Batman, Prayer and Guns

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Aerial view of Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Aur...
Aerial view of Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, before closure. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Movie theaters are supposed to be a place of escape – for at least a couple of hours -- from the challenges of everyday living. But for the victims and their families and friends in Aurora, Colorado an act of horrifying violence shattered the illusion. Right now they are the center of attention, feeding a 24/7 news cycle. But when the media senses issue fatigue in the minds of its nationwide audience and shifts away to newer, fresher stories, the pain that began in the early morning hours last Friday will linger. For many, it will never go away.
There might be a time to talk about guns, violence in the media, and appropriate types of punishments for the people who commit such heinous crimes, but right now the best response is to mourn, comfort and pray. For those who have lost a family member, friend, or co-worker, we are truly sorry for your loss. We hope that friends and family members can give comfort to the grieving and the wounded. We pray for strength and perseverance for you. Your grief will still be fresh long after the news reporters fade from view.
How does one make sense of the violence perpetrated upon unsuspecting, innocent people? Where is God when evil appears to triumph? Does He even care about us? If Job, the most righteous man who ever lived, can ask such questions, I think that God may understand if some of us are asking them now.
We live in a fallen world, and if this world were all we had, if we believed that human life ends with bodily death, then no redemption or justice would be possible. But it is not so. Even when it is difficult to believe, the truth is that there is a God who loves us. There is a God of mercy and justice. He understands better than any person the depths of our pain. He has experienced betrayal, abandonment, injustice, and the death of His innocent Son at the hands of sinful men. And, somehow, in the middle of this terrifyingly troubled world, He offers hope to the hopeless, comfort to those who mourn, and peace to the heartsick. He offers the promise of life beyond the grave, making a way for us that can take the sting out of death.
We pray that the Christian community in Aurora will embrace, comfort, and support the afflicted. And that those who do not know God will seek Him out, ask your questions, and receive both answers and healing. You are all in our prayers.

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