Tragedy Close to Home

About a month ago, the small rural community where I live was shocked with the news that a 10-year-old boy had been murdered by his older brother. A family lost two children in one day—just like Adam and Eve when Cain killed Abel.

The details are chilling and the county prosecutor stated that the young man who committed the murder showed no emotion or remorse for killing his brother. The young man’s comments when referring to his brother’s murder evidence this:

Like I had to . . . like when people have something like they are hungry and there is a hamburger sitting there and they knew they had to have it and I was sitting there and it just happened.

The young man stated that he felt just like a man named “Dexter” on a TV series on Showtime by the same name. A little bit of research on this show revealed that Dexter is a sociopathic serial killer who works for the police department and “hides in plain sight to erase his own crimes.” Apparently, he only kills “bad” people. The show encourages people to feel sympathetic for and cheer for a serial killer! How incredibly sad.

Obviously a TV show wasn’t the only thing that influenced this deeply disturbed young man. However, I hope this will serve as a reminder to all of us, whether parents or others who care for children. We have a responsibility from God to guard and protect our children’s hearts and minds from the influences of the world.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:4–7 NKJV)

Be a discerning parent and caregiver. Watch what TV shows your kids are watching, play their video games, read their books and magazines, and most importantly teach them God’s Word.