Uvalde, Heartbreak, & Roundup of Responses
By Elizabeth Prata
The School shooting was horrific. I shed tears. The teachers and staff of our own school having just released our 500 students for the summer, waving goodbye as they settled into their bus seats and called out to us. It was a sweet parting. But only hours later, a devastated community, parents, and nation parted with 19 children and 2 staff members at another school in our country, parting with their kids in a different way- not in a sweet goodbye, but from massacre.
A shooter, alleged to be 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, opened fire at Robb Elementary School and killed 19 kids and two teachers. He injured two policemen before being shot to death.
I can’t imagine.
I just can’t imagine the grief.
Needless to say, Twitter came alive with all sorts of opinions, reactions, and attempts at comfort. Here are a few.
Darrell B. Harrison @D_B_Harrison: “I can’t begin to contemplate the unimaginable grief those families must be feeling right now. To send your children off to school and not have them come home. I pray that the God of all comfort will comfort them today and in the years to come (Psalm 34:18; 2 Cor. 1:3-4). #Uvalde“
Owen Strachan @ostrachan: “To anyone out there–self-proclaimed Christian or not–who is trying to make sense of the horrific shooting in #Uvalde, I commend this message to you. In a world where little children die at the hands of evil men, look to the cross of Christ, friends.”
“One of the most pressing challenges to Christianity is the problem of evil. Unbelievers are quick to ask how Christians can believe in the existence of a good God in the face of so much evil. In this session, Dr. John MacArthur will examine what Scripture teaches regarding evil and suffering and why it exists in the world.” Video: John MacArthur: Why Does God Allow So Much Suffering and Evil? https://youtu.be/6LFzk1afiD8
Grace and Truth @gigisewingroom1: Quoting John MacArthur, “It is a wretched and horrifying state of affairs. Our society openly condones and defends the worst kinds of evil. Civilization as we know it has reached the deepest level of corruption and abides under a sentence of divine condemnation… “People’s consciences have been seared, debased, obstructed, repressed and overturned. Without a functioning conscience, people are destined only to sink deeper and deeper into wickedness. Humanity is merely storing up wrath against the day of wrath. (Cf. Rom.2:5). Is there hope? For those willing to repent and follow Christ, there is”… ~John MacArthur, The Vanishing Conscience.
Larry Farlow @LarryFarlow:
“Children are a burden to your life and career.”
“Having children is bad for the planet.”
“A child is not a person unless it’s wanted.”
“Disabled children aren’t worthy of life.”
“OMG! Someone shot children, how is this happening?!” Same people.
Allie Beth Stuckey @conservmillen “That’s the one commonality in the vast majority of mass shootings. It’s not race or ideology. They’re young males. We are doing absolutely everything wrong when it comes to promoting healthy masculinity, purpose, & goodness for these boys and men.”
Thomas (Σταμάτης) @ThomasCoutouzis: “I already see the media making the murderer at Uvalde yesterday into a victim of bullying. Words do have power which is why James forbids any Christian from allowing anything unwholesome to come out of their mouth (James 4:29). The bullies of this young man did not make him murder these children. He chose that on his own. He had murder deep in his heart which is rooted in unrighteous anger. How does a depraved nature handle evil…by repaying evil for evil, not repaying evil with good. This is why Paul tells believers never repay evil to anyone because repaying evil will only escalate hostilities. Instead we absorb the offense by forgiving the person and turn the offender over to God to deal with because the scales of His justice are not corrupt. The Christian can only do this w/ the HS. Almost forgot my Scripture reference which is Romans 12:14-21.”
𝔍𝔞𝔪𝔢𝔰 𝔚𝔥𝔦𝔱𝔢 @HwsEleutheroi: “God’s hand of restraint upon evil is a blessing of grace, not something that can be demanded. When He lifts that restraint, we should cry out in repentance, not in rebellion. No one talks anymore about the evil. We expect blessing and protection…without obedience.”
Gabriel Hughes @Pastor_Gabe:·”So few people realize life may end in an instant. Without warning. This could be your last day. Repent and turn to Jesus.”
