The Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School

On Wednesday of last week, a mass shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Marjory in Parkland, Florida. 17 people were killed and 15 more hospitalised, making it one of the world's deadliest school massacres. Nikolas Cruz, the teenager arrested as the shooter, is in custody of the Broward County Sheriff's Office, charged with seventeen counts of premeditated murder.

Understandably, there has been outrage, and the usual calls for stricter gun control in the United Staes of America have been made. However, much of this is a "knee-jerk" reaction - one reason why I have waited for a few days before making any comment of my own!

The first thing I would wish to point out is that many of those who are making such calls do not even live (and have never lived) in the USA. This means that they have neither experience, nor understanding, of the culture of that country. Cultural differences are very important. I know that since my wife and I moved to France, we have had to make a number of adjustments because of the cultural differences between Scotland and France.

The second thing I would wish to do is to back almost to the beginning of this millennium - to the event that is remembered simply as "9/11". It was on September 11th, 2001, that four commercial aircraft were hijacked by Muslim terrorists. In one case, the hi-jackers were overcome by passengers and, although all on board perished, the intended target was spared. However, thousands died in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre, and a couple of hundred died in the Pentagon.

I am unaware of anyone then,. or since, calling for a ban on flights! I can understand that. You see, the aircraft were not "responsible" for those many deaths (and don't forget the members of the emergency services who died even as they endeavoured to save the lives of others!) - it was the hi-jackers who were then flying them. Likewise, it was not an assault rifle that was responsible for the horrendous situation in Parkland - it was the mentally disturbed teenager who had managed to acquire it, and was fulfilling a desire that, apparently, he had expressed beforehand. Again, it was fallible people who failed to follow up on those threats!

Of course, every single day, whether in the USA, in the UK, in France, or anywhere else in the world, tens of thousands of lives are callously taken - without a single protest from the majority of people! I refer, of course, to the practice of abortion! Is it not sadly strange that this murderous procedure has become so common that so many simply accept it as being somehow 'inevitable'? I am not suggesting, for one minute, that the end of abortion would automatically bring about the end of terrorist attacks, or massacres in schools. However, I do find it the difference in attitudes to be of more than passing interest.

One final point. Some have asked - as some will always do in times of tragedy - "Why did God not stop this dreadful thing from happening?" I think that the response of Anne Graham-Lotz, daughter of Dr. Billy Graham, to that question after the 9/11 atrocities is as good as one could find. She said, in an interview on "The Morning Show": "I say God is also angry when he sees something like this. I would say also for several years now Americans in a sense have shaken their fist at God and said, God, we want you out of our schools, our government, our business, we want you out of our marketplace. And God, who is a gentleman, has just quietly backed out of our national and political life, our public life. Removing his hand of blessing and protection. We need to turn to God first of all and say, God, we're sorry we have treated you this way and we invite you now to come into our national life. We put our trust in you. We have our trust in God on our coins, we need to practice it."

Those words can, surely, be equally applied to many other countries in the world today. Nations that were founded, and built, on solid Christian principles, have turned their backs on the Creator. As a family member posted on Facebook: "The problem is not guns! It's hearts without God; homes without discipline; schools without prayer; and courts without justice."

So, where was God?!

I have deliberately waited a few days before daring to comment on the tragedy that took place in the Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut, on Friday.  Such an event does not call for a "knee-jerk" reaction. 

It's been interesting, however, to notice the way in which the vast majority - if not all - of those in that community have looked to "religion" for solace and strength.  It would appear, yet again, that when "the chips are down" we tend to confirm the words of Augustine: "Thou hast made us for Thyself, and we are restless 'til we find our rest in Thee"; or the more contemporary counterpart, "There's a God-shaped blank in every heart that only God can fill."  In times of particular sorrow, most of us do turn, instinctively, to a greater Power!

But that, of course, raises the question: "If there is a God, why would He allow such a terrible thing to happen?"  I was preaching on the Sunday immediately following 9/11, and I had to ask the same question.  In such situations of death, destruction, suffering, and sorrow, "Where is God?"   The only answer that I could offer then, and can offer now, is that He is right there, in the midst of it all.  The approaching Christmas season is a reminder that He was willing to take on our humanity, in order to offer us His eternity.

I have a little clip on my study wall that reads:
"If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; if our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; if our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; if our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; but our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour."

What kind of Saviour do we need when our hearts are shredded by the kind of brutal loss experienced by the loved ones of those who died, children and adults, in Sandy Hook School?  We need a Saviour Who has tasted the very cup that we are being forced to drink.  We need a Saviour Whom we know understands our grief, and pain, and even our bewilderment.  At the tomb of His friend, Lazarus,we read that "Jesus wept" (John 11³⁵).  He understands!

Almost a year ago, one of the young sergeants in 'Q' Division of Strathclyde Police collapsed and died while playing off-duty football (soccer) with some of the constables from his shift.  I had the following sent, on my behalf, to every officer and staff member in the Division:

"On Monday, along with many officers and staff, I attended the funeral service for the late Sgt. [name withheld].

Death is never an easy situation to handle but, in circumstances such as [name withheld]’s sudden death, it is even more difficult.  As Chaplain, I want to share some thoughts that will, I trust, help some of you to cope with this particular situation a little more easily.  

In such tragic circumstances, I find myself thinking of the sorrow that death inevitably brings.  This is especially true for the immediate family – for [names withheld].   There is the deep sorrow of loneliness – the empty chair; the vacant place at the table; the void in life itself.  A certain emptiness, or vacuum, has been created in our lives – and sorrow is its close companion.  Into such a situation, the message of the Christian Gospel is of One Who  has said to those who are willing to trust Him: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Heb.135); of One Who is willing to “... stand by [us] more closely than a brother.” (Prov.1824)

In these circumstances, it is my experience that there is also a comfort that mankind instinctively seeks.  We quickly become aware of our inability to cope with this new situation alone.  That’s why relatives and friends gather around at such a time.  It’s for the benefit of the bereaved, as much as out of respect for the deceased.  It’s the reason  why so many, who have had no time for God in their lives turn to Him, almost instinctively, when death strikes at their own family, or circle of friends – especially in circumstances such as those surrounding Sgt [name withheld]’s death.  The sad thing to me is that, in so many cases, once the grief is eased, He is again forgotten, rejected, despised.  Yet to those who truly seek Him, the promise stands: “They cried out for Your help, and You gave it; they trusted in You, and You didn’t let them down.” (Ps.225).  There’s a comfort for which we instinctively seek – and the word comfort, of course, really means strength; but strength that is offered with love and compassion.

The third thought concerns the tragedy that God magnificently changes.  I think, as did the young priest at the funeral service, of another seeming tragedy in the history of mankind – Calvary.  Jesus, in the teaching of the Christian Gospel, God the Son, hanging on a cross; His disciples distressed, despairing, disorientated.  Yet, according to the teaching of the New Testament, just a few weeks later, God the Father had worked in that situation, through God the Holy Spirit, changing it to one of glorious triumph.  Those same men and women were now bold, courageous, strong.

So as we gave, and give, thanks for the life of [name withheld], we continue to surround his widow and children with our love and prayers, that they might experience the transforming power of God in their lives."

We can do no more, and no better, than to surround the bereaved of Newtown in the same way.

What is a Christian?

Sometimes I despair!  So many who claim to be followers of the Christ, yet whose every action seems to indicate that they are a million miles away from His character, His example, and His teaching.  George W. Bush and Tony Blair both claimed to be "Christian".  Yet they 'led' their respective countries into two major invasions that, between them, have cost the lives of hundreds of thousands - mostly civilian!  By the way, I placed the word 'led' in single quotation marks because, of course, they didn't actually lead.  One might have had some measure of, albeit grudging, respect for them had they donned uniform, and been found in the front line.  I suspect that neither man would have had the courage to do so.  It's much easier to send others - some still in their teens - to do one's fighting for one, and to die in the process!

However, now it's even a group who claim to be 'evangelical' Christians!  Today's Telegraph newspaper had an article about them.  "The Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville, Florida, has launched 'International Burn a Koran Day' to coincide with this weekend's anniversary of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington in protest at what it calls "the evil of Islam".  'We will burn the Koran in remembrance of the fallen victims of 9/11 and to stand against the evil of Islam. Islam is of the devil,' said the Christian group."

Now I am certainly not here to defend Islam at any level, least of all the extremism that led to '9/11', and to other atrocities both before and since.   However, I have to ask, as does Gen.Petraeus, the U.S.of A. military commander in Afghanistan, what this group hopes to gain from this display.  Jesus said to His disciples: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (Matt 10:16; RSV).  I see little wisdom in the proposed action of this group.  It will only make even moderate Muslims - who hold the physical Qur'an in much higher regard than many 'Christians' hold the Bible! - become more extreme, and politicised, in their views (and actions?!).

It is to be hoped that these misguided people will think again, and cancel their proposed action; rather than simply provide propoganda fuel for those whom they oppose.