This past week we were shocked at the news that a 24 year-old gunman opened fire at a theater premeiring the new Batman movie. Twelve people were killed and 58 injured. Every news show on every channel was broadcasting the events as they unfolded. The commentators interviewed witness after witness, victims, and experts in law enforcement filling every moment they could with the tragedy. I watched with all of you, horrified at the carnage.
The questions came to me as they have to you. How could somebody do that? Were they angry? crazy? trying to make a point? a terrorist? Why couldn’t the police have stopped it? And where was God? Why didn’t He stop it? How do we tell people of the loving God when their lives have been shattered. Truth is…I don’t know how to answer these questions. I do have some words of advice.
First, limit the amount of time you give to the coverage of this event. No one can watch all the TV that is being devoted to this. Do not let it consume your life. It was an immeasurable tragedy, but still, life has to go on. We still have to go to work, be with our family, and rest. If you give it too much time, someone else that needs YOU will be left wanting.
Second, pray for the families of those killed and injured. God is still in the healing business and there will be a lot of raw emotions and broken hearts that need Him. Pray that God would send the right people their way with His word of healing and grace.
Third, I don’t know where God was or why He let this happen. In the gospel of Luke (13:1-5) Jesus is confronted by some people wrestling with the news of a tragedy in Galilee. Apparantly Pilate had killed a number of Galileans and it appeared to be a senseless slaughter. Jesus’ response was “Do you think they were terrible sinners because they died this way? I tell you, no!” Apparently, those killed were just ordinary people who didn’t deserve to die. Those who confronted Jesus wanted to know if these people died because of their sins, in other words, ‘where was God in all this’? Jesus went on to relay the story of the 18 who died when the tower of Siloam suddenly fell on them. They were innocent victims just as the people in the theater in Colorado. His reply was, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
In other words, we cannot be consumed with why things happen to others and neglect our own relationship to God. We will never understand why things happen. We can understand our accountability to God. How is your relationship?