Normally at this time of year, I am happily immersed in everything that is E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) and I was, until I saw this video:

After seeing this, I immediately became very angry. Having a child around this age, I couldn’t help but think how I would react if that had been my child–and let me tell you, I was not thinking about calmly discussing the matter with the offenders as the reporters in the video did. It was then that the Holy Spirit reminded me of something that made me stop and think for a moment.

In Mathew 24:12 (KJV) it says that,  “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”  This verse has a dual meaning to me because while I was mad at what I had just witnessed (and most assuredly, this would apply to them) it also applied to me. My reaction to what they did immediately caused me to react in a way that Christ would not have approved of because I reacted without mercy–my anger had shown that my love had grown cold. And let’s face it, it’s easy to grow cold inside when you consider some of the things we hear and see on a daily basis.

How we react to situations can also reflect that we have grown cold, just as they have. It’s hard sometimes to forgive people but when we don’t–and again, I know it is a very hard thing to do sometimes–we allow our hearts to give up on our fellow man, transforming us into Golem like spiritual creatures that are devoid of any type of sympathy. It’s obvious that they don’t know any better so the question we would have to ask is, what happened in their lives to make them so careless towards another human being like that? Why would you do something so mean, let alone to a 9 year old girl like that?

I realize that some people just cannot be helped. However, it becomes dangerous when we decide whom those individuals are that will/won’t allow themselves to be changed from within. An outward change simply will not do. It would be akin to changing your clothes or your outward appearance: you’re still “you” underneath the makeup and clothes. As such, we must allow ourselves to be ready to accept that people can change, after all, as believers, isn’t that what we are supposed to believe? Do we not remember that we were lost and confused at one time or another? It would be incredibly hypocritical of me to sit in judgment of them, and not sit in judgment of myself. If anything it should be the actions that we condemn and not the person, but even that is hard because we often have difficulties separating the two.

Unless of course it is us who is in the wrong…

After everything was said and done, I stopped, prayed about it and wrote this. With the intent of simply reminding us that we must always be prepared to give the benefit of the doubt, to hold out hope for change in all people. This doesn’t mean that we simply not pay attention to what is going on around us or the people and situations that we are involved in; God doesn’t ask us to be fools. In no way do I support being a sucker but I also know that God has touched the hearts of some truly wicked people. We may look at sins differently, saying that one is worse than the other, but in God’s eyes, it’s all bad no matter how you slice it. If you are in sin, you are in sin, what that sin is matters not to God. That is why we must always be cautious to guard against our own thoughts and actions–least we be judged by that same measuring stick.

Never forget that just as Christ changed us, He can change anyone. These young girls were foolish and wrong in what they did but that doesn’t mean that they can’t/won’t change. I just pray that I remember that going forward as to not be a bad witness and lead by bad example. Forgiveness is key, whether towards each other, or towards ourselves. Besides, life is too short to divert such energy towards spite and anger. You don’t grow as a Christian or a human being by doing so and with the world the way that it is and the problems we all have in our lives, who needs the added stress?

Stay blessed and have a great day.