In the aftermath of the Newtown shootings one question continues unanswered – Why? Some say mental illness, others say medications and personality disorder. Many are at a loss even attempting to answer the question of why. The Governor of Connecticut simply but accurately said, “Evil has visited this community today”.
If we are to accept evil as the answer to why these deaths occurred, then we must ask where does evil come from. Is evil a random force that wanders the world looking for someone to attack? Or is evil more personal? Is evil something that you and I are intimately acquainted with?
G.K. Chesterton, the noted British author, is said to have responded to the question, “What is wrong with the world”, by saying “I am”. I believe Chesterton is right. The Bible says:
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?” Jer. 17:9
To understand the awful evil of Newtown, we need only to look at ourselves. All of us, apart from the overwhelming power of God’s mercy, are willing slaves to evil. No, we may not have pulled the trigger in Newtown. But, we are all so desperately evil, that only the most unfair act in history could save us from our own sins, our own evil. Like many of you, tears came to my eyes as I learned the details of the murder of these children. It was wrong. It was unfair. It was shocking. However, these thoughts pale in comparison to the wrath that was unfairly poured out upon Jesus. He took the punishment for my sins on the cross where I should have been nailed. Unlike those slain in Newtown, Christ was truly and fully innocent. He who knew no sin became guilty for me, for you. We should weep for Newtown. We should weep even more for the love of Christ displayed on the cross.
Why Newtown? The answer is that mankind has rejected the truth of God and has attempted to solve problems as he thinks best. He has believed the lie of Satan. This is where evil comes from.
One thought on “Why?”
I agree with you, none of us can say that we are good. I don’t normally respond to post like this, in doing so I know that I fall short of God’s glory in everything. I am going to make an exception now. I know that evil does truly exist in the world we live in and you are right “man” has rejected the truth God has shown us and attempts every day to solve life’s problems by many’s thoughts. Before I share more, I want you and everyone who may read this I am not shaking my finger at anyone else more than myself.
I know that most of those slain were children and sin was there but most probably didn’t even understand what sin is. We have let Religion, (satin’s lie) mislead us into places God never intended us to be. Religion as preached and fought over throughout all the denominations of the world has cause so much confusion in the hearts of people just as much as if we were looking for lies. Religion is going to bring time as we know it to an end because we are still listening to man’s words and thoughts instead of accepting what Christ did on the cross for each one of us. We (Christian Denominations) talk the good talk but we war with one another because of all the man made rules and restrictions we place on others who don’t believe just like we do.
There is only one rule, and that is to, “Believe in Him whom He Sent.” The rest is mans way of trying to find rules we can live by. It is no wonder so many lost folks are so confused our there and there is so much mental anguish. All we who believe that is not living up to that one “rule” can blame the runaway problems on ourselves. Christ said, “You can know you belong to Me by the way you love one another!” Do we love one another enough to show the world the love we have received? If we did, our world would still be troubled but possibly there wouldn’t be so much resentment and fighting between the denominations so that God would hear our prayers and heal our land.
In light of this awful event not just here but in China as well or where ever it happens, I challenge those believers out there to humble yourselves and see where you really are at and turn your hearts to the living and loving God through Christ who makes all things work together for our good if we love Him so that our time on this earth how ever much it is, serves to hare a hope that is beyond man’s heart and plans.