In the shadow of the Uvalde, TX school shooting yesterday I wanted to share some thoughts that I have been sitting on for the past 12 hours. I turned on the news yesterday and this story was the breaking news, but for many in America this is not new news for we have had many school shootings in our recent history. Quantity does not nullify reality, therefore, the correct initial response is always empathy and compassion for the families who lost loved ones yesterday. But it cannot stop with empathy and compassion, we cannot just put another ribbon on our Facebook picture saying we stand with whatever, or Uvalde Strong. School shootings are not an issue that can be dealt with politically, that is why neither the Vice President who spoke first or the President who spoke last night, have any real solutions. Politicians can only deal with the fruit, but the church is called to deal with the root.

Yesterday’s tragedy was in the same vein of other school shootings we have heard about, the issue did not start at the school, the issue started in the home. The issue politicians cannot help with is the home, the family, for that is a church issue. God is the author of family, so the church is to be the authority on family. Until we come to the root of the issue the fruit will never change. We as the church must recognize our authority as ones who can heal the home, find solutions for the family, for our God says, we as the church are the family of God. The school shooting yesterday overflowed to the school, but it did not start there, it started in his family.

Do we need soft targets hardened with armed security, yes we do. Do we need to address the mental health crisis in our nation, absolutely. Do we need protocol for the purchase of guns, yes. But the root of the issue is anger which is directly connected to hurt. If we don’t deal with the hurt people have underwent, which has brought about the anger, which leads to murder, we are dealing with symptoms, not root issues. Church, we are called to deal with the root issues in families and the atmospheric issues in regions. This is where we have been given authority and we must exercise our authority in our own families and then help other families with these root issues.

This is not an issue for politicians to try and solve, for they are not called to be the specialists in family matters, the church is. It is way past time for the church to take the lead on the family, in our own lives first, then in the lives of our neighbors. People are hurting, the root is a family issue that overflows into society, but it starts at home and this is where we are suited to help make a difference. Become friends with your neighbors, they need us; see people, listen to what they say, their hearts speak, and know that Jesus has equipped us with His Word to first do the Word in our own lives and families so we can manifest the Word to those around us.

Paul said it this way, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:26-27). Jesus said, “You have heard that the ancients were told, you shall not commit murder…but I say to you, do not be angry with your brother.” (Matthew 5:21-22). My friends, anger protects a broken heart, Jesus said in Luke 4, He came to bind up the brokenhearted and we are His ambassadors, so it is time for the church to mobilize as well as empathize with situations we see in society. Family is an area we are specifically called to minister to. Come on church, we are equipped for this calling, and we have a Father in heaven who speaks to us so we know what to do and say. People need the church to arise for they are hurting and we are the solution.