It’s often said that we live in a culture of anger and rage. If you open the news or your social media feed, you will find evidence of it everywhere. Whether in politics, culture, or society at large, anger has become the defining refrain of our generation. Recently we have witnessed that contempt in how people treat people like Charlie Kirk. It is not just a difference of opinion but a hatred that is spewing from every angle.
The Bible tells us why this is the case. Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil… he was a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). Scripture tells us that “anger resides in the heart of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9). James continues, “You lust and do not have; so you commit murder… you fight and quarrel” (James 4:2). The contempt that is sweeping our culture is not an accident; it is spiritual.
But Christians are called to respond differently. Proverbs 10:12 tells us, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” Paul wrote, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Jesus commands us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).
Anyone can be full of rage. Only those who belong to Christ can be full of forgiveness. Forgiveness is not a sign of weakness, but a sign that we have been truly forgiven (Matthew 6:15).
· If someone murders a leader such as Charlie Kirk, do Christians just forgive? Or do we also seek justice? How can we do both?
· How do Christians respond to the far left’s hateful speech that provokes others to violence? Do we just forgive? Or do we confront it?