Las Vegas Carnage

WHY, Lord, Why??

It is really sad that a single individual could go on for about 10 minutes shooting and killing innocent people.  Right now, every major news agency on the planet has story after story about the Las Vegas shooting which - at this time, has claimed the lives of 59 people and injured 527 others at the Route 91 Harvest Festival.  Unfortunately, the Harvest Festival will have this event etched into it's soul forever.

I've read a number of stories and of course comments from the public.  ISIL has claimed that Stephen Paddock, the shooter, was a recent convert to Islam.  As of my writing, no official statement from Las Vegas or federal authorities have confirmed this claim, at least I am not aware of such confirmation.

By now, we all know that Paddock was financially solid, even wealthy.  In trying to answer the "why" people have speculated that he lost a great deal of money gambling. Yet, by all indicators, he seemed to be stable enough to handle the loss of large amounts of money.  It is claimed that he became well off financially through real estate. If that is true, then Paddock knew how to deal with the ups and downs, and winning and losing that accompany such financial transactions.

Of course, many many people, both well known and private individuals, have spoke about the political and social challenges of gun control, violence in video games and on television, in the entertainment business, and the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution.  The topic always comes up when this type of evil occurs. Pundits with many different opinions insensitively shout out their respective messages with the obvious yet irrelevant mantras that separate the weapons from the murderers or decry or laud the merits or demerits of the 2nd Amendment. Read through the comments of any article on the Las Vegas shooting and you will see such comments from people all over the map.  Even the noted atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins mockingly, sarcastically, and with great insensitivity blames gun control and the US 2nd Amendment for this tragedy.

Aside from the condolences, the mourning, and tears, many are wondering WHY, desperately wanting to know the motives behind Stephen Paddock's rampage.  This is the real question and the question I initially stated.  We think that knowing the answer would help - and for some, it might aid in the grieving process.  We may collectively think that if we know the answer, we can do more to prevent this from happening again.  Sadly, history screams against such results.  If knowing the right thing to do would prevent evil, terror, violence, abuse, greed, selfishness, war, human trafficking, child-abuse, domestic violence, and a thousand other social ills, mankind should have already conquered such problems.  But we have not.  Reality is painful and my prayer is that the people of God do not grow cold, bitter, cynical, and negative because of such reality.

I am convinced that we may never know WHY.  In fact, even if we find out some of the reasons Paddock did what he did, it will still not really answer the question.  Spiritually speaking, the values, beliefs, ideals, and guiding principles that direct a person's soul can only be understood by God. (Which is why God is the only one that can ultimately judge and condemn).  Many times, we ourselves may not even fully understand why we do what we do!  Most of what we do is inconsequential, but when our actions and behaviors begin to radically negatively impact the lives of other, those consequences can be terrible, as they were in the case of the Las Vegas shooting from this past Sunday, October 1, 2017.

I am also convinced that the real problems we have as individuals and collectively in our social, societal and national alignments - the real problems are spiritual in nature.  It's interesting to me that an atheist like Dawkins would comment on indiscriminate death.  From an atheist perspective, what gives mankind the right to survive over any other species? ...but I digress.  When our values, beliefs and spiritual practices are based in TRUTH, dealing with such tragedy becomes bearable.  Of course, the real question then is not WHY but what is the TRUTH?

The question of Why may not be answered but the heart and soul of real people can be comforted by the support and love of others.  I hope and pray that each victim's family and close friends are surrounded by supportive, loving and caring people that can aid in the healing and moving-on in life from this terrible, terrible act.

Sex and Violence

Please don't condemn my beliefs and practices. in other words, "don't judge me".  This is the moral battle cry in our American society and it is spreading all over the world.

I just met a young man at a retail outlet, maybe 25 or 30 years old, where we engaged in a very lively discussion about life, work, marriage, race, sex and community.  (I often have deep conversations with strangers!) He hopes to be successful in the photography and video editing business and he understands deeply the power of effective marketing because he seems to easily grasp human nature.  He explained to me that when a YouTube video channel is all about sex and violence, then it is no longer shocking or engaging.  However, when you strategically include sex and violence, then you build a brand that is powerfully engaging.  This is somewhat an over simplification of part of our discussion, but it was definitely a part our almost 30 minute conversation.

Now, as a Christian, I really don't want to fill my mind and heart with sex and violence, stragegically placed or not.  For me, sexual and violent content - especially gratuitously placed, doesn't do anything to help me grow as a husband, father, man of God, neighbor, employee or anything else.  However, the gentleman I met has great potential to be very successful in his dream, including the strategic use of sex and violence in his future photographs and videos.  Why do we differ? My moral compass is determined by my best attempt at understanding the teachings of Jesus and the apostles but his moral compass seems to be the same as the average american: based on a sense of perceived/felt right and wrong, unconsciously derived from a loosely agreed to standards by the population.

For most people, the standard for right and wrong seem to be based on a statistically normal set of beliefs and values. Ideas and words that would be considered positive that reflect this unconscious standard are progressive, enlightened, flexible, humanistic, humanitarian, tolerant, understanding, broad-minded, receptive, unbiased, unbigoted, unprejudiced and of course open-minded. Values or traits such as intelligent, advanced, reasonable and even rational fit into this standard.

Some Christian theology and the practices can be considered intolerant, bigoted, arrogant, and generally the opposite of these ideas.  For example, to believe that one should resist and not fulfill certain desires could be considered bad or wrong. As a specific example, the theology of salvation - called soteriology - may teach that there really is a literal spiritual realm which includes Heaven and Hell, angels and demons, and other unseen forces.  In addition, Christian theology may also teach that after we physically die, our spiritual essence or our conscious spirit end up in heaven or hell for all of eternity.  This is an undesirable idea for most so many my avoid discussing it in order to help others avoid discussing the undesirable possibility of dying and ending up in Hell.  This belief (theology) and resulting practice would be wrong in an American value system as described above - allowed, but wrong.  The allowed belief is understandably not warmly embraced.  After all, who wants to be told that "unless you repent, you too will perish [ultimately in hell]" (Luke 13:3,5).  I know I don't.

Like my new friend, most people accept the idea of determining right and wrong based on popular opinion.  Thus, we will defend another's right to create and view violent and overly sexulaized images, videos, music, poetry, etc.  For many, it's good to even practice certain behavior as long as it's consensual and no one gets physically or emotionally hurt.  The HBO fantasy series, Game of Thrones, apparently has been accused of having such content, but the show is watched by between 8 and 10 million fans. One of the "right and good" message based on the normalized value system is this:  If you don't like it, don't watch it.

Restricting ones behavior, for example, by avoiding profanity, sex outside of marriage, marriage between an unrelated man and woman is not very popular nor is it easy. Leaning to stop lying and stealing, ensuring that we honestly pay taxes, obey the speed limit or even put in a full eight-hours of work for a full eight-hours of pay is not always embraced by individual people, including my new friend.   Our basic cultural values seem to be something like this: As long as another person is not overtly hurt, anything goes!  However, what is the real cost of living like this?

I know that I have been deceived and enticed by my own undisciplined desire to watch television shows and movies that are filled with sexual and violent content.   The fact is, even as adults, we are actually influenced by what we read, watch, listen to and otherwise experience.  The tantalizing images and topics that include strategic or overt depictions of sex and violence negatively influenced my ability to actually be strategic and disciplined in areas that really count - my marriage and family, my ability to help others, my faith, my business and professional skills and my personal financial and economic growth.  There are always exceptions, but the vast majority of people will not reach the top of any field or profession by flooding their minds with sex, violence, profanity, lying, cheating, greed, selfish desires, lust for power, lust for pleasure and the like.

Using income as an example, of the 125 million or so families in the United States (using 2016 cesus numbers), the average household income is about $52,000 annually.  However, the top 10% earn about $300,000 annually.  However, even more extreme is net worth - the top 5% have a net worth of about 2 million, while the average is a bout $300,000. The fact is, the top 5% or 1% of wealth builders do NOT watch television, do not listen to the news, and do not lie, cheat or steal.  Generally the wealthy get wealthy and stay wealthy by avoiding the tantalizing images and influences that are primarily based on greed, pleasure and power.  Thus they live below their means, drive an older but late model car, stay married to the same person, and live in a typical plane-jane suburban home - nothing fancy.  (Check out the Book, The Millionaire Next Door).

The sad truth is that overtly sexualized content coupled with violence and other tantalizing things simply does not work.  Moderation and self-control must be practiced, as it is written, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise," (Eph 5:15).

Personally, I know I have a very long way to go and getting rid of the images and replacing it with what is godly.  I must learn to be a disciplined person, exercising self-control in the various areas of my life including what I eat, how I take care of my self, my family, and my responsibilities, and what I watch and listen to.  Knowing the principles and the things that should be done doesn't make anyone able to actually do them.  It is difficult, otherwise, everyone would do them. So then, starting with yourself (as I must start with myself), don't let the lies of the movies, the music, the television, and the natural selfish desires for pleasure, riches and power and the tantalizing allure of overtly sexualized and violent entertainment as well as the news media deceive you.  What goes in our minds and hearts is what will come out.  Don't be ignorant but be wise.  This is definitely one of my life goals.  I hope my new friend will also figure this out before he is successful and making and publishing still photos and images along with well-edited video (assuming he will become successful) because adding more of the strategically placed sex and violence based material doesn't help anyone in the long run.

Ignorant Truth

I recently listened to Heather MacDonald video on the Black Lives Matter movement entitled, "Does The Truth Matter?". You can look this up easy enough.

She quotes a number of statistics about crime and the murder rate in cities and the disproportionate amount of blacks that get killed and are arrested because they commit a disproportionate number crime.

She clearly believes what she's saying. But she completely misses the socio-economic and most importantly, historical issues behind the numbers she so easily quotes. In her own lifetime, blacks have been subjected to a disproportionately smaller number of opportunities. This includes jobs, education, finances, business relationships, acceptance, and many other non-opportunities.

It is true, that any person; black, white, Hispanic, aboriginal, Chinese or whatever - can achieve almost anything in the United States of America. That is true today and I definitely believe it. However, there is a real psychological barrier for many blacks and a real unconscious psychological advantage for many whites which our American historical legacy of what was predominantly chattel slavery, has left in this great country.

I do not think any amount of activism is the ultimate solution. In fact I'm not sure what the solution is outside of the return of Christ! At least not a solution that's based on this world. However, as a Christian, I am convinced that the solution is somehow connected to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Christ a black man should be willing to look at another black man who is about to commit a crime or even kill him, and take the risk to reach into that man's soul to potentially turn him around. In Christ a white man should be willing to enter into the inner city that is predominately black, to teach about the love of Christ.  In Christ, a black man should be willing to reach across racial lines to dies to his own ethnic comfort zone to touch the soul of a white man on his terms.  In Christ, a white person should be willing to teach another white person how to die to themselves to see the world from a black or other ethnicities perspective.  In Christ, we should all take into our heart the principle echoed in 1 Corinthians 6:7; as opposed to fighting - especially in a court in front of non Christians, "why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be cheated?" These ideas echo God's truth from an eternal perspective regardless of the ethnicity the Christian happens to be.  (The fact is, even from my atheistic friends, there is no such think - biologically speaking on the DNA level- of race!) Any Christian who understands the gospel will be willing to die to serve and help another human being no matter how hostile that other human being may be.

So, my white brothers and sisters in Christ - you may not get it, but you need to TRY to reach across the lines to embrace the spirit of the Black Lives Matter message.  If you are from the United States of  America, then accept the fact that you - like me - are a fallen human being. Our issues are different.  As Christians, you MUST accept mine - no excuses; and I must accept yours.  When we resist or get defensive, nothing godly is accomplished.  We must die to ourselves and take up our cross daily.  We must become more and more like Christ.  We can celebrate our diversity and our culture - be it white or black american, or any other cultural heritage we bring with our diverse families, but ultimately, we must honor the Lord with our very lives.  I'm not sure if Heather MacDonald is a Christian, but even if she isn't, the historical fact of chattel slavery in this country will take centuries to un-do.  I think we are on the path, but I have to say - the election of Donald Trump sure has revitalized the discussion, for good or for ill.