On May 22nd 2022, not one of the 19 children or 2 adults in Uvalde Texas got out of bed that morning and expected to die—especially in such a terrifying way. What an unspeakably horrible tragedy! Everyone is asking: “WHAT is it going to take to stop the tragic school shootings?” WHO has a solution that will work? Are we to look to our government? Our mental health professionals? Our teachers? Law enforcement?
Our mainstream culture prefers the “wise” voices of our culture over anything God has to say—right? I mean you don’t hear anyone in the media talking about God’s answer to this horrific problem—do you? No—during most tragedies, our culture is usually BLAMING God!
So—as I ponder my own responsibility, as a citizen, to prevent tragedy—which world-view narrative will I trust?
There are basically three world-views: Biblical Christianity, humanism, and a combination of the two, or what I call, “the buffet option.” Most of the world’s religious population, even some who are “good Christians” choose the buffet option because most of us like to pick and choose which Biblical principles we want to follow.
So which world-view provides the best way to prevent more of these terrible tragedies?
Let’s look at what our mainstream culture is saying—beginning at the top. President Biden believes we have a gun problem and he is calling for legislation aimed at regulating firearms. But this ignores the evidence of the proven ineffectiveness of gun control. For example, in Germany, which has some of the strictest gun laws in Europe and requires anyone under 25 to pass a psychological evaluation before getting a gun license, on 24 January 2022 an 18-year-old student at Heidelberg University opened fire on a crowd during a lecture. Gun control doesn’t seem to be the answer.
Others are saying we need to arm the teachers and resource officers. But do we want our elementary school kids growing up overshadowed by armed guards in their kindergarten classroom like they are living in a Taliban-controlled country?
Texas Governor Abbott believes we have a mental health problem and has called for more mental health support. But will free mental health care really help, or is it just putting a bandaid on a broken arm? Is there any proof that Salvador Ramos would have availed himself of mental healthcare?
At a press conference, the day after the shootings, Beto O’Rourke, Abbott’s Democratic opponent in the November election, dramatically blamed the governor, yelling, “This is on you!” Will political grandstanding during a tragedy help? No—it just divides our country even more. No proof exists that any politician can prevent the next mass shooting.
So what is the solution?
Well, there is one message we are NOT hearing from any major media platform; that is, that our prevailing cultural view has created the problem. Our secular humanistic culture has bred a generation of young people who are without hope and have found very little purpose. This “progressive” culture that dominates our nation does not provide soul-satisfying answers to the big questions in life like:
Why am I here?
What happens when I die?
Who gets to decide right and wrong?
Where did I come from?
What is my purpose?
The answers given by the secular culture makes “self” the center of all things. Humanity is god. Humanity is who we worship and adore and—are dying to be adored by. We exist primarily to make a good life for ourselves. There is no life beyond death. We have no purpose beyond self. This culture (buffet option) has invaded Christianity too…and has weakened our influence and our message!
This secular humanistic cultural view is dangerous and is producing more and more darkness!
This secular humanist view is gutting the human soul because it is in DIRECT conflict with the knowledge that God has put inside of each of us: that is, that we KNOW we have a supernatural purpose and we KNOW we were created for greatness. The humanist view causes us to be deeply conflicted and highly anxious. Our culture is driving our most vulnerable population deeper and deeper into darkness!
“What may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Romans 1:19-21
We know we have a supernatural purpose; but yet—we’re being told by our educators that we are nothing—but matter; and thus, we don’t matter. Therefore, our life matters no more than a table or a chair. Thus, we strive even harder to stand out—to REALLY matter—because we KNOW we should matter. We crave credibility. We have a ravenous appetite to be validated. Of course we do—because we were created in the image of God, to live for a beautiful and meaningful purpose! (Genesis 1:27)
We have become a culture with a voracious appetite for ANYTHING we think will satisfy our soul; but no appetite for what we need most—a relationship with God. Do you see any parallels to our current culture and the following verses which predict the cultural fallout from rejecting God?
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, KNOWING the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
Romans 1:28-32
Doesn’t that sound just like our nation?
But—there is HOPE! WE CAN CHANGE our country and reverse the tide of evil!
Ah, my dear friends, if we want to stop the school shootings, IT BEGINS WITH US. If we are born again, we have the power of CREATOR living within us. We need to get serious about our relationship with God so those without hope can SEE HOPE in CHRIST. They need to see real love. They need to hear the infallible truth. If we are not serious about God—why would anyone else take Him seriously? We have a glorious purpose!
God has placed the hope of His Kingdom within us!
Jesus promised us the restoration of all things. (Matthew 19:28) All of our greatest hopes and dreams on earth will be restored. The climax of the entire Bible is written in this wonderful promise of God: “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5). A day of great restoration is coming. All we long for and all we have lost—will someday be recovered! We are looking for heaven to come to an earth which will be scrubbed free of darkness—by God’s refining fire. A restored earth is the final answer to the Lord’s Prayer, that is, that His kingdom will come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Wowza! Imagine the earth and all you enjoy about it—free from pain and darkness! This is our great hope. We have so much more than Buddhist Nirvana, which is “total nonexistence” or Hindi “everlasting tranquility of death.” This is as unimpressive as our great hope being that everything we love will be destroyed while we go to heaven to sing hymns for the rest of eternity. THAT is not our hope! Rather, it is that Jesus is going to make all things new—Eden will be restored!
We are the carriers of the great hope of the Gospel. But to be effective, we need to be credible and on fire with a passion that reflects our deep belief. We need to be diligently studying God’s Word and allowing it to flow out of us and—into others. We need to know the ANSWERS to the BIG and HARD questions of life based on—God’s Word. People are dying for answers that are consistent with the God-knowledge inside of them. Their souls are thirsty for God and they don’t know where to find Him. We have the only answer that will change the heart of mankind and that is, a relationship with God! This is more powerful than mental health, politics, guns, or any of man’s solutions. This Almighty power is within us.
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:31-32
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
I John 4:18
The truth of God’s Word and His love—frees us to LIVE in hope and to—GIVE hope to the world!
To learn more about Kimberly Faith and the mission of Faith Strong, click HERE.
Out Now – Essential Faith, Volume II. Find it on Amazon by clicking HERE.
