Murder In The Heart Of Charleston

“Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13)

Charleston, as well as the rest of our country, was stunned last week when a young man walked into a weekly “Prayer Meeting” being held at the Emanuel AME Church. He sat with them for almost an hour after graciously being welcomed by the pastor and those in attendance. He then proceeded to pull out a gun and murder nine church members.

National television media descended on Charleston like vultures, leaving all of us to wonder how such a heinous crime could happen right inside the door of a church. The Mayor of Charleston labeled the murders as a “dastardly act”.

Murder is the worst example of what anger can do. It is wrong because it robs God of the opportunity for His plan to work itself out in the lives that were taken. After all, the Bible says that we are created in God’s image, which means that we have the potential to manifest and show God’s character in our lives. But when man takes a life, the seed that God planted may not have yet sprouted.

We have no right to ever play God no matter what the situation. Remember, God told us, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay”. (Romans 12:19)

We tend to view murder from an Old Testament perspective. In other words, those of us who would never commit such a crime separate ourselves from murderers. We are not like them, so we don’t see ourselves as part of the problem. That is why C.S. Lewis once said: “The greatest evil is not done in those sordid dens of crime…It is conceived …in well-lighted offices by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices.”

Jesus told us that we need to view murder from a New Testament perspective. Yes, he believed that murder – as described in the Old Testament law – was wrong: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18) But he also warned us to stop pointing fingers.

The fact is we all are guilty of the same anger that caused Dylann Roof to go on his shooting spree. So to us, who see ourselves as different, Jesus told us that while we are not murderers, a higher court will judge us for the same anger that we harbor in our hearts.

The New Testament perspective and Jesus’ point is that murder is just a symptom. The disease with which we should really be concerned is anger. Jesus knew that unbridled anger ultimately exacts the greatest toll in our lives.

So to us, it is murder. But to God, it is anger. You see the world judges itself by the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. One man has hatred in his heart and murders because of it. Another man has those same seeds of hatred, but expresses it through a good old-fashioned tongue-lashing. To us, there is an enormous difference. To God, they are the same.

That’s why God himself, in the Person of Jesus Christ said, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:21-22)

Ironically, it’s the Old Testament that offers the greatest advice about anger. “In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” (Psalms 4:4)

I wonder what would have happened in Dylann Roof had taken God’s advice and slept on it?