Blog

Cultural Rot

Washington, D.C., July 6, 2020

There were so many people MURDERED in Chicago this past weekend that various news outlets can’t even agree on the correct number. If the Chicago Tribune is to be believed, it’s probably around 17 homicides – including two children – plus 63 others shot, with most occurring in areas widely known for gang violence.

In New York City, shootings are up 142% for the week ending July 5th versus the same time period last year, according to the local NBC affiliate. Stating the obvious, the NYPD Police Commissioner explained, “There is a lot of gang activity, a lot of drug activity.” (Contributing to their problems is their decision to shut down their plainclothes anti-crime unit and release countless numbers of inmates over fears the pandemic could spread in jail.)

Following a horribly violent weekend, Georgia announced earlier today the activation of up to 1,000 members of its National Guard.

Even here in South Carolina, the Greenville County Sheriff has identified four known gang members as suspects in a mass shooting that left two dead and eight others wounded at a Greenville night club.

Just glancing through the last two months of Facebook posts, we’ve shed tears over the barbaric murders of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. I’ve condemned those rioting, attacking our police, vandalizing property, and destroying monuments. And gang violence like the examples above certainly underscore the depravity in many areas.

Cultural rot is obviously causing most of these problems. But friends, government CANNOT fix cultural rot. That can ONLY be done by God working through parents, family members, pastors, community leaders, teachers, and anyone else with influence.

*** Unfortunately, the role of these important individuals is sadly missing from many conversations right now. Why is that?!