Rage

What causes us to snap - to go beyond the breaking point where we do and say things we later regret?

You've probably seen the video of the Cleveland Browns player who ripped the helmet off the opposing quarterback and then beat him over the head with it. Not smart. But why did he do it? Why so violent?

I've watched the disgusting video several times on TV and I can't come up with a reason. Granted, football is a violent sport. But it should never get THIS violent.

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight." - James 4:1-2

There is something wrong inside the helmet-wielding man from Cleveland. But that raw emotion is inside all of us. Go back to Cain and Abel. Cain got angry with Abel, picked up a rock and killed his brother. Why? The Apostle John gives us an answer.

“Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.” - 1st John 3:12

We humans get angry, we get violent. There is a constant battle inside each one of us between good and evil. And when we lash out at others, any weapon will do. Guns, knives, bombs, helmets, even our words can kill.

Look, each one of us sins. "None of us is righteous. No, not one" (according to Paul in Romans 3:10). So how can any of us be saved?

We make life-changing choices every day. As followers of Christ though we should CHOOSE to turn the other cheek. We CHOOSE not to murder someone today. Why do we make those choices? We are followers of Christ! He has told us that if we truly love Him we will obey His commandments (John14:15).

Do we love Jesus? That's the ultimate question. If your answer is 'yes' then put down the gun, put down the helmet, LOVE your enemies. We are not of this world. We shouldn't be acting like it.

The football player who attacked the quarterback with his own helmet later appologised. The quarterback refused to press charges. We as a people must get to the point where attacks like this no longer happen. Only God can change that. Only God can change a sinner's heart. Pray.