Two days ago after a gunman senselessly killed 17 people at a Florida high school, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Republicans in Congress and President Donald Trump “have blood on their hands” for passing a law last year that made it easier for people with mental illness to buy guns.
This same sentiment was even shared by some big named celebrities who joined in the chorus – – one wrote, “We have to elect candidates that are not funded by the NRA in November. We have an opportunity to elect candidates who won’t allow kids to go to school and get shot. It is disgusting how many times this has happened and Republicans do nothing. You all have blood on your hands.”
Having blood on your hands sounds serious? What does it even mean?
Are the Republicans and Donald Trump to be held responsible for the lives of the 17 dead? Should they be sentenced with the severest punishment the law can muster? Who else has blood on their hands, and is bloodguilt only designated for school shootings? Or are there other crimes that should fall under this category?
Well, let’s do a little background. The first time this phrase was known to be coined was at least 500 years B.C. when the prophet Ezekiel was told to warn the nations about their standing before God, “Son of Man, speak unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked (sinning unbelievers), you shall surely die; and you do not give him warning, nor speak to stop the wicked (the unbeliever) from his wicked way (his religion that cannot save), to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand (Ezekiel 3:17-18).”
So when someone is sinning and you have the opportunity to warn them and you don’t warn them about the judgment of God, you are guilty of their blood.
The Apostle Paul could say, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men (Acts 20:26).” Paul was making reference to Ezekiel 3:17-19. Why? Why did Paul say that he was pure from the blood of all men? Notice the answer in Acts 20:20-21, “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Apostle Paul went from house to house and told people about the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says in Acts 20:27, “For I have not hesitated to declare unto you all (everyone) the counsel of God.” Paul did not step aside from his responsibility; that is why Paul could say, “I am innocent from the blood of all men (Acts 20:26).”
To sum up, Biblical blood guilt is specifically related to God’s eternal judgment on those who won’t repent for their personal sin and rebellion against God … and it is not just reserved out for seemingly extreme crimes like a mass killing.
We need to be united when it comes to gun proliferation and mental health; but honestly, don’t you think the guy who pulled the trigger should shoulder most of the responsibility for killing the 17? Nah, that seems too logical – – even though the other million gun owners don’t go around spraying bullets because they are upset.
And why does it even have to be a mass killing for blood guilt to finally be invoked? In Ezekiel, it seems like any sin that occurs involves blood guilt?
What about the 58 million babies who have been callously slaughtered in America’s abortion mills since Roe V. Wade was first decided? Who’s taking responsibility for that? Or if there were no guns, is there still bloodguilt for the murders that happen with baseball bats, knives, fists, bombs, runaway cars or opioid overdoses?
Jesus once taught in Matthew 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.”
So it sounds like we should even level the condemnation of blood guilt on hatred? What about all the people who hate Donald Trump? What about all those who still hate Barak Obama? How much guilt is there? Who will own that? Sure seems like there is a lot of blood to spread around?
Interesting enough, there is one time in history when people did own up for the blood they deserved. In Matthew 27:24-25 a group of people stood around an innocent man who they thought deserved to die. They were demanding for him to receive the death sentence for doing absolutely nothing wrong but being kind and good, and most of all telling the truth that he was sent by God to save the sick. Listen to what they said, “When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead, a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said.’You shall bear the responsibility.’ All the people answered,‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged and handed Him over to be crucified.”
This blood curse is the most serious one of all, the Son of God was murdered and his blood is on all of us. When 17 people die in a tragic school shooting everyone wants answers, they want to blame someone, they want justice, they want new laws to stop all the shootings, they want to take the guns away, while the whole time they are acting innocent. But when it comes to the death of Christ, very few own up to the fact that our sin is what sent an innocent man, the greatest man, God himself, to die on the cursed tree.
17 dead is not the problem. Guns are not the problem. The problem in the world lies deep in the heart of every person. We hate.
We hate God and his Son most of all.
He alone can cleanse our soul from sin, and sin needs to be cleansed because it is the active agent that is causing all the killing, murder, hatred and pain. Yes, there is bloodguilt, and it is on all our hands because we refuse the real answer to sin which is repentance and turning to God through Christ.
Yes, 17 dead is a horrible tragedy. But Jesus says in Luke 13:1-5, “But unless you change your hearts and repent, you will be destroyed as they were!”
