I’ve read a fair number of takes on what happened in the U.S. Capitol last week — when a large group of individuals left a “Stop the Steal” rally and ended up rioting and taking over the building — and talked to a fair number of individuals to get their take.

Even a week later, I am not sure what all it means and what to make of it.

To charge the Capitol, take it over for several hours, cause damage and — most importantly — carry out actions that lead to the loss of life is absolutely wrong. It’s saddening. It’s maddening. The actions need to be condemned at the same level as the riots that overran our nation last summer.

I am not going to get into a blame game. Each individual who ran into the building and caused damage, bodily harm, etc., is responsible for their own actions. Were they incited? Were they influenced? Did they get caught up in the moment? All three questions likely could be answered in the affirmative. But they still made their own decisions to commit crimes.

The bigger issue at hand is that we are approaching a battle of good vs. evil.

That I am even writing that sentence is dangerous, in that half of readers will point to the Democrats as good and the Republicans as evil, and the other half will point to Republicans as good and Democrats as evil. That is not where I intend for this to go.

It’s that very action of pointing to someone you disagree with and calling them evil simply because of their label — and, in that, closing off discussion and staying in an echo chamber — that is playing a huge role in tearing our country apart.

But the problem goes deeper than that. This is not red vs. blue. It’s light vs. darkness.

The biggest problem in our country is we have turned our back on God.

We have become wise in our own eyes, instead of seeking wisdom from above.

We have embraced a way of living that flies in the face of biblical principles and, in many instances, common sense.

We have forgotten that, no matter what side of the aisle you fall on, we are created equal and in the image of an eternal God.

We have turned our back on the truth.

An action that seeks to destroy life is evil. And there is too much of that right now.

An action that harms the innocent is evil. There is too much of that right now.

Our society is overrun by immorality, perversion, greed, lust, pride, hate and much more. Evil is called good. Good is called evil. By and large, we are a people doing what is right in our own eyes.

And that is foolish.

People on both sides are calling for us to come together and heal. They are right to do so. We need to come out of our echo chambers and listen to people on the other side.

But therein lies the rub for many — listening. Especially to a viewpoint you disagree with. I am guilty of not doing this myself.

We need to do it, though. Find somebody who you disagree with. Maybe it’s about the entire political spectrum. Maybe it’s about whether abortion is right or wrong. Maybe it’s about who Jesus is.

And hear them out. Ask questions. Find their view. Learn. If something offends you in the conversation, or you don’t know an answer, don’t take that as a reason to fight and yell. Take it as an opportunity to study. To grow. To possibly change.

The more important thing to do, though, is pray. Pray for healing in our nation. Pray we can turn away from the trajectory we are on, and that we would turn back to following God. Pray our elected leaders would listen to the people and act with real wisdom. Pray for hearts to change.

”If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).