Shootings in churches are not unheard of. In the past 10 years, many churches from Neosho, to St. Louis, to Texas, to Georgia, and other states and cities have suffered the shock of these events. Though it did not happen to us at Timber Ridge, we can’t help from feeling vulnerable and fearful. I have talked with some of you this week about our plan in the event of a crisis like this. Let me share a few thoughts with you.
First, short of placing a military unit in strategic places around our church each Sunday, we will never be able to eliminate the threat 100%. We will have to learn how to deal with our own insecurities and eliminate what risks we can.
Second, the shootings in our churches tend not to be random, but perpetrated by someone who has had contact with the congregation. No security plan is as good as our people making the leadership aware of potential situations. Meeting and greeting people, engaging them in welcoming conversation is the best deterrent.
Third, remember that Satan, not politics, are the enemy we should be most concerned about. He desires to disrupt and interrupt what God is doing at Timber Ridge. He uses a variety of tactics, most often ones we are closest to, like gossip, anger and malice, conflict, jealousy, arrogance, moral and sexual indiscretions. With all the tools at his fingertips, he most often uses the ones we are most familiar with and those of which we are most unaware.
And fourth, God is still on the throne and He still loves and has fellowship with His children. God never leaves us, even in an active shooter situation. Midst all the tragedy, God comforts us. When we carry the burden of heavy grief, Jesus says, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28. He takes our tragedies and uses them to create good for our sakes. Satan can do what he wants, but he cannot overcome God. Jesus was no stranger to suffering. He suffered during his life, but also during His death on the cross. Satan thought he had gotten the best of God and thwarted God’s plan of redemption. Even the disciples could not see what God was up to. Yet, Satan worked right into what God was up to in Jesus. Through a mighty tragedy, one which destroyed the hopes of the disciples, God wrought our salvation and eternal life with Him.
Remember…God is with us always…God, Himself, comforts us…and God will bring good out of the most evil circumstances.