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How I’m praying about gun violence
After recent mass shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, and Boulder, Colorado, I wanted to pray more effectively about gun violence. A Bible passage came to mind. It talks of the “weapons of our warfare” (II Corinthians 10:4) as mental and spiritual. It continues, in The New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Phillips: “Our battle is to bring down every deceptive fantasy and every imposing defence that men erect against the true knowledge of God” (verse 5).
To understand how these spiritual weapons, which I understand to be divine truths, can break down the deceptive arguments or thoughts that lead to violent acts, I looked up references to weapons in the Bible; in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science; and in the Christian Science Hymnal.
The Bible assures us, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17). The healing truth of what God is and creates is the offensive and defensive “weapon” to which we all have free access right now. As infinite, ever-present Love, God creates each of us as His pure, spiritual child. The infinitude of God’s presence leaves no room for anything opposite to Love. This means that there is actually no enemy or threat to conquer. This spiritual truth defuses whatever would claim to attack good, since the infinite goodness of God and His creation means there is no genuine place for evil intention in anyone.
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