What's with all of the shootings?

Crandon, Wisconsin. Sunday, October 7th. 2:45am.

Tyler Peterson was a 20 year-old deputy who killed six people, then died himself (probably suicide). This took place at a party where a bunch of young adults were having pizza and watching a movie. The motive and the situation was not clear, but what is clear is that a number of people are now dead. Apparently, Peterson was taken out by a sniper after someone in the house called the police. In the CNN news report, one of the girls, Karly Johnson, 16, was interviewed and knew him said:

"He was nice. He was an average guy. Normal. You wouldn't think he could do that."

As I read this, I heard the all-too common echoes from other recent tragedies come to my mind. My memories start with Columbine. Roughly 16 students die in what seems to be a killing modelled after the "Matrix." The killers cooly killed classmates and friends before claiming their own lives. They left a mess. I was reminded of the sniper, who killed about 8 people at random locations. It turned out that "the sniper" was an Islamic father and son team who thought they were doing a good thing. The son was 17 years old. Virginia Tech screams out as one of the more recent tragedies. My cousin-in-law went there; and since I am from Maryland, it's hard not to hear of people who were personally hurt by the shootings. You would practically have to have been cut off from all news to have not heard about it. Speaking of close to home, I am reminded of a shooting that took place in the Annapolis Mall, which is where I worked over the summer, and I had at least a couple of good friends right there when it happened. A man ended up shooting several people before being gunned down himself. I know there are other examples, but just these have come to mind at the moment.

It is sad that so many incidents of this sort occur. In this most recent murder, a 14 year-old girl was shot. It reminds me of the recent pain and losses that have happened at The King's College. Ben's sister died in a car crash. Brekly's dad is in the hospital and not doing well. Katelyn's grandmother just died. Kurtis has cancer. The list goes on.

I have a couple of reflections, one on the specific shooting that I referenced, and one of tragedy in general.

In the shooting, the reason that the girl's quote jumped out at me is because she would have never guessed that Peterson would have gone on that rampage. It seems like I've heard that before. People are surprised. "He seemed like a normal guy." "I don't know what happened." "I never saw it coming." Why do they do it? Is it because of violence in video games and T.V.? Some would say so. Remember how one guy created a video game that let you re-enact the killings at Virginia Tech? Some say that war games are turning young men into mindless killers. There may be some truth to that. But it is a very broad, sweeping generalization...and not the status quo. As John Elderedge would say, something is deeply wrong with the masculine psyche. These are symptoms of a larger problem in our culture. I would tend to agree. What specifically those problems are, I'd have to reflect on more.

But second, why is there so much grief, in the world, and specifically now, at Kings? That is two different questions. The first can be answered: we are in a fallen world, and we still have the consequences of sin slap us in the face every day. The second question is harder to answer, because it is much closer to home. For some here at Kings, it strikes right at home. But why? Is it not enough that we are working to further the Kingdom of God to shape the world? Will God not protect us as we do this great work? I ask: did he protect Jesus? Did he protect Paul? Did he protect Stephen? Did he protect Peter? Justin Martyr? Christians have been often the ones to suffer in a society. This is not because God has given up on them, or because God is not powerful enough to save. Satan may be a big reason behind it. And as Jesus said, the world hates those whom He loves. It's just such a shock when we are the ones attacked because we live in a "safe" country. In a "safe" culture...as long as you don't stand out too much. Americans have been trained to be tolerant (like a castrated animal...but that's material for another blog). Christians, particularly here at Kings are surprised. At least I know that I am surprised. I trust God, but I question his reasons. I question in a wondering way, not in an accusitory way. I believe he is powerful, he is knowing, and he is good. But I don't understand all of the details.

Neither did Job. If I got nothing else out of Dr. Lockett's lecture last year on Job, it is that God is great and God is near, and that is enough. Sometimes, we just don't get an explanation. But I have my guesses.

The Kings community signed a covenant before God, saying that we will abide. The leaders are working to abide in Jesus (think John 15). Maybe we are being attacked harshly because we are doing things right. Satan seems to like to work subtly. But when that fails, he pulls out the big guns. It could be that it is not Satan at all, but that God is testing us. Will be truly abide, even though he is testing us?

May we, like the victims of the party in Wisconsin, overcome our surprise and ask answers. But when we ask the answers, may we come to the conclusion that whatever happens to us and those around us, we still know how to live. The Oakes said it best. Ginger Oakes said, "The Christian life is the best life." She said this after months of dealing with her husband's bout with cancer. And President Stan Oakes himself said: "I want to be a servant of Jesus Christ. That's the best life." May we agree.

Taking Every Thought Captive,

Zachary