It’s almost sadly predictable. Christians in this country seem to know exactly why God allowed or perpetrated tragic events in our country. And, without seeming prayerful consideration, biblical qualification or compassion, they make sure people know about it.
So it should be no surprise that, in the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, CT, that some claim that God, at the very least, allowed this massacre because of banned school prayer, removing God from school, etc.
I don’t have the space or energy here to give my interpretation of the tragic school shooting or delve into theodicy. My clear thought is as follows:
Let’s not presume to know or declare God’s will in such specific and tragic circumstances.
Especially in the face of mourning. Especially when the ones suffering are the neighbors whom we’re called to sacrificially love.
We should be careful to believe such confidently-stated yet biblically-unjustified interpretations of God’s will and judgment, or anything similar. Earlier this spring, there was a shooting at a college where, not only is God “allowed,” He’s even celebrated. Hurricane Katrina destroyed more churches than casinos. The list of questions and doubts goes on, and it also seems to insultingly oversimplify (and underestimate) God’s will to assume it in such political, convenient and, to be honest, nation-centered terms.
In closing, it’s in fact very biblical to suggest our country (or any country or the world, for that matter) is inviting God’s general judgment with our disrespectful disregard for Him and His Word, and with our continual failure to be a moral and peaceful society. (I know such an idea is offensive to some people). However, it’s not biblical to go further and declare a specific tragedy as God’s wrath because of a specific deviance.
Some more good thoughts here.
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