Part I:
Billy Graham was a hero to me early in my life. When I first discerned a call to ministry, I foolishly tried to copy his style as a preacher. Of course I’m not him and I had to be me, but I did admire his humility, integrity, and faithfulness to the gospel message, all things I could strive to emulate. What made Billy Graham so powerful and effective is that he focused on the simple, yet profound message of the gospel. He could reach Presidents, Kings & Queens, the poor, the rich, people of every nation and race because he understood the universality of the gospel message. It’s estimated that over 210 million people heard the gospel through Billy Graham, more than any other person in world history. Part of what made Billy so effective was he understood the gospel was all about Jesus, not about him! The answer to our deepest needs comes through Jesus, not any preacher or church. As a matter of fact, Billy Graham would tell you today that he is in God’s presence in Heaven today not because he was good, but because he was forgiven of his sinfulness and given a new heart and life by Jesus’ work for us on the cross.

So what is the gospel message? Is it try harder, be a good person, treat each other better, give to the poor? Nope! The true gospel is “good news”, but it’s so radical and counter-cultural that it offends many and seems like foolishness to others!
It begins with biblical teaching that we are all sinners! (Now I know that in our easily triggered and offended society, that stops some from listening right now.) But, we fail to understand the depth of sin in our lives at our own peril! Sin, biblically, is a “dis-ease of our soul” that affects everything about us. The Bible says God breathed his Spirit, “breath”, or life, into us, and we became living souls. It may help to think of your soul (who YOU are) as similar to a computer “operating system”, integrating your mind, heart, will, and present body into one entity. We were originally designed so that our souls were spiritually connected to God, and all these parts of us worked in harmony with God and we would be healthy, fulfilled people who would joyously live with God forever in an amazing world created for us! Unfortunately, because of the rebellion and sinful choice of Adam and Eve, all humans were infected with sin and the result was banishment from God’s presence and the resulting curse of death, both spiritual and physical. That’s the bad news of sin.

God’s love and grace! The “good news” is that God still loves us in spite of our sin and rebellion against him, and desires for us to be reunited with him! 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.- John 3:16 (NIV)
The penalty for sin under God is death. So God came to earth in the form of his Son, Jesus, to die in our place and take that curse on himself. Jesus died on the cross, a perfect, sinless God/human, taking our punishment, and that offers us the opportunity to be forgiven of our sinfulness and have a restored, new relationship with God. The word for this free gift from God is GRACE, and the Bible says we are saved by God’s grace if we put our trust in Jesus and accept what he did for us on the cross! God desires for EVERYONE to be saved from sin, but he allows us the ability to make that choice ourselves, by faith. If we choose not to trust in Jesus, we will remain forever separated from God and will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Sadly, the Bible seems to indicate many, if not most, will not make the choice to follow Jesus. It is literally a life or death choice we all face; as they say in an Indiana Jones movie scene, “Choose wisely”!
This is the simple gospel choice Billy Graham offered to over 200 million people. It’s the same offer to everybody, because we are all sinful and there is nothing you can do on your own to earn God’s forgiveness. You can’t save yourself by good works. But the good news is, Jesus has already done it all for you, you just have to trust in Him by faith to receive his salvation.
And the final chapter of God’s gospel story is even more amazing! Jesus promised that he would return to us and create a new heaven and earth, and that all who trust in him would live with him in this new Kingdom of Heaven on the new earth! And here there will be no sin with its devastating effects such as pain, suffering, death, hatred, etc. It will be a reversal of our sin-devastated world and a restoration of how we were supposed to be and live in his presence!

Part II:
So, what does any of this have to do with gun control? As Christians, we need to view gun control or anything else people do in light of God’s view of humanity and the effects of sin. The Bible says we will live in a world under the effects of sin and evil until Jesus comes back to fully create his new Kingdom of believers. All killing, hatred, mistrust, division, tribalism, pain, suffering, etc. is ultimately a result of sin in our lives and a world suffering under the results of that sin. So, from a human standpoint, any solution to help alleviate the results of sin, even temporarily, can be helpful. Well-intentioned people can find ways through gun discussion or anything else to maybe make life better, fairer, safer ,and more enjoyable while we live here. But from God’s eternal perspective, that won’t begin to solve the root cause. It’s like putting a band-aid on a patient with terminal cancer. It might feel like you have “done something” and you might feel better for awhile, but it won’t stop the cancer.

So, what are we supposed to do? I would suggest 2 things. The first may seem weird and “other-wordly” to some, but it’s necessary to know this before we know why we need to do the second thing.

1) Understand that there is a spiritual battle for our souls in this world!
Jesus makes it very clear, as does the whole Bible, that there is an evil, created being called Satan that rebelled against God and desires to destroy your soul and keep you from God’s offer of grace and salvation. Peter warns us “ 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings”.- 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV) The Bible makes it clear that Satan wants to deceive us by making sin look good and appealing, and wants to do anything to keep you from trusting God. He will distract us by making us mistrust and hate each other, blame each other for all that’s wrong, and cause division. (It seems like he’s doing a pretty good job in our society!)

2) We are called to live in a radically different, Holy Spirit empowered way of thinking and acting that is totally counter-cultural to the way our sinful world thinks and operates!
Why? Jesus wants us to give others at least a “glimpse” in this world of what he intends for the next, sinless and perfect world. And he wants to use us, if we actually attempt to live this way, to stir the souls of others to something better and help them make the choice to cross over into Jesus’ Kingdom and new life.
So, what kind of life are we talking about here? Well, remember what Jesus told us in what has been called the “Sermon on the Mount?” Here’s a few challenging passages:
Matthew 5:21-26 (NIV)
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:38-48 (NIV)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I know this is pretty tough stuff, and can only begin to be lived out with this help of God’s Spirit. How are you doing?
Have you made the decision to trust your life to Jesus and receive his forgiveness and the offer to enter into new life in his Kingdom?
And if so, are you letting him change and redeem your soul?
Are you praying for those who dislike you, and for those you dislike and don’t trust?
Are you asking God to help you forgive others as he has forgiven you?
Are you trying to live humbly, simply, and with integrity?
Are you slowly seeing your soul, who you really are, changing and beginning to think and act more like Jesus?
The Christian journey is hard, but God promises to dwell within us and lead us down the path.
Choose wisely, live boldly and radically!
And as Billy Graham would exhort, fully trust in Jesus and live with joy and assurance!