they have created a culture among minorities where they believe they are victims of racial discrimination and cannot succeed without the assistance of men such as Al Sharpton or Jessie Jackson.  If the late Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, he would be at odds with these race hustlers for his vision was of a nation where people judged others on the merits of their own labors and abilities and not the color of their skin.  His vision was not the creation of a culture of victims through which he could profit but a culture of opportunity where anyone of any race could succeed.  The culture of victims created by the race hustlers has created a culture of hatred and violence.  A culture that seems to erupt any time a shooting of a minority occurs. 

Proverbs 22:6 tells us “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”  (NKJV)  I grew up in a Christian home where my parents taught me to pray and seek peaceful solutions to problems.  My parents taught me to be a peacemaker and not someone stirring up hatred and violence like the radical Islamists and race hustlers of our world. 

The culture of hatred and violence has been with us since the fall of man in the Garden.  The only solution is for men and women to follow the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.  This is just one more example showing that what our world needs to end the culture of violence and hatred is a revival.  Our world definitely needs a revival where people give their lives to Jesus and make him Lord of their lives.  This is the only thing that brings the peace of the Prince of Peace into the hearts of men and women and removes the heart of violence and hatred. 

Every believer in Jesus Christ has the privilege and duty to share the Gospel with those God has placed into our lives.  I urge every Christian reading this to join me and begin sharing their faith with those around them and begin ridding our world of the culture of hatred and violence and bring in the peace that comes from the Prince of Peace.  To empower my fellow Christians in sharing their faith, My new book “Empowered Evangelism” will soon be available and I will be providing a link to purchase it on this blog so I encourage everyone to return to this blog in a couple of weeks for more details.

May God Bless you all. 

1. Calamur, Dana Farrington and Drishnadev. Amid Reports Of Cease-Fire Extension, Hostilities Continue. www.npr.org. [Online] National Public Radio, August 13, 2014. [Cited: August 14, 2014.] http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/08/13/340077172/palestinians-consider-egyptian-proposal-as-cease-fires-end-looms.

2. Blair, Leonardo. ISIS 'Systematically Beheading Children' in Iraq; They Are 'Killing Every Christian They See,' Says Chaldean Leader. www.christianpost.com. [Online] The Christian Post, August 10, 2014. [Cited: August 14, 2014.] http://www.christianpost.com/news/isis-systematically-beheading-children-in-iraq-they-are-killing-every-christian-they-see-says-chaldean-leader-124594/.

3. Chandler, D.L. Rev. Al Sharpton Calls For St. Louis Police Restraint In Ferguson. newsone.com. [Online] Newsone, August 14, 2014. [Cited: August 14, 2014.] http://newsone.com/3044479/al-sharpton-ferguson-protests/.

4. Sowell, Thomas. The Business of Being Offended: The race-hustling industry exploits the “Redskins” issue. www.freerepublic.com. [Online] Free Republic, October 23, 2013. [Cited: August 14, 2014.] http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3082501/posts.