The horrific school shooting in the small town of Newtown, Connecticut seems inconceivable. How could someone kill young children? The sad reality is that evil knows no boundaries. With prescient insight Dostoevsky in The Brothers Karamazov reveals this truth. The scholarly Pevear-Volokhonsky translation communicates this idea,
“But,” I asked, “how will man be after that? Without God and the future life? It means everything is permitted now, one can do anything?” (Part 4, Book 11, Chapter 4)
When God is not part of people’s worldview then they do what is right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6, 21:25). If you listen to some of the current music or watch some of the movies you quickly realize that violence is glorified and people are adopting this mindset.
What should be our response? The Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to let their light shine in an evil world,
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. (Philippians 4:14-16)
The world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19) but those who know God are to let their light shine. What can you do?
Pray for those families in Newtown who have lost a loved one.
Take time and communicate to your loved ones your for love them – we do not know what a day may bring.
Finally, shine as a light in your world – your word of hope to someone in need could save a life.
Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University
Leave a Reply