What Shall We Say to These Things?

" What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us? He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect (His chosen ones)? It is God who justifies us [declaring us blameless and putting us in a right relationship with Himself]. Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us. Who shall ever separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written and forever remains written,

“For Your sake we are put to death all day long;
We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.”

 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory THROUGH HIM who loved us [so much that He died for us]. For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." [Romans 8:31-39, AMP]

So, this morning, we have awakened to yet another tragic shooting--in a church, no less. It seems like every other week, there is a mass tragedy in our nation. Most of them, are the result of guns--or their improper use, by terrorists, the mentally ill or just someone with a penchant to kill. We really don't know their motivations, but we form many assumptions. This isn't about politics, though--as much as you might think it's headed in that direction. I simply refuse to go there--besides, I think most of you know my stance on many political issues, because I have freely shared my beliefs--and the Scriptures to support them. Of course, we can all interpret the Bible ( or the Quran, or any text that you hold to) any way that we choose (we certainly have seen the dastardly results of many who hold to twisted interpretations (or indeed do the twisting to deceive others)--or we can set aside preconceived notions and dig deep (at least when it comes to the Bible--that's what I know best) and study culture, context and background to learn what is really being said, rather than interpreting it according to our preferences and biases. But, it's a choice. Just like you, I can read words on the page--or I can pray, and search to glean the actual truths of the many mysteries contained within the holy pages of the written Word of God.

My heart is broken, just a bit more--each time I hear of another tragedy--"natural" or otherwise. I empathize with those who suffer so profoundly around the world--and of course, in our own nation. It's so difficult to see people en masse lose life, property, and more to hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, tsunami's and fires. I think of what it must be like to suddenly have no access to clean water or food. To have no refrigeration for insulin for diabetics, no way to keep milk cold for toddlers--or even to obtain it, or to have no roads to get access to medical attention must be horrific. And then, I see those with firearms kill not one or two precious souls ( as if that isn't a huge enough tragedy!), but dozens--including children; and the alarms begin to blare deep within, disquieting everything in me. I along with the earth am groaning for the redemption to come! I wonder, like the Psalmist, "How long??!!!" and say with longing, "Even so, Come Lord Jesus"!, knowing that His waiting is an act of extreme mercy in place to save many more. 

I am so acutely aware that this world IS NOT my home.

I have so many questions and sorrows to accompany those deep queries. And, I challenge my sisters and brothers in Christ to consider more deeply how we view the Word of God (in our lives) in light of the happenings in the world. 

Whenever I hear gun-toting Christians justify their right to bear arms, I have to admit, it makes me a little uncomfortable. I know the Bible said, "an eye for eye, and a tooth for tooth (hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, bruise for bruise"...yes, there was more [Exodus 21, NIV]. And, that was  the Law for the Israelite who harmed another of his own countrymen--up to and including death for intentional and deliberate murder (or physically attacking or cursing parents, or kidnapping). The reason I cringe a bit is because Jesus brought us the marvelous and precious gift of grace. Jesus, Who was the fleshly Embodiment of God the Creator; this Same One, gave us an improvement/update on this Law. (Mind you, the Law wasn't bad--according to Scripture, simply incomplete. It had a purpose, a distinct beginning...and a very distinct end--that end was GRACE. The Law was a temporary fix, until Jesus wrapped Himself in a human Body, and become our Kinsman- Redeemer. Only God (by His own arm) could save mankind. As our Kinsman-Redeemer, He ALONE had the credentials to get the job done! There were requirements to redeem: 1. WILLINGNESS; 2. ABILITY; 3. MEANS; 4. RELATIONSHIP. (See the Book of Ruth to learn more about this act. Boaz was a type/foreshadow of Jesus Christ). 

Paul, in writing to the church at Galatia, called the Law, "a schoolmaster". You see, this was a church who had come to receive Christ by faith, but had begun to revert back to the Law of Moses, to live by. Paul exasperated, questioned: "O you foolish and thoughtless and superficial Galatians, who has bewitched you [that you would act like this], to whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified [in the gospel message]? This is all I want to ask of you: did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying [the requirements of] the Law, or was it the result of hearing [the message of salvation and] with faith [believing it]? Are you so foolish and senseless? Having begun [your new life by faith] with the Spirit, are you now being perfected and reaching spiritual maturity by the flesh [that is, by your own works and efforts to keep the Law]?" [Galatians 3:1-3, Amplified Bible]. 

In the 5th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth [punishment that fits the offense].’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person [who insults you or violates your rights]; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other toward him also [simply ignore insignificant insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity, your self-respect, your poise]. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also [for the Lord repays the offender]. And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him]. For if you love [only] those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? And if you greet only your brothers [wishing them God’s blessing and peace], what more [than others] are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles [who do not know the Lord] do that? You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect." [Matthew 5:38-48, Amplified Bible].

Jesus explained the difference between the Law and Grace. Under the New Covenant, ushered in at Calvary--by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we now have the opportunity to embrace grace in ALL of its fulness and glory. But, we need to understand, mixing in a little of the Law, cancels out the grace that we have so lavishly received and rely on. ("...we know that a man is not justified [and placed in right standing with God] by works of the Law, but [only] through faith in [God’s beloved Son,] Christ Jesus. And even we [as Jews] have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law. By observing the Law no one will ever be justified [declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty]. But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ [by faith], we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ an advocate or promoter of our sin? Certainly not! For if I [or anyone else should] rebuild [through word or by practice] what I once tore down [the belief that observing the Law is essential for salvation], I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law and its demands on me [because salvation is provided through the death and resurrection of Christ], so that I might [from now on] live to God. I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not ignore or nullify the [gracious gift of the] grace of God [His amazing, unmerited favor], for if righteousness comes through [observing] the Law, then Christ died needlessly. [His suffering and death would have had no purpose whatsoever.])” [Galatians 2:16-20, AMP].

What does this have to do with Christians today, and guns? Consider this: 1) If we believe that at the root of every bad thing that happens, is sin--not mentally ill people, guns, etc. but SIN and its control over this world, and that all evil is a result of sin's presence in this world from the very first sin at creation;  2) If we believe that God has promised to keep us, and to give His angels charge over us; 3) If we believe that to "live is Christ, and to die is GAIN! And, "to be with Christ...is far better [Philippians 1:23, KJV]; 4) if we believe that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."; And finally, 5) If we believe that God is our Jehovah-Nissi (A Banner over us to protect us) why do we need to protect ourselves with "horses and chariots" rather than trusting in the Name of the Lord?  

There is NOTHING that can happen to any child of God that God isn't aware of and approved of. If something negative has happened--or is coming your way, know that He is already in the midst of that crisis, preparing your preservation. If the plan is for you to live in this world--He has an escape prepared, and He does not need your help (just ask Sarah! We create more problems for ourselves when we try to fix things that God didn't ask us to fix. Learn to be still and allow God to go before you. Victory belongs to Him!). If His plan is to take you to be with Him, what could be better than that? 

"We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it’s not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven’t a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn’t have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross. That’s why we have this Scripture text: No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it— What God has arranged for those who love him. But you’ve seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you."      [ 1. Corinthians 2:9, The Message]

Relax, no matter what...He is in control. LCC