Members and Friends,

I am angered by two stories that illustrate the senseless violence that seems to permeate our culture. What is the root of the arbitrary violence plaguing Philadelphia in the hours after school is dismissed? Recently one man lost his life and several others were brutally assaulted in the concourse that runs under City Hall. Every day and already overburdened police force is routinely called upon to intervene as fighting erupts outside schools, fighting that often involves guns. Then I read this story from Florida where a group of six young women lured a seventh girl to a house where she was held against her will and beaten for half an hour. These girls were so oblivious to right and wrong that they videotaped the assault to post online. In their stupidity they created the instrument that the state will use, rightfully, to prosecute them.

Why? Why are our children beating one and other and what draws them to these acts of random violence? Our young folk here at Asbury will tell you that I am a bear with them about the violence of the language they use with one and other. I love the young folk of this church and I am proud of their sense of togetherness and their decency. Still, far too often they speak in violet language about themselves and others. So I ride them, trying to make the point that we in the church should sound and look different from the world. And they have been receptive and good humored about my prodding. Then I stand up in the pulpit and joke about sticking a pencil in my doctor’s ear if I don’t get my hearing back. Talk about hypocrisy! I use violent language when I should be vigilant to always give honor to God with my actions and my words.

I just confessed so how about you? How is your language? I am a fan of a good joke but must we joke with each other as if we are in a locker room? When we joke about someone being fat, lazy, untalented, or any other number of things, we add to the culture of violence whether we know it or not. Even if the person plays along we do injury to God’s creation. We, the Easter People, should hold ourselves to a higher standard. Rev. Bender is great at pointing out how we hide curse words by using replacement words; "dang it" and the like are not fooling anyone. Well-let me add that humor which uses violent language or imagery is violence. Jesus asks us to be peacemakers who not only desist from sinning but who resist the desire to sin.

The antidote to the rampant violence and senseless cruelty of our times is love, the love that Jesus taught and the love that Jesus died to preserve. Love our God with all our minds (including our words) and love our neighbor as ourselves.

With sorrow if my words have ever caused you pain,

                                                         Pastor Brian