Our hearts go out to the victims of the senseless shooting deaths this past Sunday at a Youth with a Mission training center and at the New Life Church in Colorado -- two separate locations where a lone gunman killed four of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
There are so many things I'd like to comment on concerning this story, so hang in there with me.
1.) This shooter seems to be from a wonderful, godly family. They seem to be genuinely heartbroken at the actions of their estranged son. Pray for them as well as the victims of these shootings -- the families and church families of those who were killed.
2.) Parents and all Christians everywhere: we must redouble our efforts to win our own children to Christ. Satan is diabolical and ruthless in pursuing the children of believers. Perhaps there is nothing more these parents could have done and perhaps nothing more the Christian community they were a part of could have done. Kids grow up and exercise their free will. But, oh, let's make sure we do all we can because Satan is after our kids.
In fighting for our kids, parents, there is one thing we must do: LOVE our children. Yes, we must teach them, protect them, discipline them, etc. but above all, we must love them. Our rules, our discipline, our restrictions must be done in love -- and not just saying we love them or believing we love them, but they must know we love them. Otherwise, our best efforts to raise godly kids can (and will) backfire into rebellion.
3.) Evidently, the shooter allowed a root of bitterness toward Christians to grow until it took bloody revenge. Bitterness and holding grudges is such a wicked sin. It violates the very heart of our gospel message. Never, never allow bitterness into your heart. It may not lead you to become a mass murderer like this fellow did, but it will rot your soul.
4.) This fellow may well have been demon-possessed. (See story at www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/11/roommate-recalls-bizarre-times-said-he-knew-it-was/)
Demon possession was common in Jesus' day and it is common in other parts of the world. America seems to have been protected from this scourge, but personally, I think we are seeing more demon possession and will see even more in the future. The covering of protection God has graciously granted our country is being removed. There is more violence of such a nature that one has to wonder if it is inspired from the pits of hell. We must be learning Satan's schemes and how to battle him or we will become his victims.
5.) Speaking of all the violence: do you wonder why this story is not getting top head-lines in media outside of Colorado? Mall shootings, school shootings all seem to be major stories. Church shootings seem to be lesser issues. Can you imagine the coverage this would be getting if someone had gone in and shot-up a mosque?! Or if someone shot-up a gay rights parade? (Side note: I find ALL violence of this nature to be wicked and sickening and, in the Name of Christ, I would condemn this type of violence as well.)
6.) This shooter wanted to "kill as many Christians" as he could. He was obviously filled with hate for Christians. He blamed Christians for all the evil in the world. This was, indeed, a true "hate crime." Do you think we are going to hear an outcry against websites and books that "foster hatred" toward believers? Will anyone condemn Christopher Hitchen's book, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything or Sam Harris', Letter to a Christian Nation ? Will either of these gentlemen hold a news conference condemning violence against Christians and assuring the public their books were not intended to inspire hatred? Will Congress call hearings to investigate hate crimes towards Christians? Don't hold your breath waiting for such to happen.
When Matthew Shepherd (gay man in Wyoming) was picked up in a gay bar, robbed and cruelly murdered, homosexual groups were quick to blame Christian leaders and Christian organizations for creating "an environment of hate" that would inspire such crimes. But there was no evidence that these murderous thugs attended church on Sunday and listened to James Dobson on the radio. The main stream media picked up on these accusations and even stopped running a series of adds by Focus on the Family about people who had left the gay lifestyle. And, of course, Matt Shepherd is memorialized each year on campuses as a martyr for gay rights.
We know this shooter visited anti-Christian hate sites on the web. Will there be public pressure to hold these web sites accountable? I sense a huge double-standard here.
7.) Churches that are high-profile or that have active ministries with troubled youth may want to consider their security measures. Personally, I'm thankful that New Life had armed security on hand and I consider the security guard who shot this murderer to be a hero. She saved dozens -- perhaps hundreds of lives (there were 7,000 people at the church at the time of the shooting and he had over 1,000 rounds of ammunition on him). Believers have a right -- and a duty -- to protect one another from murderous, law-breaking thugs. Your church may or may not want armed security, but you should think through beforehand security issues if, God forbid, something like this were to happen in your church. (Note: this is not the first church in our country to have a mass shooting and it won't be the last.)
That's insane!
And I agree. I may not have children, but I fear for and pray for my nieces and nephews.
Posted by: TazHall | October 30, 2008 at 12:14 PM