April 18, 2007
Death in the Morning
Pastor and professor Scott Wenig understands the profound responsibility church leaders face in the aftermath of a tragedy. Nine years ago his community was devastated when two teenage gunmen entered Columbine High School. Wenig shares the wisdom he gained after that heartbreaking event with church leaders now struggling to respond to the murders at Virginia Tech.
"Death in the morning," the eighteenth century lexicographer Dr. Johnson said, "powerfully clears the mind." Just as they did nine years ago at Columbine, our minds once again got tragically cleared this past Monday with the dreadful slaughter of 32 students and teachers at Virginia Tech. In light of this horrendous event, pastors, teachers and other Christian leaders will seek to provide some words of comfort and understanding to those under their spiritual care. What can they affirm that might supply some solace? And what should they avoid lest they unwittingly hurt rather than help?
First, I would suggest that we avoid well meaning words of unintentional foolishness. Telling our listeners that those who were murdered are now "in a better place," or that "God needed him or her for a job up there" or that "Someday we'll know why this happened" may not be true and almost certainly cannot heal hurting hearts. In our desire to minister, let us be pastorally reflective rather than theologically sentimental.
Second, I would suggest that we avoid any sort of theological pontification.
As evangelicals, we're heavily influenced by the Puritan tradition (which I personally admire) but that can sometimes tempt us to provide a jeremiad whenever evil rears its hideous head in public. Confusing America with ancient Israel, we occasionally wonder if, in some strange way, God is judging us in events such as Oklahoma City, Columbine, 9/11, and now the slaughter in western Virginia just as He did those disobedient Hebrews. And while that could be true, how would we ever know for sure? And if so, what does that imply about the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, the ongoing slaughter of Sudanese Christians, or the Rwandan genocide of the early 1990s?
Third, I would suggest that we recognize the reality of evil in the hearts of men and women. In doing so, however, I believe our focus should be as much on ourselves as on anyone else, including unbelievers. When word was brought to Jesus about the slaughter of some innocent men by Pilate and the corresponding death of others by a falling tower, he told his audience to repent ?lest you too?perish' (Luke 13:3,5). Evil needs to be named ? both in the world and in our own hearts.
Fourth, I would suggest that we encourage people to grieve. Standing outside Lazarus' tomb, Jesus wept at the ugliness of death, and we must allow others, especially those who feel the pain of such horrendous losses, to do the same. The fact that Jesus wept not only reveals that God understands and cares about our pain but it also shows that it's good for us to grieve, to acknowledge that things in this world are not as they're supposed to be.
Fifth, I would suggest that we strongly affirm God's gracious and sovereign power. Certainly He saw this tragic event from eternity past and could have done something to stop it but mysteriously, He chose to not too. Apart from the fact that He allows a certain degree of freedom to fallen human beings, we may never know why. But we do know that He is already working in and through this excruciating episode to bring about redemption because that is what He does! As Joseph was finally able to tell his brothers, ?You meant it for evil but God meant it for good that the lives of many might be saved' (Genesis 50:20). In the midst of enormous suffering, we need to look upwards in faith and boldly proclaim His redemptive power.
Sixth, I would suggest that we act in accord with the apostle's admonition to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Just as happened in the days following the devastation wrought by Katrina, the loss of life at Virginia Tech serves as an opportunity for the evangelical community to once again visibly show our love to those in need. Obviously, what that looks like will depend on the needs of families in that community as well as on the level of our own personal and parish resources. But following Columbine, I can attest that there are innumerable emotional, physical and spiritual needs which God's people can certainly meet. No doubt this is true among the survivors at Virginia Tech as well.
Spurgeon once told his congregation about some visitors observing two sets of paintings in the Palace of Versailles. Bored by the one set of portraits, their sagging interest was revived when they saw the second because those pictures depicted people in action. As he noted, ?[It is] not the people but their actions that engross attention?If we would impress, we must act. The dignity of standing still will never win the prize?.' Given the horrendous events of this past Monday, now is the time to act with the love of Christ. May we proclaim that to our people and then, together, practice it with them.
Scott Wenig is the Haddon Robinson Professor of Applied Theology at Denver Seminary and the Lead Pastor of Aspen Grove Community Church in Littleton, Colorado.
Posted by UrL Scaramanga on April 18, 2007
Comments
May we all learn to mourn, to forgive and to grow in this tragic time. What the church needs to do now is listen. Listen to the lament of the mother who lost her son, to the church member who does not understand how God can let this happen, and to the voices in the wilderness who come running to the church with the simple question..."Why?"
When the time is right, and there will be a time that it is, the church can weigh in on this. Not today...today we listen!
Posted by: Carl Holmes at April 18, 2007
Well said, Pastor Wenig. Opportunities to lead people to the Lord will come later. And they will come.
Posted by: Melody at April 18, 2007
Outstanding insights, Scott, and succinctly and memorably phrased. The Luke 13:1-5 passage is seldom taught or discussed but might just be the most important text of all in this context.
Posted by: Craig Blomberg at April 18, 2007
If I may appear to be ca louse for a few moments and give you my viewpoint of this tragic display of perverted love exhibited at Blacksburg recently.
What I see as an aftermath of this horrid reality is the pinnacle of pain and the lack of it. The shooters pain spread out on 32 victims and their families, friends and society. God only knows what has led this young man created in His image to befriend the emptiness that has no solid answerers to the question, Why?
Perhaps he felt the pain of betrayal at a point in his life by someone to the same degree in which the parents of his victims may be feeling now. Perhaps he woke up some mornings feeling drained from not able to receive any stimuli from his internal and external inputs... in other words, in a state of non-relationship. God all around Him but not to be found.
Perhaps there will be some parents who will cross the threshold of the pain of forsakendness to the anger wrongly directed as the world spins in it's temporal path. Perhaps they will not be able to identify with the pain of the Father as the son asks for his heritage to spend as He pleases.
As we grow to realize that our short sightness of Truth is weighted by our gradient of good and evil, may we come to the repentance of seeing mankind without a creator or that there is anything greater than His Love for us. I believe that here is not a child, who knows they are loved, that would not give his or her life that his or her parent(s) may know that they are also, nor a parent for their child who believes in the eternal Father and His worth.
Posted by: richard at April 19, 2007
These are beautiful tips for us. How many times did I become a judgmental god, saying 'there should be a reason for that.' How many times did I play a self-righteous Pharisee saying 'if you believe God's sovereignty you should not mourn.' How many times did I suddenly become a psychiatrist and just analyze the situation, but just fail to do something for this kind of tragedy...
I remember Charles Stanley's famous sermon: When we walk in the valley of the shadow, we should not ask 'why,' but ask 'what should we do.'
Posted by: Jin at April 19, 2007
I was blessed by all the comments. On Tuesday night during my devotional time and after watching some of the heart wrenching interviews with some of the students this prayer came to me via the Holy Spirit.Bless them Lord and comfort them,give them your peace when they feel there is no peace.Grant them comfort when the pain seems unbearable,sooth their weary hearts when the tears will come no more,let them feel the warmth of thy light upon their face,and let them sense that your presense will never leave them.In a world that seems hopeless, let them know that all hope is found in you.Teach them not to let their anger outward or inward but exchange their anger for your love.May they feel the glory and majesty at just saying your name JESUS,and that you have conquered sin,death and the grave."The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."(Matthew 4:16 Kjv)
Posted by: Mike at April 19, 2007
The tragedies in America, which, by the way, are escalating in degrees, are but symptoms of its spiritual decay. America is spiritually sick and very much so. I certainly do not wish to denigrate the lost souls in the Virginia Tech shooting. May their souls find rest in the Almighty God's bosom.
America needs to go back to the Christianity basics to halt its precipitous slide away from where it once was with the things of God. For starters, bring back the Bible into the classrooms. Enough with being politically correct if in so doing America is thrown against the Bible. America needs to be more Biblically correct than it is politically. America needs to fear God, not men.
The manifestations of America's deteriorating spiritual health are everywhere -- cases of mass slaughter, same-sex marriages, corruption in the upper echelon of the bureaucracy and civil and religious societies, and disintegrating families, to name a few.
God loves America. And whomever God loves, He disciplines as a father does his son.
Posted by: Beverly at April 20, 2007
Someone said to me at the death of a close friend, "God makes no mistakes." Somehow the knowledge of that comforted me then and it comforts me now. However I don't know that I'd say it to someone else in the throes of grief. Maybe it had more to do with the fact that this person had his arms around me when he said it.
Posted by: Alison at April 20, 2007
I wonder if as a culture we are only reaping what we have sown for the last 40 years. As a society we have become numb to the violence that bombards us every day from Hollywood, television & video games.
And now the numbness turns to grief & all we have left are questions.
Posted by: woz at April 23, 2007
I'm sorry, this is terribly nit-picky and in no way reflects on your excellent piece, but...wasn't Columbine eight years ago and not nine? It happened in '99.
Posted by: Mike Morrell at April 26, 2007