“…sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” –Genesis 4:7

Friends,

Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, have been murdered allegedly at the hands of a man impersonating a police officer. And Senator John Hoffman, along with his wife Yvette, are in the hospital, likely because of the ungodly hatred of the same person.

 This is reprehensible, tragic, and sobering. We grieve and pray alongside of the families, friends, and communities affected. And we all struggle to make sense of this horrible situation.

Representative Hortman was an amazingly capable and shrewd leader who also had a good sense of humor and tremendous command of her caucus. I honor her for her service and skill, as do members on both sides of the aisle. Today, our hearts break especially for Mark and Melissa’s two children.

Senator Hoffman is one of the most unique members of the Senate, and I mean that in the best sense. Please pray that the Lord would bless the doctors as they attend to him and his wife and bring healing to their bodies.

To be absolutely clear, ungodly hatred, biblically defined, is a dangerous, vile thing. It ‘crouches at the door.’ It seeks to rule over individuals and groups of people, enticing them with empty promises that can only deliver hollow fulfillment leading to more destruction. All of us must learn to turn away from it, rule over it, and uproot it wherever it is found with the means God gives us.

 And the means that God gives us always returns us to the cross, where godly anger is satisfied against the ungodly. This is the only place where eternal love and forgiveness is bestowed upon the undeserving who humbly repent and trust Jesus to take away their sin. Because of what the Son of God has done for us, we condemn and reject this heinous act of political violence.

The world offers rival theories of how to deal with sin and hatred. But they never pan out. We are not wiser, more just, or more gracious than God. And to Him we must run in such times. Please join me in the pursuit that matters most now: Pray for Senator Hoffman and his wife; pray for the surviving family of Speaker Emerita Hortman and her husband; pray for the capture and prosecution of the person who carried out these terrible acts; and pray for Minnesota.

Yours in Christ,

Jeff Evans, CEO

Minnesota Family Council & Institute