Christian Response To Today's School Shooting

Several people have asked me to offer a Christian perspective to today's tragedy. I am completely inadequate to do so. There are no words, no expression of compassion, or act of charity that can bring peace and understanding to the Moms and Dads, Grandmas and Grandpas, and close family members of those precious little children who were murdered today. There is absolutely no way whatsoever that I can even begin to understand the depth of their pain and heartbreak. 

What we as Christians must do is pray diligently for them, and be ready and willing to offer any support and help these families may need in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. Christmas is often a time of joy for most families, but the holiday season will never be the same for those families effected today. We often pray for and extend charity to the grieving in the immediate aftermath of such a tragedy, but we must continue to do so in the years to come. 

My heart goes out as well to the other little children who were subjected to this horrible day. It will no doubt be a traumatic day that will haunt and confuse them for years to come. The teachers, staff, and parents of the school will be faced with heartbreak, uncertainty, and emptiness. The first responders who walked into the aftermath will undoubtedly be effected for years to come. I can't imagine walking into such a heart stopping scene. The entire community needs prayer, encouragement, sympathy, and whatever charity is needed. We as Christians should respond with compassion, love, understanding, and a great willingness to help in any way possible. 

Days like today serve as a strong reminder that none of us are guaranteed another moment of life. What a beautiful and precious gift life is, and what a sobering reminder that death may come at any moment without warning. We should all be diligent today in making sure that we have made our peace with God by receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. None of us are guaranteed another moment. Have you told the people in your life that are special to you just how much you care for them? Have you slowed down long enough to open a door for a lady, or help an elderly person load their groceries? Life is such a precious thing which is here one moment and gone the next, so we must use every moment to it's fullest. 

One question I was asked is, "Why would God do this, or why would He allow it to happen?" Friends, God didn't do this. A man who chose to rebel in the wickedness of his heart against every command of God to not do this, that man is the cause. God has given us free moral agency, and we are free to choose Him and His way, or to follow sin. We are not robots who are forced against our will to do horrific acts. Again, we are free moral agents and that is both the beauty and tragedy of our human existence. Sadly, many refuse to observe the moral laws set forth by a God of love, and in breaking those laws such as "Thou shalt not kill" they bring nothing but tragedy and heartache. If anything, these events should remind us that God's principles for human living bring about the very best in quality of life. It's when we as wicked people rebel that tragedies like today happen. However, God is ready even now to offer peace, grace, mercy, and love to everyone who needs Him in this desperate hour. 

Moments ago I heard a commentator smirk with the question, "Where was God today?" Must I remind everyone that we have told God that He is not wanted in our schools, He is not wanted in our government, and often He's not wanted in our homes. Maybe today will serve as a reminder of How desperately we need Him in our culture. 

My heart breaks today for all those who were murdered, and like most people I have a specific pain in my heart when I think about the innocent blood of the children that was shed today. Not only the currently reported 20 children in this school shooting, but the other 3,500 little children that will be murdered today before they ever have the opportunity to be held by loving arms, or to play with a puppy, or make friends at school. My heart breaks for the 3,500 little babies that today will be considered an inconvenience, or unwanted, or a mistake. The health of 3,500 new Mothers will not be threatened today, but they will make a decision to end their child's life. This breaks my heart every day. God may have already given us the next great scientist who would've created a vaccine for the AIDS virus, or the next great doctor who would have found a cure for cancer, or the next great preacher who would've reached the world with God's love, but they were an inconvenience and thus were murdered before ever having the chance to draw their first breath. This breaks my heart every day. 

This a dark and tragic day in our nation. If your children came home safe today, then give them a hug and tell them you love them. Begin now raising them in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Make getting them to Sunday school a higher priority than getting them to ball practice. Set an example for them by living a life that builds up your community rather than tearing it down. Discipline them when they do wrong so they'll realize there are consequences when they do wrong. Teach them morality, virtue, and accountability, and do it by example. Pray with them, go to church with them, and teach them to read God's word by the example of you doing it. Love them, because tomorrow may not give the opportunity as today has so shockingly reminded us.

Put Some Clean Clothes On!

Ephesians 4:17-24 (17) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  (18)  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  (19)  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  (20)  But ye have not so learned Christ;  (21)  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  (22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Everyone who is a Christian has received a change of nature. We are literally brand new creations. Take special note of this passage. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Our new life is not a matter of adding something new to our old nature. We are literally transformed and have been made something new! - Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We must however be constantly reminded that our new nature is wearing what Dr. John MacArthur calls, “my humanness--the smelly coat that my new nature has to endure until it goes to be with the Lord.” What God calls you and I to do is take off that coat. - Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 

Not only are we to take off the old sinful clothing, but we are to put on the clothing of Christ-likeness. - Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Perhaps this verse should be the driving force in a new direction for our lives… Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

In Ephesians 4:17 until the end of the Epistle, the Apostle Paul focuses on how you and I are to take off the clothing of sin, and live our lives clothed in newness after the image of Christ.

The Ephesians’ world was appealing to the clothing of sinful humanity…

1. They had the largest bank in the world, and one of the wealthiest cities in the world.
2. Ephesus housed a giant museum in the temple erected to the Greek goddess Diana which housed all types of art, including a multi-breasted beast representing Diana which became the trademark symbol of the wicked culture.
3. The temple to Diana was filled with prostitutes calling themselves priestesses, and the religious practice was that of sexual depravity and drunken parties.
4. The Christians there had a difficult time living separate from the wickedness of the city.

I think we can now clearly see that the culture of Ephesian living was not so much unlike our culture today. We still worship at the altar of humanism. We still pursue our gross sexual lust at all costs. We openly embrace every type of materialism as if success is measured only by wealth and power. We are a culture that refuses God, and accepts hedonism. 

Before we meet Christ, we are no different from the world system mentioned above. We are saturated in lives of selfishness and sinfulness as the scripture clearly states. - 1 Peter 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Yet, now we are clearly commanded to abstain from these types of wickedness. We are commanded to remove the old coat of sin and self. - 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

What we must remember as we look at this text that this is not the opinion of men, but the command of God! - Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord,

Now we want to contrast and examine the old life and the new life, the old coat and the new coat. In verses 17-24 Paul does this with four contrasting characteristics. We have to understand that this is a matter of the heart and mind. It’s not a matter of reforming our actions, but a matter of changing our hearts. It’s a matter of genuine repentance. - Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Ephesians 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

THE OLD WALK

SELF CENTEREDNESS - (17) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, - This speaks of vanity! Self-centeredness! Solomon had everything and concluded that all was vain unless you served God! Oh that we might have the wisdom of Solomon. What does it profit us if we gain the whole world and lose our very own soul?

IGNORANCE - (18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: - No matter how educated a man may be, apart from Christ he is blind and unlearned. Apart from knowing Christ, he knows nothing of eternal value. What a pitiful condition Christians are in today. It seems we are pursuing all forms of knowledge, but lacking a deep knowledge of fellowship with Christ.

SHAMELESSNESS - (19) Who being past feeling – This speaks of the inability to have concern over the consequences of one’s actions. This is totally shameless behavior with no thought, care, or concern with how it affects anyone else.

PERVERSION - (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. – Let’s examine this perverse living…

• Lasciviousness means, “Shameless wantonness and unblushing obscenity.” It was used to speak of sexual and violent obscenity. What drives our culture today?
• To work with greediness means they literally make their living from evil, violence, and sexual misconduct. What drives our evil commercial marketing today?
• The entire culture of Ephesus was built around making merchandise of and marketing everything sinful and wicked that appealed to the pleasures of men. Does this not sound like our culture today?

So now let’s consider what we are to do with those things?

1. We are not like that anymore! (20)  But ye have not so learned Christ
2. We are to make every exhaustive effort to abstain from wickedness. (22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,

This passage stands as a strong reminder that we are to be different from the world. The sinful habits, perverse lusts, commitments to self and materialism, and indifference to serving Christ are to be a part of our past and not prevailing in the present. While the temptations to worldliness loom over head, we are to put on the new clothing of righteousness as we face each new day. Everything needed to in order to be suited with new attire has been provided: the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit, a new nature, the sacred scriptures, the local church, and the blessing of communion with God through prayer. To neglect dependency on any of these is to leave a portion of our lives unclothed and subject to be covered by the old attire of sin.

Prayer – Thank God today for making you a new creation in Christ. Praise Him for the great gift of salvation, and the gifts mentioned above which equip you for faithful living and committed service. Ask Him to examine your life and reveal any and every area in which repentance is needed. Plead on the behalf of other believers, and earnestly pray that He would do the same for them.