Lorenzo is a devout Christian.  Like me he sees the world from a spiritual vantage point.  And he grieves over all the gang-related madness and crime that's goingo on, even on his reservation.

     One particular group in the neighborhood is called the "Triple Six Gang."  In the Bible 666 is considered to be the number for the name of the antichrist who is yet to come.  Thus the three sixes represent evil.

     As with virtually all gangs, the Triple Six uses graffiti to mark their territories so as to warn other gangs to keep out, as well as to instill fear in the local community.

     Many such gangs--and I am referring to the genuine ones and not the juvenile wannabes--are run like a cult.  There are oaths and blood pacts, and one is threatened with harm if he should decide to leave the gang.

     Furthermore, and probably without fully understanding the real meanings behind the satanic markings and symbols each gang uses, they ultimately attract dark spirits to themselves.  Such satanic graffiti is exceedingly potent, and it invites and draws demons from the underworld.  This, I believe, is probably the most dangerous aspect of being in a gang.  

     My belief is, that many gang members, more because of each one's choice to do bad things rather than actually participating in any kind of occultic ritual, end up getting deeply oppressed or even possessed by demons.

     This dark spiritual element may be one reason why gang members often commit extremely brutal and vicious crimes that defy the imaginataions of criminal investigators.

     And if I am correct that in many cases there is a demonic element,(though certainly not always), then the solution is a spiritual one.

     While most gang members are not practitioners of the occult, nor are they outright satan worhippers (but no doubt some are), because of the very nature of the gang with their evildoing and the ignorant use of satanic symbols, any Christian seeking to minister to members of these gangs should be bathed in prayer both for himself and for those whom he wants to reach with the love of God.

     Churches should be making purposeful prauers concerning the gangs and their respective communities.  This is part of the spiritual warfare we have all been called to do.

     As the Bib;le says, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against demonic powers and spiritual wickedness at high levels.  (Ephesians 6:10-18)

     Such talk is of course foolishness to those who do not know Jesus Christ.  But those who know the Lord realize that prayer is a powerful weapon against these gangs and the villianous spirits that are behind them.

     These wicked spirits work to encourage and energize men to do evil.  They compel gang members to go forth and hurt others as well as to steal and destroy.  This has always been the devil's agenda, and gang members are but mere pawns in Satan's cruel game.

     God, however, is stll able to deliver even the most oppressed of individuals.  In His eyes there are no hopeless cases.

     Yet more gangs are im operation today than ever before.  They are swallowing up multitudes of young persons and placing them im terrible states of bondage.  Evenually, and unless each one repents, these precious souls wll be lost to a flaming hell.

     Who but the church has the message of salvation and hope?  How could we sit on the sidelines at such a time as this?

                                    David Berkowitz

                                    June 15, 2005

(c) 2005  David Berkowitz    Recently my friend Lorenzo, a Native American who grew up on a reservation and has seen much suffering in the lives of his family  members from alcohol and other drugs, told me about the gang activity in his area.  He's now living in Albuquerque, New Mexico.