What About the Little Girl?

Over 1,100 lives have been killed in the city of Chicago this year, and we are only in the month of June.
Last year's total surpassed 2500 people. Chicago made national headlines last 4th of July, where 82 lives were lost and 14 killed, all in one weekend. Yet no protests, no riots(not that I condone that kind of thing), no outcry from people in surrounding suburbs around Chicago, not much community involvement from churches outside the city limits. It's unfortunate that if it doesn't involve racism or controversy, it gets swept under the rug from the media, but most importantly from we the people on social media, we stay silent.
  One thing you need to always remember,

The media sensationalizes extreme violence to the point where we forget those in our own backyard whose lives have been lost to violence.

I am saddened by the 4 year-old girl who was shot in the head in the city a few weeks ago while outside her
home, as her family celebrated her siblings graduation.

I am saddened by the photo of the mom in the city, coming home from work and trying to get past police to view a body bag lying on the street as she cries out, "Let me through, I need to see if that's my baby!"

I am deeply saddened by the nine lives lost in Charleston this past week. Who would have thought this could happen inside a church during Bible study?

What do all these have in common? Your probably going to answer gun violence or hatred. But, how about something greater, evil?

 Evil is all around us, which is why the Apostle Paul instructs believers to put on the armor of God daily.

 ¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
- Ephesians 6:10-13


 So, if we are going to recognize and be vocal about social injustice and all that it entails in racism and hatred, we also need to recognize that it takes more than words, it takes action, and we can't diminish one's death just because it didn't make it on CNN or Fox. All lives matter. If it matters to God, it should matter to us.

I hate the fact that we ignore all of the other lives lost to violence and approach social media with our own agenda with what is right and what is wrong with our society. We tend to capitalize on the greater extreme violence in our society, yet forget that each and every soul matters: white, black, Democrat, Republican, male, female, homeless, drug addict, etc.

It's okay to fight for social justice and equality, but let's fight for something more, something greater.
Let's fight for all mankind! Let's be the church that God intended for us to be. A Church of all believers, united together as one.

Abraham Lincoln once said, "A house divided cannot stand." I think this applies to the Church also.
Dang, all you have to do is look around you and see what kind of nation we have become.

I love Ephesians chapter 4 because Paul is talking about us walking in unity,

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

,about using the gifts given to each of us:
  
¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. ¹³ This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

and finally reminding us,
 Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

If you feel strongly about seeing changes within our crazy culture here in the U.S., are serious about social justice and everything it entails, and you go to church; get your church involved within your community. 
There is no better opportunity for the Church than right now. What are you waiting for?