Good News from the Stony Creek Church of Christ
By JOHN A. SMITH
Think of These Things
Even communities like Noblesville have been affected by gun violence in schools. All too often we see in news reports of senseless shootings and murder in a public school in America. Just this year 27 people have died in school shootings and 88 have been senselessly killed since 2018.1
No rational person can deny that there are some serious problems with school violence in America. But what is at the root of the problem? Something has changed since I was a high school student in the early 1970s. What has changed and what can be done about this grave societal affliction?
There has been a breakdown in moral values. We have taken God out of schools and most homes are leaving God out of the rearing of their children. God is the solution. The more we turn our backs on God and His Word, the more problems we have as individuals and as a nation. Many of school shooters have come from families where Dad is not present (physically or spiritually) or abusive and Mom is abusive as well. We need a return to God, strong families and dinners together as a family.
Parents, we have the primary responsibility to teach our children the values needed for a stable community, not society or local schools. Before entering the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 6, Moses reminded parents that it was their responsibility to teach their children the reality of God and love for Him.
These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates. – Deuteronomy 6: 6-9
Nothing has changed since that time. Let us as parents take our duty seriously and for the sake of our children and society work diligently as partners in leading our children to develop their own faith in the Lord. Whether it be family meals, family devotions, attending church, schooling our children, playing sports – everything is to involve the Word of God. His Word should be read, meditated on, and memorized. But more so, we ought to be applying God’s Word to every aspect of life. We want to think God’s thoughts after Him. This is how we help our whole family – ourselves, spouse, and children and society – to love God with our whole being. We make God’s Word central to our lives. His Word and values will lead us to a strong, vibrant and safe society.
We invite you to turn to your Bible and your God for answers and direction. We would love to help you in the rearing of your families and instilling in them strong moral values and understanding God’s direction for life.
We hope you will accept our offer to visit and investigate. We meet at 15530 Herriman Boulevard in Noblesville (phone number 317-219-5852). We meet for Sunday morning Bible Study at 10 a.m. and have classes for all ages. Worship begins at 11 a.m. and we have a Bible Study Wednesdays at 7 p.m. A warm welcome awaits!
1 insider.com/how-many-school-shootings-in-2022-so-far-table-map-2022-5