The past few weeks have been a blur of headlines as tragedy after tragedy seems to roll in like storm clouds in a thunderstorm. Shocking violence and flagrant brutality as the nasty reality of sin rears its ugly head in our lives once again. First, it was the racially motivated shooting in Buffalo, then the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, then Philadelphia and Chattanooga and the list goes on and on. It seems as if the flag never leaves half-mast. Times like these remind me of King Theoden’s line in The Two Towers film as he comments, “So much death… what can men do against such reckless hate.” And too often what we do is immediately jump to the popular rhetorical arguments and gun control litany that dominates the headlines every time there is a shooting. We jump to our sides without recognizing there is a time to grieve, and the true reason for these acts of violence.
Now, I am not saying that the debate regarding gun control is not important or that it should not be discussed. I firmly agree with the 2nd amendment and would argue that the right to bear arms is just as important as other rights granted in the Constitution. The right of the population to bear weapons provides the last defense against tyranny and also guarantees individual protection against crimes. But immediately following any shooting, the conversation shifts instantaneously to the question of gun control. People on one side shout that if only guns were eliminated or if there were stricter rules then these shootings would not be happening. If only firearms were more heavily regulated or even banned, then these lives could have been saved. Then the other side retorts that gun control laws will only affect the law-abiding citizens who use guns for good reasons, and points out how these mass shootings would not be prevented by gun control laws. This dialogue is important, but right after a shooting is not the time where this conversation needs to take place.
Ecclesiastes 3 tells the reader that “there is a time for everything”, and “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” There is a time to engage in debate and state your case, but there is also a time to grieve for the lives lost. There must be time to recognize the calamity and mourn alongside hurting parents and communities. There must be space for us to recognize our mortality and the broken, messy state of the world that we live in. Running to debate and political controversy is simply a distraction from our sinful state. At the heart of every violent act, every school shooting, and every murder is sin.
Ever since the fall, mankind has been in constant rebellion against God, choosing our own ways and perverting his goodness. Our fallen nature sets us in enmity against God, and against those around us. We not only continually do things that are against God’s ways, but also hurt ourselves and the people around us. Only God’s righteous redemption can set us free. This is a crucial fact. The violence we see in the world around us is simply the demonstrable symptoms of a much deeper problem. No law, or policy, or political agenda will ever change the fundamental nature of mankind and eliminate the problem of sin. This is the reality of the human condition and the aspect of these situations that is not often discussed. We run trying to find external solutions when the real issue at hand is the problem of the human heart. Only Christ can redeem the human heart and turn the hatred, pride, and selfishness that dominates our lives into love, humility, and selflessness that marked his own life. Furthermore, Christians understand that this broken world is not our home and that one day Christ will return and set all things right. There will be no more pain, tears, school shootings, death, and the like. Yet until that day comes, there will, unfortunately, be more and more reminders of our own depravity. But instead of running to join in the political fray, take a moment to grieve and pray.
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