USA (MNN) — It’s a moment seared into modern American memory. On Saturday, a would-be assassin tried to kill former President Donald Trump at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump is the Republican presidential nominee in the upcoming November election, confirmed at the currently ongoing Republican National Convention.
Donald Trump ushered off the stage by US Secret Service after taking a bullet through the ear. (Photo courtesy of Evan Vucci – Fair use, Wikimedia Commons: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77350262)
Greg Yoder, executive director of Keys for Kids Ministries says, “My wife and I were actually watching it on TV when it happened, and we were struck by it. Obviously, when you see something like that happen, it took me all the way back to Ronald Reagan when I was in high school hearing about his assassination attempt.”
Many are saying the attempt on Trump’s life is evidence of how vicious the rhetoric against political leaders has become.
“We’re in a place in the United States where that that anger and frustration between both sides of the aisle has taken just a fevered pitch,” says Yoder.
There are still many questions that need answers. But now is a critical moment in US history, and American Christians have a choice to make that will strike a chord across the country.
Will our actions represent Christ in this time of fear, anger, and division?
“When we see what happened with President Trump and you see what’s even happening right now at the convention, there is a cry for unity — not a cry to go after the Democrats, but a cry for unity because this political situation has gotten so high-pitched and has become so dangerous really.”
Yoder says, “This is a situation that now everybody’s trying to kind of ratchet it down. I think this is a good thing. This is a good time for us to be able to share what Jesus says about having no fear.”
Remember that true peace comes from Jesus Christ today. No political leader can provide Heaven on Earth. And no political leader can steal your eternal hope.
(Photo courtesy of Priscilla du Preez/Unsplash)
From there, we are called to spread the hope of Christ to others in love and truth. That means engaging people we may sharply disagree with.
“The most unloving thing that we can do is not tell them about the Gospel or tell them about why we need a Savior. So as followers of Jesus Christ, you have to earn the right to be able to share that,” says Yoder.
“We were just talking about it in devotions today. When was the last time that we prayed that God would put someone in our lives that we can share the Gospel with?
“I think that’s the important thing that I’d like to share here. If we’re not focusing on sharing the Gospel with people around us, whether it be our neighbors or family or whoever — and doing it out of love — we’re never going to have an opportunity.”
Keys for Kids has Gospel resources for your family to seek Christ in this tense time. Visit Keys for Kids website!
(Image courtesy of Keys for Kids Ministries)
For relevant encouragement, Keys for Kids offers a seven-day devotional called Conquering Fear that you can do with your children.
Then, pray for America. Ask God to protect political leaders and give them godly wisdom. Pray for unity in the American Church that rises above political lines and allows for Christ-centered conversations.
Ask God to use Christians in the US to be His light in a lost and broken world.
Header photo courtesy of Levi Meir Clancy/Unsplash.
