The United States – indeed, the world – reacted with horror
two days ago when a lone shooter killed almost 60 innocent people and injured
over 500. At this time, the media is full of people analyzing why this person committed such
atrocities. But the real question is
this: Why does the media
believe that reaching some sort of “insight” into this person’s motive will
give “real answers”?
Because many, many people believe that sin is “logical.”
Yes, that’s right. Logical.
Sin is logical. There is some “good” reason to kill people.
There is some “good” reason for aborting one’s baby. There is some “good”
reason to steal from one’s boss. There is some “good” reason for lying or cheating
or evading taxes. There is some “good” reason for hating another person.
Surprised that I would say this? Eve set the precedent in
the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:6 is familiar to many people, but have they
actually understood what it means? “When the woman saw that the fruit of the
tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining
wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was
with her, and he ate it.” Eve saw; Eve wanted what she thought the fruit
would give her – wisdom. Eve used her
own “logic” over God’s clear direction.
And the pattern continues.
Instead of calling for repentance after such horrific
slayings as just happened in Las Vegas, the media is full of headlines such as:
“How to prevent another shooting like Las Vegas” or “What was the gunman’s
motive?” Such headlines are useless bits of fluff – day after day, week after
week, the carnage goes on, and even having “answers” to these useless questions
cannot prevent more tragedy.
Only a change of heart – Christians call it “turning to the
Lord Jesus Christ” – can prevent more killings. Only a change of heart can lead
a sinner to turn from such evil thoughts as influences a man to take the lives
of people who have not done him any harm. Only a change of heart can turn hardened
sinners into true law-appreciating citizens.
God Himself says, “‘Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove
the ruthless, defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. Come now, and let us
reason together,’ says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be
as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool’”
(Isaiah 1: 17-18).
You see, God gave us reason
– in other words, the power to think logically. However, this power was always
meant to follow God’s will,
not to act as an independent (and fallible) agent in the universe.
That means God and
logic. God first, then logic.
There’s the answer. What your question?
