Americans can win the spiritual battle between love and hate, good and evil. People in free nations choose to believe in a loving God, a controlling God, or no God! A loving God empowers, a controlling God dictates behavior, and no God creates spiritual ignorance. Without any spiritual understanding of self, anger and hate can become self-destructive. Americans have the freedom to choose how to live their lives.
The power of hate:
- In cultures where dictators are in power, they control speech and behavior.
- Rules must be obeyed.
- Women lack education and are told how to act and dress.
- Children are taught to hate people who don’t believe the way they do.
- Everyone bows down to their leaders.
In Israel, It was easy to see hate as controlled men attacked free people at a peace festival and in their homes. Women were raped, babies beheaded, and men were slaughtered. The October 6th attack was an unmistakable picture of hate, but “spinners” persuaded American students that the killers were oppressed, not controlled. The question should be asked: why didn’t college students see hate from Palestinian leaders and Hamas, and why were American youth so easily influenced?
After World War 11, Americans saw the power of hate when we liberated Nazi concentration camps. We saw gas chambers, emaciated human beings, and piles of naked dead bodies. Everyone was horrified by man’s inhumanity to their fellow human beings. Americans assumed that would never happen again.
So why was it so easy for college students to become radicalized? Did families become weakened by the good life in America? Did we take freedom for granted? Did we expect government schools to educate children about the power of love? What went wrong?
Politicians and money can not solve this problem; this is a spiritual crisis. Many American youth are spiritually immature because they grew up without any spiritual understanding of themselves. I saw adults more concerned about how they look and feel than how they behave. As a crime and violence prevention specialist, I observed spiritually unaware parents abusing and neglecting their children, using drugs, and abusing each other as gangs formed to create family and community.
We gradually became a nation that didn’t understand the power of love. As a result, many of today’s young people are angry, feel entitled, and are self-absorbed. Gangs of young people band together to loot, carjack, abuse innocent people, and destroy property. We also see juveniles taking drugs, dying from Fentanyl, and suicide at an all-time high. Child abuse and neglect cost taxpayers $220 million a day as “‘we the people” ignore American children. Americans are paying a high price.
The power of love: Why did we assume Biblical teachings of “Love God and Love Others” were no longer critical for youth? Every newborn is a spiritual being who needs to grow and learn from an involved, supportive family with caring neighbors. If this spiritual crisis continues, we will destroy ourselves and our freedoms.
The time is now for caring adults in our churches and synagogues to demonstrate “Love thy neighbor” and unite Americans as we take back neighborhood involvement and support. COVID proved that social isolation creates mental health problems for young and old alike. We all have a role to play if we are going to remain free people.
How we treat each other, forgive, guide, and support children will determine our future. The power of love can transform America! We must become proactive!
For those who do not believe in God, watch movies about redemption. Netflix movie “I Can Only Imagine” tells the true story of an abusive father who turned his life around and his victim, his son, found peace. We can change and live peaceful lives.
A call to Action: The first step is to connect with your God for a spiritual understanding of self. Prayer or meditation can bring inner peace and should be on everyone’s bucket list. Ask for guidance, wisdom, and a mission. We have a forgiving God who can direct our path. Consider reaching out and bringing neighbors together to end the social isolation that allows criminal behavior to flourish. This is a gradual process, so be patient with yourself, and you will be rewarded.
