Standing in line at the local movie theater, worshipping in church with fellow believers, sitting in a lecture, watching the clock instead of listening to the professor. Bang. Bang. Bang. Gunshots ricocheting. What do you do when weekly Wednesday night services and Thursday Anatomy labs become life or death situations? What do you ask yourself in the midst of sheer panic, chaos, and trauma?
A few days ago, a city in Oregon was forever changed. For many, Oct. 1 marks the first day of the best three months of the year. Holidays are quickly approaching, leaves are falling and cooler weather calls for sweaters, scarves and boots. However, Oct. 1, 2015 marked another American tragedy. A gunman opened fire on the fourth day of the fall semester at Umpqua Community College; nine were wounded and 10 killed, including the gunman.
After witnesses on scene gave accounts to the press, it is now known the gunman singled out Christians, shooting them point blank in the head after they answered adamantly to their faith.
What happened last Thursday was horrific and it is not the time to politically manipulate the situation to enforce stricter gun laws. Roseburg, Oregon needs prayer. Our nation needs prayer.
It’s massacres like this one that lead non-believers and sometimes believers to question Christianity. They doubt the love and mercy of God. Everyone wants to know and understand one simple question. Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? My answer is quite simple. I do not know.
I claim to be a Christian. I am saved and loved by someone who died to know me, whether or not I loved him back. I am not perfect and I fall short everyday. I don’t have all the answers, and I am nowhere near to knowing a small fraction of them. I’m twenty-years old. I’m not the wisest person, and I don’t understand God’s reasoning. No one does, and nobody will until we meet Him.
I do know however, that no one who has walked, is walking, or will walk this earth besides Christ Jesus himself, is “good.” We are all sinners. I would be lying to you all if I said that I never had doubts about my faith. I believe that most Christians have, because we all want to know and understand the answers, but we can’t. So when I’m asked why God continues to let bad things happen, or even when I ask God himself why bad things happen, I have to remember a few things.
God did not create evil. He did not create sin. He created love, in turn creating free will. Humans chose to disobey. We brought this upon ourselves, yet we continue to blame the sovereign God for what happens around us. We choose the world over Him, but he waits for us to turn back and embraces us with open arms. He floods us with forgiveness. He sacrificed his One and Only Son, for us.
During his time on earth, Jesus did not promise us that we would not suffer. In fact, he did the opposite. In John 16: 33 (NIV), Jesus tells us “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Although bad things may happen, God has the power to turn it into good. I’m not saying that the events in Oregon last Thursday were good, because they are not. They are terrible. But not only does God promise hardship, he also promises blessings. He promises to always be there.
Like I said before, I am only twenty-years old. What I have to say on this issue, or any issue for that matter, is usually brushed off by many people. And for most, my honest answer of not knowing will not be enough. Nonetheless, the victims of Umpqua Community College shooting were not only murdered, but they were martyred. I pray for comfort and healing for their grieving families and friends, but I know those 9 students are up there singing with the angels and learning far more from Jesus than they ever would have in their Anatomy lab. Their radical and courageous faith is what every Christian should strive for. It is what I strive for.
Among the many articles I read the morning after the shooting, somewhere I came across pieces of President Obama’s statement, demanding stricter gun laws and stating that thoughts and prayers are not enough. Mr. President, I respectfully disagree. I hold my stance that it is not the time to bring up political matters. Taking away guns will not prevent school shootings, but bringing back God will. Prayer is enough. God is enough. Nothing we do will ever be enough, and I think that is something a lot of people struggle with. Humans are selfish and greedy. We long for power and fame. But there is only one who holds the power and glory to save this nation. Stricter gun laws will not save our nation, Mr. President. Jesus will.
My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved and affected by the events of last Thursday morning. My thoughts and prayers go out to our nation. My thoughts and prayers go out to the world.
