On a recent Bill O’Reilly TV program, Bill had a guest who is a minister from Chicago. The discussion was about the rising rate of violence in one of that city’s districts. Particularly highlighted were the 49 shootings that occurred  last St. Patrick’s day weekend.

Repeatedly, Bill asked in different ways for what might be the solution to the city’s violence. The minister’s response as a whole was, paraphrasing,  “The money thrown at the problem from state and federal government helps, but isn’t enough. What’s required is that all hands on deck are needed. There must be a collaborative effort between city agencies and private citizenry.”

Perhaps there is some merit to what the minister said. But it seems to me that such efforts at best would only have a minuscule effect. I know that is the case here in Jacksonville, Fla. Commissions and committees were formed here, as well as policing increased in targeted areas.

However that sort of thing isn’t going to stop individuals who act on impulsive anger, hatred and rage. Committees and police aren’t on the minds of those who don’t value life; their own and that of others.

To truly respond to the “solving violence” question is to first note that “solving” implies zero violence. If efforts mentioned above were to bring violence down to just one violent act a year, that would be still one act too many. Violence would still exist.

I don’t know. It just seems strange that a guest with a unique perspective on life wouldn’t even bring up that perspective as the solution. Why would this minister of the gospel, or any minister, discuss the situation in worldly terms rather than in eternal big picture terms?

The answer that should have been offered is the gospel of Christ Jesus who can change hearts to aspire to a noble life; this by replacing our natural sinful natures with His divine nature. Will that cure the problem of violence in this world? No, and again, nothing will; for most in this world love darkness and will not come to the Light.

We will always have violence and destruction in this world, and it’s going to get worse. This is a lost world whose future is written in ashes. Therefore, all worldly answers are ultimately mired in a lost cause.

I’m not saying we should turn our back on this world; not helping, not doing good, as our conscience dictates. What I am saying is that we should never lose sight of our calling. As children of God we are a new race placed in this world and charged with the ministry of reconciling others to God (2 Cor. 5: 18, 19).

The answer to solving the violence problem is the telling of the gospel; because if accepted, in Jesus a better world is to come in which there isn’t any violence; there isn’t any death.