Our Eyes Are Upon You
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This time the students are crying out even more vehemently for gun
control. These kids are our future lawmakers and it’s frightening. The majority
do not understand the human sin nature.
This week I decided to begin again in Genesis to read through the Bible. I wanted
to read and not study, but I only made it to Genesis 4:14 before I was
compelled to turn to a cross-reference passage. Many may remember the first
fourteen verses of Genesis 4 tell the tragic account of Cain and Abel. “…Cain rose up against Abel his brother and
killed him.”[1]
Immediately my mind went to the Santa Fe, Texas, school shooting. What led 17-year-old
Dimitrios Pagourtzis to open fire on students and teachers?
We can’t fully know the thoughts of a deranged killer and from the short
account in Genesis, there’s no way for us to know what all led up to Abel’s
murder. However, it’s very hard to imagine a “keeper of sheep” as being a bully. I imagine Abel as a gentle,
compassionate man since sheep need so much care. Sheep cannot be left on their
own. They wander off. They’re clumsy and have accidents. Sheep easily get
caught in brush and fall prey to wild animals.[2] A keeper
of sheep needs patience and a tender, benevolent spirit. No wonder Jesus
compares us to sheep and He, the Good Shepherd.
My conclusion? Cain’s anger, resulting in Abel’s murder, seemed
unprovoked.
Likewise, trying to blame a school shooting on the shooter being bullied
or the U.S. needing stricter gun control laws, is moot. Yes, bullying
emotionally wounds the victim and maybe military-grade assault rifles could
have stricter laws, but it is the sin within the heart that leads to the
violent action of committing murder.
Almost every human being has been bullied at least once in their
lifetime. Most learn to rise above the malice. They don’t become murderers. But
for some, the corruption of sin takes such deep root, they hate, lash out and
kill.[3]
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Possibly, but again, Cain is our example. To say Satan stirred up Cain to be angry
with God and take it out on Abel gives Satan too much credit and exonerates
Cain, by assuming he was a righteous man. Scripture says otherwise. Cain, like
all of us, had a deceitful and desperately wicked heart.[4] Cain
willingly joined the evil one because his own works were evil.[5]
Satan didn’t have to lift a finger. Oh, Cain did hear a supernatural voice before
his heinous crime, but it wasn’t Satan. He heard the voice of Almighty God
giving him the opportunity to repent and a warning that sin desired to overrule
him if he did not.[6]
I’m sure, at some point, Dimitrios Pagourtzis’s conscience told him what
he was planning was wrong. But, he ignored the warning just as Cain did.
Later, Cain cried out to the Lord because he couldn’t bear his
punishment. This was not repentance. Cain was just concerned for his own
wellbeing. He feared one of his brothers, avenging Abel’s death, would kill him
when he was alone.[7]
This is where I turned to the CR: Numbers 35:9-34. Here, the Lord through Moses,
explains the need for six cities of refuge. Only those who cause accidental death
will be allowed sanctuary, not persons who intentionally murder. In God’s Law,
there is no provision for murdering out of passion or because of suffering
mental cruelty or illness.
I don’t know what the answer is to stop these school shootings, but I
know, coddling murderers is not the answer. Our Sovereign Lord says swift
action is needed. And although God allows and even desires for the murderer/sinner to repent, with His forgiveness free
to all, consequences are required.
[1]
Genesis 4:8
[3]
Numbers 35:16-21
[4]
Jeremiah 17:9
[5]
I John 3:12
[6]
Genesis 4:6-7
[7]
Genesis 4:14
[8]
II Chronicles 20:12
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