When we hear of mass shootings or any kind of shooting for that matter, we quickly ask ourselves why? Deep inside we know why.
Some say it’s guns
We understand that guns cannot independently end up in someone’s possession. Guns cannot jump into someone hands and they cannot fire on their own accord. It is the individuals who hold the guns that cause them to be fired. Therefore, the real question is, what kind of person would commit acts of violence and kill others? This type of person is consumed by unimaginable hatred. Many are calling for stricter gun laws, as the accessibility of assault or semi-automatic weapons makes it easier for mass shootings to occur. However, it is important to note that individuals driven by such hate will find alternative means to carry out their reprehensible intentions.
Some say it’s the parents
As a mother and grandmother, I can tell you parents have a huge impact on their children. Unfortunately, there are parents today allow their children to watch virtually anything on television, including violent shows. Some parents let their kids play for hours with violent video games, where shooting is the name of the game, and the body count is endless. With the escalation of technology, some parents have no idea what their children are viewing on the internet, seeing on their smartphones (that parents so eagerly provide at young ages) and lyrics they are listening to. Then there are parents that are so caught up in their own work-life and activities, they rarely know who their children’s friends and influences are. So yes, there is an influences on behavior.
Some say it’s the school system
The statistics reveal a troubling trend in school shootings. Throughout history, there has been a rise in these incidents. In the 19th century, there were 28 school shootings in America, followed by 226 in the 20th century and 223 already in the 21st century. It begs the question: why this increase?
One possible explanation could be the removal of religious teachings from schools. Many believe the absence of “Thou shall not kill” and the Ten Commandments, which historically served as a moral compass, may be contributing to a decline in values and morality. We know that the idea of separation of church and state, was wrongly assumed to mean the exclusion of God’s Word from educational institutions.
Some say it’s our culture
A culture of death is increasing. Just look at our own government who will gladly assist and pay for you to kill your baby, with over 63 million humans killed and counting. Euthanasia is legal and on the rise in Canada and Europe. Depression and hopelessness have overwhelmed so many, that suicide is increasing, especially among our youth. Endless gunfire glamorized in movies, television and the internet are literally rewriting our brains. There is no sense that life is precious.
We wrestle with evil
What we wrestle with are dark unseen forces. You can feel it and so do I.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Eph 6:12
We have lost sight there is a real battle going on in people’s lives. Satan is the great deceiver. You may think Satan doesn’t exist, that the idea is a bunch of nonsense. Well then, he has already done his job. Satan is against us; he is not for us. He works in many subtle ways to put a stronghold in people’s lives. Over time a venom runs through the heart: anger, hurt, hate, revenge, selfishness, attention, etc. Satan is our adversary who blinds our minds. The enemy (Satan) comes to steal, kill, and destroy. When you hear of such evil things on the news, you know there is a spiritual battle and Satan is behind it; he is smiling. His handprints are all over this. Satan’s intention is to nudge people into falling into sin – and they do. Why? Because people tend to love darkness rather than the light.
“…the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” John 3:19
The problem is sin
We might say the problem is our gun laws, upbringing, parents, schools, society, mental issues, and the list goes on. But we all know the real problem is sin. Our hearts are disfigured and diseased by sin, and many have made the wrong choice and followed the grim path into sin. The solution to counter sin is the gospel.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16
Our response. We pour out in prayer for the parents as they grieve over their child’s death. God can bring hope and comfort in the midst of the most atrocious and insidious acts of violence.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18.
When we hear of such tragedies, we are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit, but know the Lord is here, He is close, and He saves.
There is hope.