Powerful

Weapons Of Remorse by Chevron Ross is an epic contemporary Christian suspense exploring the right to bear arms and gun crime in America. It is a hard read at times as people suffer at the hands of others.

The novel explores gun crime from several points of view, some with a vested interest in guns. Others have them because they have to. We see the guilt an Afghan veteran feels as his job was kill or be killed. He found no glory in war. He obtained medals but said they were “something that came from war. Nothing good ever comes from war.” This veteran walked closely with God and “was never embarrassed to talk about God and needed Him even more after Afghanistan.”

Others experience trauma too including a police officer who fired in the line of duty. Guilt riddles their lives. And then there are those who argue that it is their right to own a gun. Living in England this is an alien concept to me. I identified with those who were against owning a gun. I cannot see why anyone would want to have a gun but that is the culture I have grown up with.

We need to know God, then when the hard times come, and they will, we can lean on the Rock who never fails us. Prayer is important. Prayer is just talking to God but we receive a peace that passes understanding when we realise that God’s got a handle on our lives and nothing surprises Him.

The novel deals with guilt and forgiveness. We need to confess our sins and receive forgiveness. We need to dispense it too. Often the face in the mirror is a hard one to receive and to give forgiveness to. No one is ever too far from the heart of God. “God could love and forgive even me.” Some characters ooze forgiveness, others become angry and hard.

God is not a distant God. He is as close as we want Him to be. “Hank spoke as though he and God were best buddies… The pastor painted God as a vindictive Zeus.” Those who portray God as anything other than a loving God are misrepresenting Him.

We need the love and support of our church family. “Church is more than a building with rituals.” Church is the people. We must not confine the church within four walls on a Sunday, we need to take the church out into the world. We need to be the church to a hurting world.

Weapons Of Remorse was an epic read which I enjoyed. I did not always understand the fascination with owning a gun nor the arguments for and against but the human angle resonated with me. This was a powerful read.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON