As a follow up to being asked "Where was God?" just hours after the inconsolable murders @ the elementary school in Sandy Hook, Connecticut last Friday Mike Huckabee offered this answer on his FNC program Saturday night.
I invite readers to respond by providing their own answer to the above question (also often asked – "how did God let this happen?") & will post the responses accordingly.
The RTE readership has many deeply devout people as well as atheists so we should get a good cross section from which we can all learn.
Doug, I just watched Mike Huckabee's response to where was God when the precious children and teachers were murdered, and immediately after, here was the Columbine student's father's comments....I think they speak to this question....where was God?
ReplyDeleteCOLUMBINE STUDENT'S FATHER 12 YEARS LATER !!
Guess our national leaders didn't expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.. The following is a portion of the transcript:
"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.
I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.
Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!
(continued on next comment)
(continued comment)
ReplyDelete"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.
"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!" - Darrell Scott
Mr Huckabee said it all. What many people seem not to realize is that even if you are a non Christian, or Jew, the commandments should still be the foundation of common sense living. Even an atheist should be able to see the real world moral value of the balance of the Commandments that do not deal with God.
ReplyDelete"Thou Shall Not Commit Murder"
"Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery"
"Thou Shall Not Steal"
"Thou Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor"
"Thou Shall Not Covet Your Neighbor's Goods"
Every despot and dictator has ignored these Commandments. The result? Millions of innocent people have been murdered, butchered and put through unspeakable tortures.
As a Christian I believe the teachings of Jesus who warned those who fail to follow the Commandments that Judgment Day will not be a happy day.
I think it is very telling that Gov. Huckabee said that churches were packed after the killings. People turn to God in a crisis despite what the media and politicians think is politically right. But he ends his piece by talking about Thou Shalt Not Kill, and that there are nine other laws that have been around for awhile and that we should teach them and observe them. When a nation is no longer clear about what is right and wrong how can we expect behavior to reflect basic civility and kindness? The country's desire to be politically correct and not offend anyone which denies our right to acknowledge God in our daily lives contributes heavily to our country's moral collapse.
ReplyDeleteAnd further let me ask this, how can this country - courts, politicians, and We the People - allow child pornography? How can allowing some depraved people their "freedom" to use children sexually and in pornography be OK when pornography denies a kid's freedom and innocence?
Waylon Jennings has a great line: ‘There ain’t no right way to do the wrong thing.’
TLG
Doug, I couldn't give you a better response after reading the following essay which I came across by chance regarding "Where was God and how did He let it happen". I hope, it is changing the minds and hearts of a lot of our fellow men after reading it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.denisonforum.org/america/586-god-on-trial-in-newtown