A Shooting at FSU: Tragedy Strikes Close to Home

This afternoon, a gunman shot opened fire at FSU's student Union and 6 people have been taken to the hospital. A place that was one of peace, laughter, and study has now been stained by violence. Thankfully, as far as I know at this point, all of these individuals are still alive (let's pray for the medical teams working to keep it that way). This has not been the case with other shootings in the US or with attacks in different parts of the globe. Even though the FSU shooting could have been worse, the "close to home" aspect of it has no doubt shaken many in our community (as it should).

How are we to think about this event?

We Live in a Dangerous World

First, we should recognize that Christianity provides us with the proper worldview to interpret the world. We live in a dangerous world, and it seems to get more dangerous by the minute. 

Why is this? It is because we live in a world that is in rebellion against the Creator. As Romans 1 says, men and women suppress the truth in unrighteousness, and from that flows all sorts of sin, including murder (and attempted murder). While the media asks the why questions and people speculate on the reasons, we know that, while each individual's reasons for such violence may differ, it is all a symptom of the fact that we live in a world that is in rebellion against God.

What Are We to Do About It?

Second, we should recognize that Christianity tells us what we should do, knowing that we live in a dangerous world. In Jesus' day, a tower fell on some individuals, killing them. About the same time, a ruler of the day had many Jews slaughtered. Why did this happen to them? Were they worse sinners than others? Well, they were sinners (we all are), but we do not know why a tower falls on that sinner and not me or you. If the tower fell on me, I could not complain against God, for I deserve nothing but his just wrath against my sin. So, how should we process the bad things that happen to those around us? How should we think about a close call? Jesus said that we should repent (Luke 13:2-5).

A close call is a reminder to us that death is coming for us all, and we must be right with our Maker. We must repent or turn away from our rejection of God and the disobedience to God's law and turn to Jesus as our only hope of forgiveness and salvation. He lived the life of obedience to God that we should have. He died on the cross to take the punishment sinners deserve. He was buried, but rose again, having conquered sin and death for all who will trust in him. He is the only way to God (John 14:6). We will all die one day, whether it is at the hands of a gunman, behind the wheel of a car, or quietly in our sleep. A tragedy close to home is a call to repentance and everlasting life. 

For those of us who have repented, we are to go about our daily lives knowing that physical death is a reality for us too but that it does not have the final word. God has not guaranteed us a life of ease. We still live in a sin-cursed world, but we are not like those who have no hope. We have a Savior who has defeated the power of sin and eternal death. This frees us to serve God without fear for all the days of life he gives us knowing that when we die we will be in the presence of the Lord (Phil. 1:21-24, 1 Cor. 15:58).  

Let's carry on, not just because it's the only thing we can do but because Jesus is our hope. This is not a "keep calm and carry on" slogan.  Keeping calm makes no sense if you still have to fear death and God's judgment. But as those who know we serve a living Savior who has removed the sting of death, we have an imperishable hope. Let's live as those who have real hope, and let's call others to repentance so that they too may have this hope.

Let's pray. Pray for those affected by this tragedy and for all who have been called on to respond to it (for the first responders, school administrators, medical staff, professors, and campus ministries). Pray for God's mercy and healing on the wounded. Moments like this call us to cast our burdens on the Lord. 

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Note, this is an adapted republication of an article on this blog from November 20, 2014 entitled "Shooting at FSU: What Are We to Make of "A Close Call?"

Got Joy? (A guest post)

 Caleb Whiteley taught a Bible study on joy from the book of Philippians several weeks ago. Below is a brief summary of the second lesson that he didn't get to teach in person. 

Got Joy?

by Caleb Whiteley 

How can we have true joy? The world constantly seeks meaning, hope, happiness, joy, and the world always falls short, reverting to short-term pleasures and godless conclusions. Looking through Paul’s prison letter to the Philippians, his joy overflows and one overwhelming focus shines forth from the pages. GOD! God is referred to 82 times in the 104-verse letter. Within this number, Paul references God as God, Christ, Spirit, Lord, or by pronouns referring to Him. Clearly, God is at the center of Paul’s life, and from this life-focus flows joy in every circumstance.

What is joy? True, biblical joy does not always walk hand-in-hand with good present conditions. Joy is not the same as fleeting happiness. As John MacArthur put it, “Happiness is a response to circumstance. Joy is a response to a relationship.” Paul said, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content”, and he did this not on his own strength but through God who gave him strength! (Phil. 4:11, 13) True joy is a multifaceted reality of peace in Christ, exultation towards Him, hope in His promises, and emotional and mental glorying in God, the gospel, and God’s work in others.

So, how do you become joyful? First, you must be saved. Without Christ as the foundation for your joy, you will be hopelessly wandering. When saved, God’s Spirit resides in you, and one of the fruits of this is joy! (Gal. 5:22). You must yield to the Holy Spirit, and He will produce this joy in you (Phil. 2:12-13). Focus on growing in Christ-centered joyfulness by pursuing unity in your relationship with other believers (Phil. 2:1-2). Prayerfully seek to recognize God’s providential provisions in life and trust His perfect purpose in trials (Jam. 1:2). Instead of worrying, pray to God with thanksgiving making request over your concern, and His peace will follow (Phil. 4:6–7). To be a joyful Christian, follow Christ’s humble example and live with an eternal perspective — looking heavenward! (Heb. 12:2)

Practical steps to focus your mind on Christ, in whom our joy is found:

Take time this week to highlight each reference to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in the letter to the Philippians to see the all-encompassing focus of Paul’s life. Listen to music that encourages you to look heavenward as you go throughout your day. Let the melody throughout the day call your minds to God’s truth, and your hearts to the affection of Christ with whom true joy is found!

“O God, My Joy”                                https://youtu.be/Bhp1hU433dk?feature=shared