Before diving into today's topic, I want to start with a brief word about politics. I firmly believe that neither political nor military solutions can fully address the deep issues America faces today. While we do need good Christian people engaged in political battles, the core problem is too profound to be solved solely through these means. We need to win hearts first.

In 1973, a major shift occurred in American politics. Previously, Democrats and Republicans primarily contested economic and legal issues. However, once politicians entered the realm of morality, they struggled. Now, choosing between Democrat and Republican often means choosing a set of morals. We must stop trusting politicians to define our morals. There is no political solution to our problem; we need a spiritual solution.

We often speak about the revival sparked by John Wesley, but we seldom discuss its societal impact. The Wesleyan revival, along with George Whitfield's efforts, saved England from a revolution similar to France's. Secular media rarely tells this story.

Consider Tiananmen Square, known for the iconic image of a man standing before a tank. The secular narrative frames it as a victory for democracy, but that oversimplifies the truth. In reality, thousands of Christians were baptized in Tiananmen Square during a Christian revival.

We need a spiritual revival. Amen?

We’re in a series called More Than Animals, exploring what sets humans apart from animals. When someone says, "I’m not an animal," they mean they won't let their emotions control them. Today’s topic is one you might not have heard a sermon on before: Violence.

Watching nature shows about animals killing other animals is unsettling. The world is unimaginably violent, from fish eating fish in the sea to the constant struggles for survival. We must acknowledge that:

The world has a violence problem.

In recent years, both illegal and legal violence (war) have increased significantly. While I am not a pacifist and support fighting for those who cannot defend themselves, Paul’s words resonate deeply:

Romans 12:19-21: "Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, 'I will take revenge; I will pay them back,' says the Lord. Instead, 'If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.' Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good."

Just War

We must consider what constitutes a just war. Here are five criteria based on Scripture:

1. Legitimate Authority: War must be waged by a recognized authority, not by mobs, terrorists, or anarchists. God establishes rulers to govern people.

2. Defensive, Not Offensive: Governments often label wars as defensive, but we must honestly evaluate the true motivations—protecting people or seizing resources.

3. Fight Fighters: Avoid intentionally harming civilians. Target the aggressors, not the innocent.

4. Preserve Life: Use proportional force, ensuring more lives are preserved than taken.

5. Last Resort: War should be a last resort, not a knee-jerk reaction. We must be slow to respond.

The conflict in Israel is fundamentally a war of hearts. As long as the people of Gaza harbor hatred towards Israelis, groups like Hamas will continue to rise. Military action alone cannot change hearts, as we learned in Afghanistan.

This principle applies to our personal