“Flight, Hide, & Fight” by Neville Buchanan


Recent violence has been thrust to the forefront by the media. And with this the solutions of the various political leaders. Some would focus on mental health and others on controlling or not controlling guns.

However, no one focuses on the real solution – restoring Christianity in the hearts of our population. Can you imagine if everyone wakes up tomorrow desiring to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving towards each other (Eph. 4:32)? Can you imagine being in a country where the opinion leaders (Government & media) strive towards a UNITED States instead of division (Eph. 4:29)?

But they are not, and the result is a world that is angry, entitled, and violent. To deal with the current “mass shootings” experts in self-defense are instructing all to flee, hide, and fight – in no particular order. So, here is the real solution taken from 1 John 5.

First, we must FLEE towards being BORN OF GOD by belief and baptism (Mk.16:16). To this John says: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him” (1 Jn.5:1). It is imperative that we escape “the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 2:20).

Second, we must HIDE our lives in Christ Jesus – so that it is no longer we that live but Christ who lives through us (Gal.2:20). We do this by loving God and obeying His commandments. John continues: “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn.5:2-3).

Third, we must FIGHT. We fight the good fight and overcome the world (2 Tim. 4:8) through faith. So, John concludes: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5)?

Friend, are you ready to restore our communities back to God? Then start now by being born of God, obeying His commandments, and boldly using faith to move all to believing that Jesus is the Son of God.