Umpqua

Built in to the human soul is the realization that death is not ok.  We were made to live, and to live forever, so something feels very wrong when people we know and love- and often people we don't know at all- die.  Though we know in our heads that it happens to everyone and we can all proclaim that it's just part of the circle of life, we cannot escape the pain and suffering which surrounds everything about it.  

Cain killed his brother, Abel.  This is the first generation of humans past Adam and Eve.  Really?  The first children born into the world?  One murdered, one the murderer.  Why did he do it?  Is there something that could have been done to stop him?  The discussion that surrounds the tragic killings in at Umpqua Community College in Oregon keeps swirling in my head today.  As Solomon says in Ecclesiastes, though, there is nothing new under the sun.  The conversation has gone on for... millenia.  At times like this, though, the reason there is debate that can get so heated is because what we really and truly believe deep down about the nature of life comes out.  

Time after time I have heard reporters end their segments with things like: But what everyone here is really wondering about this tragedy is 'Why?'.  And then it moved to: Can anything be done to keep this from happening again?  

The great divide comes when people with exceedingly different worldviews answer those questions.  The worldview and philosophy of one who follows Jesus comes from the Bible, because the Scriptures are what Jesus himself created and stood for.  And those Scriptures say that the heart of mankind is- if not transformed by Him- deceitful and wicked.  No other religion I have found holds this doctrine, that we as people are starting out, from the womb, as being in a state of depravity and spiritual death.  The favored view in the world today is that people are wonderful and good, if only we could get to our true selves. It's amazing how badly people would like to believe that.  It's the foundation of religions everywhere.  In reality, we need to be raised back from the dead [our souls, that is] by putting all of our faith in Jesus, who took on death and conquered it in our place.  Though some people have put on a degree of morality and can do good things [due to our being made in God's image], the issue of a heart that is tainted by evil is one faced by every person who has ever lived.  The Christian worldview says that humans who don't have a Savior in Jesus are bent toward selfishness and evil.  Sounds harsh, I know, but look around and you'll see that reality bears the truth of it out.  

If that outlook on life is true, then we have an answer to 'How could that man do such a horrid, heinous, violent thing?' and 'Why would he do such a 'senseless' thing?' The simple answer is that his heart was full of hatred and deceit and sometimes mental illness (also a result of the fallen nature of the world). Believers are not surprised by it. Murder has been around since the spiritual fall [via Adam and Eve], and it will continue till Jesus returns in power and glory to judge and rescue.  We grieve and mourn at all hatred and sin and death, but we are not surprised.  

Secondly, is there something we can do?  As individuals, we can love and help people and shine the light and kindness and forgiveness of Christ all around, because that, my friends, is the ONLY hope.  Real hope handles the whole problem.  It is not a band-aid.  Only His earth-shattering love can pierce hearts and make them new and take away the desire to hurt others.  

The attention of so many has gone to the gun issue.  I tend to run pretty conservative on most issues, but I'm all for having good strong rules to do our best to make it difficult for previously violent or mentally ill people to get a gun. I don't think average citizens need oozies.  On the other hand, I'm a strong believer in the right to bear arms and believe that people- not guns- kill people. But gun-control is not the primary conversation I think we need to be having. I think that conversation comes out of good intentions and from our deep desire to fix the problem of these killings, but the source of the problem- murder- is in the heart, not in any external thing.  

As a society, what can we do?  If we would like to dismiss God completely from our laws and way of living in the US, then I believe we will increasingly see the fruit of the tree of Godlessness in our society.  If we don't like His laws, ok, so be it. God will leave us to our own devices and lesser loves and we can just watch and see how that turns out for us---as a society.  God says that adultery and sexual immorality is sin and not acceptable.  We say, 'No, God, actually it's GOOD' and we celebrate it with pretty lights on our nation's center of government.  God says that murder goes against his law.  We say that it's ok for certain segments of society, like the unborn.  God will not be mocked.  In fact, everybody should just stand back.  Our President is so frustrated by these mass killings.  Indeed we all are.  But the President cannot fix what ails sinning people with laws.  What about the hundreds of other deaths due to violence each day...in St. Louis and Chicago, etc?  Sure, good laws can be helpful at some level, but the fact is, distance from God equals distance from love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control--- the fruit of the tree of the Spirit. *

What is the REAL story of Umpqua? To me?  A few people have reported that some of those killed were targeted for their willingness to claim Christ as their King.  [We'll wait to hear more on these details as they come out from survivors. I know not much is known yet.] Let's talk about that!  Let's ask THAT 'Why?' question!  Why would someone answer that they were a Christian AFTER they knew that they would lose their earthly life for it?  They must have believed that God had them...that He held their very eternity in His hand, and that He would take care of them and take them home.  That's peace that passes all human understanding.  That's redeeming hope that goes beyond the horrible circumstance. For those who believed in him, Jesus himself welcomed them to his indescribable glory that day. That's the story.  

Mark 13:11(NLT)  11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

*Footnote: By the way, I'm not talking about creating a theocracy.  Indeed, the right to the freedom of religion and not be a Christian and live peacefully in this country, is rooted in the foundations of Christianity!  Jesus said to love your neighbor.  He did not say force them to convert. [I would be wrong not to warn you, though, one day there WILL be a perfect theocracy- and every knee- of those who believed and those who rejected him- will bow to Him.  Better to do it now!  He loves you so much!  :) ]