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Robert W. Odom, Ph. D.
Over the last few days, I have had several discussions about the recent shootings in Nashville. One of the themes of the debate has been about how God can allow a child to be killed when God could have intervened and prevented it. For some, this has created a crisis of faith. The concern has been how God could allow this to occur at a Christian school when so many people prayed over the school before the shooting. When it comes to these discussions, there are no easy answers. Also, we must understand that many of our questions will never be answered. The fact is that we will not fully understand why such things happen.
Before we discuss anything else, let me say this. God is a good God. He loves us with passionate love. Because bad things happen does not mean that He has forsaken us. God is also a just God. To be a loving God, He must also be a just God. I do not always understand what God does or why He does it, but I know He loves me and this world.
That said, I will make a few comments that apply to this discussion. I desire that it generates a conversation and a journey toward truth. This is not an attempt to draw lines in the sand but to look at a couple of things that must be addressed about this issue.
My first observation in this discussion is that bad things happen to good people. Scripture defines this as the sun rising on the just and the unjust. It also rains on the just, and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). Bad things happen. In most cases, we cannot control these things. Some believe that people of faith are exempt from tragedy and sadness. But the Scripture does not support this view. We have many stories where people face very difficult times. We find this with the disciples. We see this with Jesus Himself. We find this with the early church fathers.
Unfortunately, people around us will get sick, have problems, and die. This includes children and loved ones. However, it is critical to note that this does not mean that we do not have faith or that our prayers are worthless. From this perspective, Paul wrote that we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power of God belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way; but not crushed; perplexed; but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down; but not destroyed … (2 Corinthians 4:7-10). Scripture also reminds us that the inward strength for endurance is most important.
Paul was a man of faith. He was a pastor and an organizer of the early church. Paul experienced trouble. He was beaten. He was rejected by spiritual leadership. The political and social leaders ran him out of town. He was shipwrecked. He had a health issue. Friends betrayed him. As a man of faith, he was not immune from difficulties. And yet, he grew in grace. At one point, he wrote these amazing words. Though outwardly we are wasting away yet, inwardly, we are being renewed (2 Corinthians 4:16-19).
A second thought here is that, as humans, we have been created with the ability to choose and make decisions. Our decisions have consequences. These can be positive, but they can also be negative. And many times, our decisions have unintended consequences. When awful acts of violence occur, it is because of multiple choices, not just one. These are choices by the one who has committed the act and by those who have influenced their lives.
We have often seen that those who commit these acts have been rejected by society or a particular group. Many times, they have been bullied and have had unkind acts committed against them. Rather than love, one group has decided to reject another. They often do not fit the other’s mold or belief structure. Sometimes these people want to be acknowledged and recognized, even if it is through negative means.
There are several motivations for bad decisions. Selfishness is at the core of many of our bad choices. Unmet expectations, wounds, and hurt all impact our ability to make good or bad decisions. This is why we often find that the one carrying out the mass shooting has been traumatized through bullying, rejection, or abuse. These emotional deficits cause reactions and decisions to be made that are unhealthy and lead to bad decisions. Because they are in pain, they want to afflict pain on others.
The fact that cannot be denied is that evil exists and is very real. From the beginning of time, as we know it, evil has existed. Tragedy moves us to action. When we talk about mass murder, several solutions are presented. One extreme suggests that if we eliminate all guns, we will not have mass murders. The second extreme is to create stronger laws and lock people up. A third issue is the issue of mental health.
In my opinion, we need reasonable gun control laws. However, removing guns may not do as much as expected, as people will still react angrily to issues. I remember in the 60s, and 70’s when bombs were used in major cities to cause destruction and inflict as much pain as possible. We cannot forget the bombing of the FBI building in Oklahoma City in 1995, where 168 were killed, and 680 were injured. The evil intent of humankind is hard to change and eradicate.
In the mental health discussion, there is no doubt that we need to do more for those with mental health issues. I know that here in Richmond, there is a six to 12-month wait for professional counseling. Unfortunately, this does not account for those who manage to stay under the surface and are not seen or admit that they have an issue that needs to be addressed.
I finish this where I began. There are no easy answers. We must pray and seek to do good in all things. We must seek to honor God in our actions and the way we treat those who are most wounded. We need to reach out to those who are flying under the radar. As I often say, this is not easy, but necessary.
So let me ask you:
- Have you had a crisis of faith because of what happens in society? How have you managed this? Perhaps you need someone to talk to. Sometimes we need someone to help us process the challenges of life.
- Who do you know who needs a friend? Do you know someone who needs the support of friendship?
- Do you live in the extremes or have a balanced view of what’s happening in the world?
- Pray for God to help you shine His light into a dark world.
© Robert W. Odom 2013
Life on the edge 