Another shooting happened this week.
This time, it was in Sutherland Springs, TX, at the First Baptist Church.
Let us remember all of those affected and pray for peace, forgiveness, and strength to move forward.
It looks like it may have been a “domestic dispute” between the shooter and his in-laws.
It also appears he was a preacher of Atheism and the downfall of Christianity.
Regardless, and before I knew these tidbits, I could not help but think:
Is this the post-Christian America we have been promised for years?
Here are some of the reasons I ask:
- The usual call for stricter controls on guns and people began immediately.
- Groups like Antifa (Anti-Fascists) are calling for stricter laws across the board.
- There have been calls for how this is Christians’ fault, anyway, and to see how obviously their prayers were not being answered so how could there be any god.
First, Atheist and other non-religious groups have been calling for all forms of religion to be abolished and for “true human freedom” to reign, but without solid examples of how one must live. Now people wonder why our society seems to be going down the toilet. We removed moral absolutes, and they wonder why we act more like animals. It seems that without the Christian God to help teach us how to be self-controlled (Galatians 5:22-23), we rely on outward control. (i.e. More and stricter laws.)
This leads to the second point. We see groups claiming to be anti-fascist that promote known fascist governments. We see the call for the breakdown of walls between cultures with new walls to be up (such as wanting to celebrate what is great about other cultures but not letting those outside of those cultures dress up as them for Halloween). Because we cannot trust people to self-regulate (control their emotions), society must help by saying what others are allowed to think and do.
Finally, Christians and our God get mocked and blamed when this kind of violence erupts. Am I complaining about this as other prominent Christian leaders have been doing, perhaps calling for more protection for our religious beliefs\?
Actually, no.
This is what I expect to happen. Especially if we truly are a “post-Christian nation” … and if I believe the Bible.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:11
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’”
John 15:18-25
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
As we see society move farther away from God, I expect to see more people shooting at God — through shooting and otherwise attacking His people, the Church.
These things are crazy, stupid, and sad, but in a fallen world that lashes out at the very idea of God I expect it.
This should push us to pray all the more for peace, repentance, and the swift return of our Lord.
a simple man of God 