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How Does Šālôm Connect The Texas Shooting & UFC 250?

How Does Šālôm Connect The Texas Shooting & UFC 250?

Last updated on: June 14, 2026 at 11:35 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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How Does Šālôm Connect The Texas Shooting & UFC 250? 2026-06-14T23:35:25-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The big news that kicked off the weekend was another tragic shooting in America, this time in Midland, Texas. Then there was another shooting this morning, 427 miles away in Crockett, Texas. So far this year, there have been over 200 mass shootings in America alone.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

Yet, the so-called pro-life party is quiet about gun violence, unless it hits home for one of their own constituents. The so-called conservative party is more concerned about earthly greatness, political power, and military might more than they are about what God says He cares about (Leviticus 19:33-34, 1 Samuel 15:22, Isaiah 58:6-9, Matthew 25:35-40):

Foreigners among us
The poor
Loving our neighbor

What many conservators have forgotten is that God defines life because He creates all life (Genesis 2:7, Colossians 1:16-17). If their blatant disregard for life wasn’t enough, the conservative party cheers on the murder of any life that the president thinks deserves to die.

Earlier this weekend, the president boasted about killing the alleged leader of a Venezuelan gang, not to mention the more than 100 people murdered by this administration because it claims they were transporting drugs.

I remember learning in school that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, not executed by a power-hungry dictator who wants to be the judge and jury of the world. How can anyone believe the man is of God or wants peace when he keeps killing people to get what he wants (John 8:44)?

What Is Peace

It seems like everywhere we turn, there is fighting and hardship, both here and abroad; peace has become a buzzword because everyone is hoping or wanting for it desperately.

Image by Pixabay

Peace is defined as “A state of tranquility or order, freedom from being disturbed or oppressed: tranquility.” Peace can come in many forms: economic, mental, physical, or spiritual.

Unfortunately, most place their hope in temporary things to find peace. The problem is that temporary peace will not last, just like the temporary things people trust in. Only the peace God gives will last and make us whole (Psalm 29:11, Romans 15:13).

That is why the Bible has a lot to say about peace and where it comes from for God’s people (Psalm 4:8, John 16:33, Romans 15:33). We live in a fallen world that only a perfect God can fix (Isaiah 24:5-6, Romans 8:19-22).

Lasting peace cannot come from temporary places (John 14:27, Ephesians 2:14). God’s people can only find true peace in God (Romans 5:1, Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 3:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:16, 1 Peter 5:6-7). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about peace, what it is, and where it comes from.

Šālôm

The Torah tells us that in the beginning God created a perfect paradise, and there was peace between God and His creation (Genesis 1:1-31; 2:8-9; 3:8). Everything was perfect until mankind wanted earthly greatness and more than what God had already given them, and that peace was lost (Genesis 3:5-6; 11:4).

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for peace is šālôm, and it can also mean “Completeness, well, health, prosperity, or safe,” depending upon the context it is used in. The ancient world was extremely chaotic and dark without God’s peace.

God promised to use His people to restore peace to the world, as well as give them peace (Leviticus 26:6, Isaiah 52:7, Micah 4:3-4, Zachariah 9:9-10). Because of God’s deliverance and prosperity granted to Israel, they gave Him the name Jehovah shalom (Judges 6:24):

Security and protection from their enemies
Physical and agricultural prosperity
Spiritual and internal renewal
Eternal protection
Messianic peace

Christianity views Jesus as the Prince of peace because He fulfilled the messianic promise for divine peace (Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 1:23, John 16:33). When Jesus arrived, God’s people were in bondage to more than just Rome; they were oppressed by many of their own religious leaders (Matthew 11:28-30; 23:1-4).

Image by Pixabay

Our Lord (Jehovah) promised His followers they would have peace in this fallen world, that the world and He would set them free (John 8:36; 14:27; 16:33). He explained that His peace was not like this world’s and it comes from God (John 20:19-21).

UFC Freedom 250

In other big news this weekend, President Trump hosted a UFC fight on the White House lawn to celebrate his 80th birthday and supposedly America’s 250th birthday. The irony here is obvious; a supposedly Christian president hosted a fight on a Sunday to celebrate himself.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

A self-proclaimed peace president who claims to be pro-life, he’s invested in a mixed martial arts/combat fighting company. Nothing says peace-loving Christian like hosting fighting events on your front lawn on a Sunday!

Sounds a lot like the Roman emperors and the Coliseum in Rome:

Violent
Unloving
Power-hungry

Not only is the president hosting this worldly event for his birthday, but he was also planning on signing a memorandum he believes will lead to long-term peace in the Middle East. Yet, Israel conveniently and pointedly launched one last assault on Lebanon to kill a Hezbollah leader.

It seems like God’s people have forgotten God’s call for peace both in America and abroad. Clearly, MAGA isn’t the only ones turning to an earthly ruler to do what the Bible says only God can do (Zachariah 14:2-4, Revelation 19:19), because Europe and our allies in the Middle East are praising President Trump for his efforts to end the war he began back in February, so that he would look like a strong leader and savior.

It is idolatry to give anyone other than God the glory and credit, because God is His people’s only banner of hope. That is why we worship and serve only Jehovah Shalom!

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