Let's look at all of the Scripture references that refer to crime and violence and examine just where these social issues come from.  Romans 1:21 & 29-31 says, "For although people knew God, they neither glorified him as God, nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.-----They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity, they are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice.  They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless."   Galatians 5:19-21 says, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:   sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like."   Ephesians 4:31 says, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."   This message is stated over and over again throughout the Bible.   And in all things, we are to submit our very selves to the Lord and let Him direct our ways so that His name is glorified.

       Crime and violence are an outward sign of an inward death.  Crime and violence are also an outward sign of us Christians not doing our part in praying for the uplifting of those who are weaker in faith or for those who are poorer in living.

       So, where does crime and violence ultimately come from.  From our lack of doing our duties towards our brother and neighbor.  Again, the burden of this falls on us and our responsibility in obeying the Lord.   Is this coming down too heavy on believers?  NO!   So many of our churches have taught us that it's not our responsibility that our societies are as rotten as they are.   Is this really the truth?  Had we not stopped praying for the weaker brothers, or stopped caring for the destitute long ago, would we still have these issues?  Yes, because we liked our comfort zones and understood the term multiply as meaning biological multiplication, not spiritual multiplication.

       What did God do with those who liked their comfort zones before the Tower of Babel?   What did God do with those who liked their comfort zones right after Christ's ascension?  What did God do with those who liked their comfort zones during the great potato famines in Ireland, or during the wars in Europe?  He always scattered His people and thereby scattered His message of the Gospel.   God has always wanted us to reach out to others with the Gospel, not just to ourselves.  And before we can go and conquer anywhere, we need to pray for God to cover us with His victories.

       So also with praying for the unbelievers who do are not part of the family of God, but more so for those who have heard the message of the Gospel.   We need to repent of our not praying for their faith to take hold and grow and become strong.  We need to get on our knees and start praying in earnest for those who have fallen by the wayside so that their faith may be rekindled and brought into full flame.  We need to pray for our weaker brothers and sisters so that their faith becomes strong enough for them to stand firm against the temptations to participate in the life style of crime and violence.  Let's all pray that the entire earth be set aflame with the firey love of the Lord Jesus Christ.   Then, surely, the kingdoms of men will become the Kingdom of God.

       Let there be peace in your hearts forever.  AMEN!!!!