Letters: God calls us to live in peace

A mass shooting produces human tragedy at a small community college in Oregon. Nations across the globe struggle to provide a safe haven for thousands fleeing from their homeland, seeking freedom and safety from terror and death — a human tide of misery. The news carries daily accounts of warfare in our communities. Citizens killing citizens. Are we a world on fire? Can there not be any way to put out this 21st Century Holocaust?

A news magazine recently carried a the headline, “The killing contagion, America leads the world in mass shootings. Why?” The people of this world — all children of God — have the same hopes and dreams: a safe environment in which to raise their children, the ability to live securely in the world God created and declared that it and the people he placed in it were good. We are not meant to destroy ourselves.

Is it not possible for our leaders to labor for the benefit of humanity? Should not the nations that have a large portion of the world’s wealth use more of it for the nations with little, for the well being of their social order? These words of scripture come to mind: “Except you do it to the least of these you do it unto me.”

Is it not possible for humanity to live together in peace with liberty and justice for all?

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Letters: God calls us to live in peace."