Violence in America is on the rise. This week another school shooting occurred in Florida bringing the year’s mass shooting death toll to 21. There have been eight school shootings in 2018 or just over one per week. With that trend and 45 weeks still to go in the year, what are the leaders of the US doing to deter the next 1, 5 or 45 school shootings? Nothing. The leaders are giving lip service to God while encouraging violence. Let’s look at how.
Trumps Response to 8th School Shooting
Trump spoke the day after the 8th school shooting of 2018. He said “a school… became the scene of terrible violence, hatred and evil….in these moments of heartache and darkness we hold onto God’s Word in scripture ‘I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: I will heal you…’ ( 2 Kings 20:5). Trump continued, “we trust in that promise…”.
God was not making a promise to a nation full of violence, oppression and idolatry. When will people stop and ask “Is God really ‘blessing America’?” as Trump says He is.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your Name? … And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23
Prayer Breakfast and a Military Parade
Donald Trump attended the 66th annual National Prayer Breakfast last week on February 8th. During his speech, he stressed our currency declares “In God We Trust” and our pledge of allegiance includes “one nation under God”. He pointed out that at the event God was being praised for “blessing America”. If Trump trusts God, works under God and praises God, why does he need a military parade? Just the day before the Prayer Breakfast, news broke that Trump asked the Pentagon to seriously start planning a military parade. After witnessing a parade in France, Trump was quoted as wanting a similar event “having a really great parade to show our military strength”. God is not his strength; weapons and the military are. The purpose of weapons and military is to threaten violence or to cause violence.
“And the king/leader shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things concerning the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate/place/office shall he honor the God of forces/weapons…” Daniel 11:36-38
US Budget Increases Military Spending
Trump’s budget, released this month, allocates a significant increase in the Department of Defense’s Budget. This department, known more transparently as the War Department prior to 1949, has a budget greater than any other discretionary item. 
If the military is where all of the taxpayer’s money is going, the money should not read “In God We Trust”, but “In Military Might We Trust”! The amount of money the US spends on “defense” is more than the next 8+ countries combined.
State of the Union Address
Trump started his State of the Union speech by bringing up his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again”. If you look at where he is allocating money, a “Great America” is all about “military might”. The “might makes right” and “peace through strength” mentality turns a back to God. If God is on your side, there is no need for these weapons and defenses.
Ps 33:16 “There is no king/leader saved by the multitude of a host/army: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.”
Normalizing Violence
Trump mentioned Afghanistan once during his SOTU address. Afghanistan is the longest running US war with thousands of troops still deployed. Is there no plan to end the Afghanistan military presence? In Syria, the US is going to maintain an “open-ended” military presence. Again, this is a military event without end. War should not be the new normal. The leaders of this country continue to put weaponry and military actions above all else. They lead by example and their example is not righteous.
History Repeating
History class is to teach the mistakes of our fathers so we don’t go back to them. America has gone astray. Go back in history to the Book of Genesis when God destroyed the earth the first time.
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Genesis 6:11-13
Violence is on the rise with the military might mentality that infects this nation. It is no coincidence that violence is on the rise in the schools as well.
“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16
These are not righteous leaders. They have turned against God, and for this God has turned against them!
“For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Therefore, also will I make you sick in smiting you, in making you desolate because of your sins.” Micah 6:12-13
Return to God
It is time to turn back to God and stop these violent ways!
“It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall go and say, Come you, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from [New] Jerusalem. He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Isaiah 2:2-4