Shooting in Colorado Movie Theater – Where was God?
Where was God last Friday at midnight when a disturbed young man opened fire in an Aurora movie theater? Did God care when suspect James Holmes killed twelve and wounded dozens more in this shooting spree?
Tragedies like this one always raise these kinds of difficult questions. Yes, we live in a fallen world where evil is prevalent. And although I believe God is able to prevent these horrific acts of evil, sometimes He doesn’t.
Why does God allow evil?
I certainly don’t have all the answers. In fact, only God does. However, the Bible teaches many truths about God we can cling to in times like these. For instance, God has the power and authority to act. He is involved in His creation. He knows and cares about every aspect of our lives. I know these things are true and accept them even when I still have questions.
About a year ago, I wrote a serious of blogs about why God allows difficulties in the lives of believers and how He uses them. These biblical truths also apply to the question of why God allows evil.
Why, Oh Why?
Here’s a quick summary and link to each post.
The Bible clearly teaches that God’s faithful children will experience trials and difficulties. Why, Oh Why Introduction
God promises and is able to bring good out of difficulty in the lives of those who love Him. Why, Oh Why Part 2
God can and will use our pain and trials for His greater purpose. Why, Oh Why 3
God uses the pain, grief, and difficulty He allows into our life to purify and strengthen our faith. Why, Oh Why 4
Even when we can’t see the reason for our sufferings we can still stand on the character, power, and love of God and place our trust in Him. Why, Oh Why final
Pray for Colorado Victims
Let’s continue to pray for the victims and the families of the Aurora shooting. May God comfort, strengthen, and fill them with the peace only He can give.
I’d love to see the comments full of prayers for these that are hurting. Will you add your prayers for them below.
Thanks for tackling a tough time with hope and help from God’s perspective, Kathy.
This is an excellent post. I am going to link to this. God is also in pain over this. I also read some atheists post blaming this on Christian teachings which motivate to respond as I did in my first blog: http://whoislife.blogspot.com/2012/07/part1-response-to-tragedy-at-aurora-why.html. (part 2 is also accessible) Essentially God is Sovereign and Sovereignty means he knows about it and actually (which may be a surprise to many) takes some sort of ownership and responsibility for allowing evil. Yet He is Perfect Love and this where He will resolve all of this to Himself. The scripture is full of this tension but it also gives a beautify summation of why God does allow and how he has reconciled these things. I also welcome any comments.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on this difficult topic. You have added some great insight. You beautifully expressed the tension we see in Scripture. We cannot understand all this, but God does and we can trust Him with it.