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Demetrius Flowers was shot and killed this weekend, along with 51 others who were shot---7, including Demetrius, were killed.
No, Demetrius was not killed in El Paso or Dayton, OH. He lived in Chicago.
While the media reports politicians and actor's outrage over El Paso and Dayton, the national media fails to even report the carnage in Chicago that happens daily.
The Chicago mayor said yesterday, "I'm heartbroken," and "It's time to approach this from a different perspective..."
Be informed.
The New York Times ran this headline yesterday:
"Trump Condemns Bigotry But Doesn't Call for Major Gun Laws."
The Times says:
"President Trump forcefully denounced white supremacy in the wake of twin mass shootings over the weekend...."In one voice," the President said, "our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy."
The New York Times also reported that he warned of the "perils of the internet and social media" but didn't take responsibility for his use of the platforms.
The Trump administration has also mentioned violent "video-games" as a concern. And the President is calling for "Red Flag Laws," and "Developing tools that can detect mass shooters before they strike."
This is all good. I agree. But I'm still hearing the voice of the Chicago Mayor asking---begging for a different perspective.
Mayor Lightfoot said:
"We've spent, over the years, probably hundreds of millions of dollars policing on the West Side, CPD, federal and state law enforcement and we have barely moved the needle."
I don't know much about the mayor, but I assume she is far Left politically or she would have never been elected.
I do know from her words, she's desperate.
Some thoughts on the desperation that is gripping America.
Agenda driven outrage.
There is little to no national media outrage over what is happening in the city of Chicago. The main reason is because Chicago city government has been firmly in the hands of the progressive Left for many decades. Their progressive policies are clearly failing, as reflected in the mayor's plea for a "better way."
So-called gun control is an incremental step for the progressives in their journey to banning guns altogether. Consequently, the Left's outrage is regulated by circumstances---the end justifies the means.
The Left is fond of labeling everything that gets in the way of their agenda, "racist."
"Racist" does not benefit the situation in Chicago, because the killings are primarily black on black. While that may be a harsh assessment---it's true.
An editorial in the Chicago Tribune yesterday said, "There is a streak of madness in America causing the country great harm. In El Paso, in Dayton and in Chicago."
There is moral outrage over El Paso and Dayton---as there should be. But there is little to no outrage over Chicago.
This is a profile of far-Left progressive hypocrisy.
"A streak of madness."
CBS News ran a feature news story attempting to define the "streak of madness" that we are experiencing. In the story, they say, "The accused killers have left a blueprint for their alleged actions on social media"---explaining how social media is enabling this escalating phenomenon of mass killing.
They report on how the FBI is working to establish patterns which will help identify shooters before, not after the massacre.
The FBI has found that to say someone just snapped isn't correct. Most of the time these shooters don't "just snap." They carefully plan and prepare for the event. And most often post on social media in advance.
The Bureau says they usually plan their attacks at least 2 years in advance, and are usually motivated by a desire for "some omnipotent control, even if it's just momentary" and "There is also a degree of desire for infamy and notoriety."
FBI studies have also found that only 25% of active shooters have ever been diagnosed with mental illness and that shooters are not typically loners.
And they say people who do see signs of trouble before a mass shooting most often do not call authorities.
In a so-called progressive world, absent absolutes, who is to say that a certain behavior---any behavior is wrong? Or even troubling?
The Chicago Tribune op-ed is right to a degree, but political correctness and the secularizing of America restrains the Tribune and most other public voices from calling it what it is.
Lawlessness.
The epidemic of violence is more than a plank in a political platform or a topic on talk radio or television news. It will not be resolved with the passage of new, tougher laws because it is not a civil matter. It is a symptom of a much deeper and wider spiritual problem. A major shift is taking place, creating a new and threatening level of lawlessness in our country from the pinnacle of government to our living rooms.
Lawlessness is more than breaking the civil or national law because lawlessness is not the act of violating the established laws of a nation, it runs much deeper and is by nature spiritual.
What the Bible says about lawlessness.
- To be lawless is to be contrary to the law or to act without regard to the law. Laws are necessary in a sinful world (I Timothy 1:9). Those who choose to act lawlessly actually advance sin in the world.
- I John 3:4 defines sin as lawlessness. "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness." In fact, the anti-Christ is referred to as the "lawless one."
- The righteous, who have the nature of Jesus Christ hates the deeds of lawlessness. Lot, a godly man living in Sodom, "was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard" (2 Peter 2:8). The Psalmist wrote, "I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked" ( Ps. 26:5).
- When a society ignores the law, lawlessness is the result, and chaos follows. We are experiencing chaos in our culture because we have chosen to ignore the law. Nowhere is this more evident than in the border crises. Conservatives believe it is right to obey the laws and secure our borders. The progress Left believe and advocate that we ignore the law and let people come across unrestrained.
The biblical historian puts his finger on this truth: "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25).
The riot in Ephesus is a good example of lawlessness in action (Acts 19). he rioters were confused and unsure even of why they were rioting (vs 32); in their lawlessness, they were ignoring proper legal channels (v.39) and breaking the law. - God has a purpose for establishing human government: "To punish those who do wrong and to command those who do right" (1 Peter 2:14). Romans 13 outlines God's model for human government.
- We must always remember, our lawless deeds resulted in Christ's death, but God's grace overcomes our lawless hearts.
We have become like the Prodigal Son who longs to return to the father. Remembering a time when things were better. America is not perfect, but America is great. During our darkest times, Americans have awakened spiritually, humbled themselves and asked God's forgiveness. During difficult times of struggle and war, we have demonstrated the resolve of millions of people across this land.
Our faith in God will stand this test of lawlessness in the land as well.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Mindful. Be Prayerful.