What happened this past week in Colorado was true evil. That a young man in cold blood would go through such a detailed and intricate plan to take the lives of so many people is beyond the ability of many of us to fathom. But in the face of this devastation is the reality that the category of evil exists.
As the news continues to unfold, there are so many unanswered questions, so many heartbreaking stories, so many opinions and thoughts and accusations . . . But one thing sticks out to me like a sore thumb in the midst of all the controversy and heartbreak. Evil is real.
We are only left with a couple of options, either this young man acted like an animal, because he is an animal (In the animal kingdom, this type of violence is not abnormal.) Or this man was made for something more, is held to a higher standard, and what he did was genuinely evil, because he went against a true standard.
I don’t want to be guilty of using this devastating tragedy in order to make a cold and callous theological observation. But looking at life from a Christian worldview, often brings to light the only thing we can see as Christians when a tragedy like this occurs. There is evil, it is real, and it is described as a rebellion against the God who made us in His image.
All of the implications then of the Good News of the gospel are set in the framework of the bad news of our sinfulness. I praise God that He is working out redemption, even in a world so broken and corrupted by sin!
Yes Don, I agree, there is evil. I also think that in this situation a second biblical truth applies. Our culture has glorified evil and we are now sowing it in these horrible events. Our family just finished memorizing Galatians 6:7-8 and had ample opportunity to discuss its truth in light of this event, and in light of why we need to be cautious in what we choose to watch in our family. Thanks for writing!