YOU Can Help Change Things!

How do we react when evil people do evil things? As I think about the killing spree in Aurora I can't help but wonder how people are reacting. Fear? Depression? Apathy?

No doubt some are using it to score political points. Some are trying to use it to preach against the evils of guns and/or gun control laws. Others seem to be ignoring it altogether. Facebook is full of calls for prayer, and also full of indications that life is continuing as it always has.

My concern is about the response. We cannot control what people do. As long as we are alive, we always control how we respond. So how should a Christian respond? Assuming you do not know the individual who went on the rampage, I want to offer some thoughts about processing this tragedy. There are some certainties in this terrible situation--things that we can KNOW that we would do well to remember.

Evil Exists Through Freedom of Choice

Bad people are going to do bad things. That does not excuse anyone, but it is a reminder that  sometimes people make very bad decisions. There is no point in blaming anyone but the man who pulled the trigger so many times. It's neither Romney's nor Obama's fault. It's not the economy, video games, nor failed gun control laws. It is certainly not God's fault, but there is little doubt but that He will be blamed.

Through His eternal wisdom, God blessed us with the freedom to make decisions.  In matters of choice, God cannot be blamed for the poor choices humans make. But Satan is the master manipulator. He will convince people they have no choice but sin, just like he convinced the shooter. Therefore, with freedom comes the opportunity for evil. Evil always involves a decision.


That's not to say I am against freedom. To be free to choose is a great privilege! For evil to exist there must be decisions, but the same is true for goodness to exist. Goodness is a choice.

This is a Spiritual Discussion

The reason we do good or evil has everything to do with what we believe. Our beliefs determine our actions. It will always be this way.

Some will undoubtedly suggest that accidents happen, and I would not disagree with that. But (generally speaking) good and evil do not come by accident. That is why what happened in Aurora, Colorado should be discussed at a spiritual level.

We will probably never know all the reasons for a massacre like that. Evil people cannot always be understood. Those who do such terrible things likely do not have a firm enough grasp on reality to adequately describe anything relating to their real motives. Motives are tricky things. Often we are fooled by them. We look at ourselves and think our actions are based on the purest of motives when later we discover that we were not as pure as we thought. A person who can pull the trigger on hundreds of people for no apparent reason other than thinking he was playing out some role in his mind likely will never be able to grasp his true motivations. But outside his own personal growth and development, his motives are irrelevant.

What is important to discuss, however, is the power of ideas and beliefs. They determine everything about us and determine our future.

What things should we believe? Where do our ideas originate? Is there a standard for thought so that we can ensure the greatest chance of preventing such terrible deeds in the future?

The Bible, properly understood and applied, is able to give us a wonderful foundation for life. Its words form the foundation of all that is good in the world. Its teachings will give people a tremendous amount of good ideas to draw from. That tormented soul who mercilessly killed all those people got his ideas about reality from some place, but not from a proper understanding of the Bible. 

It's time we started opening up that Good Book, reading, and understanding it. If we want to help prevent such terrible things in the future, we must call on people to properly understand and apply the Scriptures. In spite of the liberal and atheistic attacks against the Bible, it is the best thing for our country and our world! The more society conforms to the teachings of Jesus and His apostles, the more society's members will shun terrible choices.

Let the people push for change, but let that change be to allow the Bible back into the mainstream. Let us rise and teach others the Bible, one person at a time, until all have heard. Many will believe, but we've got to tell them what it says! God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Let's not keep it a secret any longer! 

This is how to change things: Change the way the people think. Change the way they think by introducing new ideas into their minds. Those ideas must be God's if we have any hope for improving anything in this world. The world around us is full of ignorance. Everyone owns a Bible. Very few read it. We will have to get out there and read it to them!

What are some ways YOU can teach people about the Bible who do not know much about it?