The Right Scoop
It is also not God's fault. Each of us has free will choice. in Deuteronomy 30:19 God tells us it is a choice 'between life and death; blessing and curse. Oh that I wish you would choose life.'
Yes there are people with mental illness but there are also people who commit evil for the sake of committing evil.
Why is it that a person who tortures an animal is sometimes referred to as 'cruel' but when a person massacres innocent children or people, immediately the conversation goes to mental illness.
Isn't it just possible there are people out there in control of their mental faculties but are so spiritually and morally bankrupt they would go to this level of violence? I think so.
To comment on someone's behavior immediately after something as tragic as that town has been through causes me to question either your age, experience or your intelligence?
No need for name calling Marine. I wish that punk that did the killing was alive so he could be killed. No doubt that piece of crap will have a special place in hell awaiting him.
I don't think I called a name and I didn't intend to insult you either. My apologies but I think everyone in that town with the exception of the shooter deserves the benefit of the doubt for most anything at this time. I know that this even is causing ME to act odd and I'm in Maryland and have no family in Connecticutt. That is all I was trying to convey.
Sorry, didn't intend on aggression with you, Maynard. We've always gotten along. Don't let this get in the way of that.
In fact, I admit, I'm having trouble putting this event someplace in head and heart and just haven't gotten there yet. Does that make any sense, whatsoever, to you?
Mr Rosen is another example for Grace being present even at such horrible, dark time.
Seeing this Grace in the acts of ordinary people is what lets me glance at this unspeakable crime.
What they did may look insignificant, weighed against the murder of innocents - but in fact it outweighs the horror and should give us hope that we're not all lost.
There are always stories of heroism and love that come out of these heiness acts but .......why?
I feel like MiketheMarine does. Mr Rosen you are a wonderful man, a godsend. Bless you! I have no doubt they will call you.
Very sad, but inspiring. This man is a hero. With every tragedy there are always people like him. That inspires me.
My very soul has been damaged by this event. I have trouble even posting about this. I feel actual, physical pain each and every time I think of it which is often.
Hi PhillyCon. I read yours and Mike's comments earlier. I wanted to hug you both.
I just got this in my e mail, and while it's still too soon to really make any kind of this hurt go away (if it ever does) and our emotions are raw right now, making any attempt at an answer seem pathetic, but this was excellent and I wanted to share it with you and anyone else who happens to see it:
The tragedy that shook Newtown, Connecticut, and indeed the entire nation, defies analysis. What must have gone on in the mind of this young man for him to walk into a school of little children and wreak such devastating carnage numbs the soul. At the same time this was happening, I was under the surgeon’s blade for minor surgery. When I left the recovery room and returned home, among the first pieces of news on my phone was the news of this mass killing. Something within me hoped that I was still not clear-headed, but I knew deep inside that I was reading an unfolding story of horror and tragedy. What does one say? What is even appropriate without violating somebody’s sacred space and their right to scream in protest?
I am a father and a grandfather. I simply cannot fathom the unbearable weight within a parent’s or grandparent’s heart at such a personal loss. It has often been said that the loss of a child is the heaviest loss to bear. I have no doubt that those parents and grandparents must wonder if this is real or simply a terrifying nightmare. My heart and my prayers are for them and, indeed, for the family of the assassin. How his father will navigate through this will be a lifelong journey.
When a mass-killer like this ends by taking his own life, there is an even deeper sense of loss. Everyone wants to know, “Why?” Not that the answer would soften the blow but it would at least give some clue, some release to speak, to hear, to try to work through. But all we are left with is twenty-eight funerals and lifelong grief. To all of those who have suffered such loss, may the Lord carry you in His strength and bear you in your grief. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
My own attempt at saying something here is feeble but carries a hope that somebody listening will make this world a better place. My heart goes back to Angola Prison in Baton Rouge where I met such people whose savagery took them to that destination. It was interesting to see a Bible in every cell and to hear many talk of how it had become their only means of life and hope. Someone with me said, “If we had more Bibles in our schools maybe we would need less of them here.” To the skeptic and the despiser of belief in God, I know what they will respond. I am quite convinced that the one who argues against this ends up playing God and is ultimately unable to defend any absolutes. Hate is the opposite of love and while one breathes death, the other breathes life. That is what we need to be addressing here. The seeds of hate sooner or later bear fruit in murder and destruction. Killers are not born in a moment. Deep beneath brews thinking and the animus that in a moment is uncorked. We are living in a society that nurtures hate on many sides with the result that lawlessness triumphs.
Even in ideal settings, killing can take place. Murder began in the first family when a brother could not stand the success of his sibling. The entire history of the Middle East–five millennia–is a tale of two brothers. Centuries of killing has not settled the score. Maybe in Adam Lanza’s case we will find a deep psychological reason behind what he did. But that does not diminish the reality that there lurks many a killer whose moment will come and the nation will be brought to tears again. We can almost be certain of that. Yes, we can discuss all the symptomatic issues—security, gun control, early detection signs, and so on. These are all worthy of discussion. But it’s always easier to deal with the symptoms rather than with the cause.
I wish to share what I think we must address or we head down the slope to a precipitous edge of brutality. The fiscal cliff is tame by comparison to the moral devastation ahead if we do not recognize the malady for what it is. Hate is the precursor to murder. Jesus made that very clear. Playing God is the dangerous second step where we feel we are the ultimate judge of all things and that we have the right to level the score.
Here, I would like to address our political leaders and media elite: You may personally have the moral strength to restrict your ideas to mere words but many who listen to you do not. To take the most sacred privilege of democracy and transform it into the language of aggression plays right into the hands of hate-mongers. This is not the language of a civil society or of wise leadership. It is not the ethos of a culture of co-existence. It is not the verbal coinage with which we can spend our way into the future. Our political rhetoric is fraught with division, hate, blame, and verbal murder. Our young are listening. Remember that what you win them with is what you win them to.
As for the entertainment world, what does one even say at a time like this? Calling for gun control and then entertaining the masses with bloodshed is only shifting the locus from law to entertainment. Do our entertainers ever pause to ask what debased values emerge from their stories? The death of decency is audible and visible in what passes as movie entertainment and political speech. This is the same culture that wishes to take away Nativity scenes and Christmas carols from our children. God is evicted from our culture and then He is blamed for our carnages. America is lost on the high seas of time, without chart or compass. The storms that await us will sink this nation beyond recognition if we do not awaken to the rapid repudiation of the values that shaped this nation. The handwriting is on the wall. Freedom is not just destroyed by its retraction. It is destroyed even more painfully by its abuse.
There is one more thing. It is so obvious but is seldom ever addressed. All these recent mass murders have been done by men. Many of them young men, yes, even mere boys. Jonesboro, Columbine, Virginia Tech, now Newtown. Is there something within our culture that doesn’t know how to raise strength with dignity and respect? Is this how boys are meant to be? From bloodletting in hockey games while thousands cheer to savagery in school shootings while thousands weep, we must ask ourselves what has gone wrong with us men? Where are the role models in the home? Is knocking somebody down the only test left for strength? Is there no demonstration now of kindness, gentleness, courtesy, and respect for our fellow human beings? One young man on death row in Angola Prison told me that he started his carnage as a teenager. Now in his thirties with the end of the road in sight, he reached his hand out to me and asked me to pray with him. Life was lost at the altar of power and strength.
The Bible only speaks of one remedy for this: the transformation of the heart by making Christ the center. Those who mock the simplicity of the remedy have made evil more complex and unexplainable. Every heart has the potential for murder. Every heart needs a redeemer. That is the message of Christmas. The world took that child and crucified Him. But by his triumph over death He brings life to our dead souls and begins the transformation within. Unto us a child is born and He shall save us from our sins.
Before the first murder was committed, the Lord said to Cain, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” To gain mastery over sin there is only one way. Just as Victoria Soto put herself in the way so that the children in her class might live, Jesus Christ put himself in the way that we all might live. That is the beginning of the cure for us as individuals and as a nation. All the laws in the world will never change the heart. Only God is big enough for that.
Ravi Zacharius
Mike:
I can't even begin to tell you what its like with those who have kids this age. I went to my child's school and almost broke down in front of his teachers.
I also can't tell you how scared I am every time my child gets on the bus.
PS-Probably first and last time I post about this.
Consider this one GIANT hug from a bear with a broken heart to you, my Friend. I apologize for the tears I've shed on your shoulder.
I've got a ton of Christmas shopping to do and am finding it nearly impossible. My heart and soul HURT. I've held a dieing friend in my arms and that isn't as bad as this. He knew what he was getting himself into, as did we all but 6 and 7 year old children?
What evil is this? I don't have any children of my own, though I wouldn't turn down that opportunity, I do have a 3.5 year old neice with downes syndrome who goes to school. If something ever happened to my little pixie, I ......I just can't imagine.
I am feeling that honest physical pain over this. I'm not accustommed to it nor do I know where to put it or how to process it. I am at a complete loss as to what to do or how to ease it.
Prayer, prayer and more prayer, that's what I'm trying but so far, still in pain.
I understand because this has shaken us to the core. All the more reason why we cannot let the light go out. Together we must muster our strength and courage; depend on each other and allow the light in each one of us to shine brighter than ever before. Many people are doing things to show they care. One person created a Faceboook page called '26 Acts of Kindness' where people can commit to doing 26 separate acts of kindness (even small ones); many people all over the world are doing something; I created a blog called "Light One Candle" at www.soulights.wordpress.com so people have an address to send a handwritten note or card in situations like this. The conversation needs to move away from gun control and move to accountability and personal responsibility. The only people who will adhere to laws are those who are law-abiding and would never carry out such an evil act. Yes, there may be a mental illness issue but it still should never give people a reason to abdicate some responsbility. And truthfully it is counter-intuitive and foolish to think that we will be safer if citizens do not have guns. As far as assault weapons - anything could be considered an assault weapon --- a baseball bat; scissors; knives; tire iron, etc. Will we ban those too? We really need to get real here and I think Texas has a good solution - arm the teachers.
I will be praying for you as well. I cannot watch TV, I cannot read these articles, but I saw your words and felt your pain and will keep you in my prayers along with the many who mourn.
I know, its sick. I usually have words ... but, not for this one. I am humbled before God.
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