It’s November 22, the 58th anniversary of the assassination of President John Kennedy. It’s one of those days that everyone remembers where they were. I was a senior in high school, running an errand in downtown Greenville, SC, at the time. I heard Walter Cronkite pronounce his death on the radio in a store. That was a Tuesday, and the following Sunday, as we drove home from church, we heard this news on the radio: that Jack Ruby had shot Lee Harvey Oswald, the president’s presumed assassin. The photo below was taken by Bob Jackson who later worked for our local Colorado Springs newspaper. I’ve had the privilege of meeting him.

As I wrote yesterday, reminded by my friend Ray Bandi, there is a world ruler whose mission is to promote division and chaos:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10.10, ESV)

Our job is to experience life by following Jesus and his Spirit, rejecting the ways of the world ruler.

…the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. (John 14.17, NASB)

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (1 Corinthians 2.12, 13, NASB)

As believers, we aren’t allowed to assassinate our presidents nor even assassinate their assassins! I think that applies to our words, also. A friend just sent me an email containing disparaging remarks about President Biden. I’m speaking to myself here, we need to be careful – that’s not the Spirit we should be following. If we do, it’s evidence of a worldliness much worse than playing cards or going to movies.

You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire. (Matthew 5.21, 22, ESV)

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2.13 – 17, ESV)