Living as Peacemakers in a Violent World

Gun violence remains one of the most pressing moral issues facing our nation and world. As Christians, we are called to respond with both compassion and conviction, grounded in Scripture's timeless wisdom about peace, justice, and the sanctity of human life. This study invites you to explore what the Bible teaches about violence, our responsibility to protect the vulnerable, and how we can be agents of peace in a broken world.

The biblical narrative is clear: God values human life as made in His image (Genesis 1:27), and Jesus explicitly taught us to love our enemies and pursue peace (Matthew 5:9, 38-39). Yet Scripture also acknowledges the reality of evil and injustice, calling believers to work for justice and protect those who cannot protect themselves (Proverbs 31:8-9, Isaiah 1:17).

This tension—between peace and justice, between turning the other cheek and defending the vulnerable—requires careful biblical reflection. Over these three days, we will examine what Scripture says about violence, explore Jesus's radical call to peacemaking, and consider how we can respond to gun violence with both prophetic courage and pastoral compassion.

Our prayer is that this study will deepen your conviction about the value of human life, strengthen your commitment to peace, and equip you to engage this difficult issue with biblical wisdom and Christ-like love.