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Responding to Evil and School Shootings

By pjsports7j

by John Byrne, originally published on www.ymtheology.com

Today at Deer Creek middle school here in Littleton, CO another school shooting took place.  We have several students in our ministry who attend that school including the daughter of our Junior High director.  What should we do now?  How do we deal with this?  The truth is, I don’t really know.  There is a point where you just listen and let people process things.  How do you make sense of it when the emotions begin to settle?

The question is why?  Why would someone do this?  Why would God allow it to happen?  The answer is simple and not always satisfying.  We as humans have a sense of right and wrong, justice, and purpose built into the fiber of our very being.  The simple answer is that we live in a fallen world where people do terrible and bad things.  It is a result of the fall.  Intuitively we know this is not the way things are suppose to be and so we find it unsatisfying.

Things are suppose to be good, we are supposed to live in a world wear peace reigns and love for God and others is the ultimate good.  We weren’t created for this world, but the previous (the Garden of Eden) and the next (The new heavens and the new earth).  There are no answers that are satisfactory because there shouldn’t be.  As we go through life tragedies happen.  Most of the time they are somewhere far removed from us.  We watch the news and learn about natural disasters in Haiti or some other part of the world and we may feel sad or upset, but we get over it quickly.  When it hits home our emotions run high.  We aren’t just sad, but sometimes angry.  We are angry because deep in the fiber of our being we know we were created for something better.

There may not be any words that can make all these feelings go away, but there is hope.  The hope of redemption found in Christ.  The hope of a world where peace and love reign will one day be realized when Christ returns.

Yes, we live in a fallen world, but that is only part of the answer.  Without hope, without Jesus, that answer isn’t enough.

At the time I am writing this it appears both of the students who were shot will recover.  Still let’s be in prayer for the students and families who were connected in some way.  The only real answers for this kind of event are found in Jesus.

John Byrne's Bio

John Byrne has been involved in youth ministry for more then 15 years. His ability to engage, challenge, and speak relevantly to his audience has led to speaking opportunities nationwide including camps, seminars, conferences, and training events. He has also written for Group Magazine, Youthworker Journal, and contributed to Youth Ministry Lemonade: turning “sour” experiences into leadership success. To see more of his writing check out the YM Theology blog.

John knew he wanted to be a youth pastor at the early age of 13. While attending Oak Hills Bible College he met the woman of his dreams and convinced her to marry him. After a two year honeymoon in the great state of Colorado he returned to his home state of Minnesota to finish his Biblical Studies degree from Northwestern Bible College.

John’s passion is living out the great mission (commission) in his life and helping others do the same. He does this through writing and speaking as well as missional living in his own neighborhood and community.

John is currently the Student Ministries Pastor at The Rock of Southwest, a church in Littleton, Colorado. He lives in Littleton with his wife Christa, daughter Catrina 11, and son Joash 4.


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