What can we do?

Newtown is not the first unspeakable act of horror that has saddened the nation and caused us to engage in all kinds of self-examination. Columbine, Virginia Tech and even 9/11 itself were only a few of history's recent heart-wrenching atrocities. But Newtown seems worse by several degrees because so many of the victims were young children - and indeed it is for that very reason.

The usual political debates didn't take long to commence - the gun-control talk being the most predictable, the discussion of mental health care and the overuse of psychiatric drugs also coming into prominence. Some of these discussions are more worthy than others, but none really get to the heart of the matter.

Here is something many do not want to hear, but it is the truth: Media types and certain politicians will ask the predictable question, "What must we do to make sure this never happens again?" The answer is: Nothing. There is nothing that can be done because it is impossible to make sure this never happens again. This will happen again.

It will happen again because evil is real, and evil is the result of the decision made by people to disregard God. Responsibility for the shooting lies with the shooter alone, but since people are asking how we as a society must respond to such an incident, here is the answer: Devotion to God brings love, and love brings spiritual power, which brings victory over evil.

How this one man's soul became so corrupted as to bring about an act of evil this egregious, perhaps we will never be able to trace with precision. But in a broader sense, a culture that refuses to devote itself to God leaves itself open to the kind of anger, frustration and fear that creates the atmosphere in which unspeakable evil can flourish. I am not proposing a political or legislative solution here. None can achieve what's necessary. The problem is far more cultural than it is political. A culture that mocks faith and celebrates libertine sensibilities over obedience to the Word of God helps to create the environment in which Newtown can happen.

Why? Because rejection of God lessens the role that God's love plays in bringing peace and deliverance to a nation.

People of faith must also understand: Our imperative is to love far more than it is to condemn. I have never seen anyone argued into loving God, or argued out of living an immoral lifestyle. But I have seen many people brought to the arms of God because someone loved them, and that love brought the spiritual power that won a victory in their lives.

There is much that must be done to comfort the people of Newtown, but when we ask how we must change as a society as a result of this, we must recognize: Newtown did not happen because we have failed to enact the right set of rules. It did not happen because of the way we have allocated public money. It happened because evil is real, and no matter how many laws you pass, evil will find a way to perpetrate unspeakable horror in a society that fails to make the love of God its most precious commodity.

I am not suggesting there is some tipping point, some level of critical mass, some target percentage of the population that - by turning to God - can end all such incidents. Darkness fights back. The people of the light need to understand that. I am also not suggesting some massive new national initiative designed to bring people to God. There are already plenty of ministries that offer God's Word. The change I'm suggesting is that people listen and open their hearts.

There is a weapon we can deploy against such evil. That weapon is love, which allows us to live in the grace of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no guarantee that love will win every battle, or that we will never see the likes of Newtown again. But we know that God's love is eternal, and that the darkness that comes against it is not. This is the only answer for those engaged in soul-searching over yesterday's evil.

"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." - Romans 8:6

"I was wrong"

I don't believe there are 3 more difficult words to say in the English language. It doesn't matter how you say it, fast, slow with a British accent, when those words come out of your mouth they leave a bitter taste. Maybe that's why we have such a hard time admitting when we are wrong (that didn't even feel good typing it). But alas being mere humans we are all called upon at least one time in our life to say those dreaded words.

So I write this today to let you know "I was wrong" (nope still doesn't taste good). I am not going to tell you about what I was wrong about because that is irrelevant to this story. I was sitting  in my anger  and righteous indignation, when suddenly I realized I had been the one wrong when for the longest time I thought I had been right.  I quickly became upset with myself knowing that I had spent a year being upset at a perceived injustice that was not an  injustice after all, it was only an injustice in my head. 

As humans why do we fear being told we are wrong and why do we go to such great lengths to cover up that we are wrong? Must be that original sin thing that has been handed down from generation to generation. Remember what happened in the garden nobody wanted to be wrong and take the blame, they played the fun game of pass the buck. Adam said "That Women" Eve said "The Serpent" the Serpent said "What were we talking about". 

I now realize that I spent too much time and effort to appear right and not enough time listening and understanding what was actually happening. My quest to be right had blinded me to the truth and reality of the situation. It was a hard and valuable lesson to learn, provided I actually learn something from this and don't fall back into thinking I am always right.  At least for now I understand I was wrong in this situation, that's right, I said it, I was wrong (Nope still doesn't taste any better).

I'll never be wrong again I promise

Pastor Steve