These mass killings are clear indicators of how broken mankind really is! From plowing people over on a bicycle path in lower Manhatten (November 1, 2017) using a rented pickup truck, killing 8, to using AR15's to take the lives of the seventeen innocent people in the Parkland high school by Nikolas Cruz (February 14, 2018), these awful incidents remind us that life is precious, but many, many people don't really care. Mental illness is often blamed, but consider this: there are many, many mentally ill people who would never attempt such darkness.
And -although not a mass shooting - yesterday, another school shooting happened here in my home State of Maryland. Who knows - it may have become a mass shooting if the shooter had not be stopped; we will never know. Regardless, the brokenness of mankind is clearly evident.
The answer will probably never be known regarding the small town of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The killer is dead. But even if the motives were clearly spelled out, the question of "Why" will not leave us. In this case, the sacred and hallowed ground of a church was not enough to dissuade Mr Devin P. Kelley from killing 26 people and injuring others. Sure, Mr. Kelley left many troubling signs in his life that, if key people were paying attention, may have prevented this carnage and tragic ending for more innocent people.
There is hope, however - but it's not in this life. I am not a prophet of doom, nor pessimistic nor negative. The hope I have is well established and based on three things that we all long for: faith, hope, and love; and especially love. I am convinced that the worldview and picture of reality presented by the Christian faith is absolutely true! The faith recognizes our brokenness while offering a real solution to those willing to embrace it. Jesus Christ holds out real hope, but it is not in this life. However, the hope offered gives purpose, meaning, joy, and fulfillment while living in this life, regardless of what happens. We can morn and experience sorrow within an integrated universe that offers some real answers. We know the general "WHY" regarding such tragedies and we can respond in love to those so hurt, even if it is ourselves that are hurt. Why else could Pastor Frank Pomeroy, the father of one of the young women killed in Sutherland Springs Texas actually preach love the very Sunday in a tent - and many others who lost loved ones praise God, raising their hands in affirmation? Why else could Pastor Al Meredith, back in 1999 preach love and forgiveness (Wedgwood Baptist in Fort Worth, 1999 shooting)? Inherently, we admire this type of response and internally, we don't call these people fools but faithful. Yet, many, many people, even those that claim Christianity, struggle with such love.
Regardless, I know that love and hope are needed in our divided world. I do hope that there is more reasonable gun control laws. But even if there aren't I can boldly proclaim that there is hope for mankind even though we hurt, maim, and kill each other personally and brutally in war. There is hope and love and my prayer is that more and more of those who claim the name of Jesus Christ will be faithful, showing this world what love and hope look like, even as many broken and evil people continue to cause division, hate, and havoc in the world. As our faith tells us to do, "...set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming" (1 Peter 1:13).
Feel free to post thoughts and comments below.
