It was a troubling week in the United States of America.
It began last Monday morning when a young Korean student took the lives of 32 people at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va. He was described by those who knew him as a “loner” who rarely spoke to anyone. For some reason, he snapped and took the lives of 32 innocent people.
Then, Thursday morning, across the country in Yuba City, California, officials locked classroom doors, lowered shades and kept 12,000 school children inside on Thursday after a man threatened to go on a killing spree. The idea for the killing spree supposedly came from the massacre at Va. Tech. The man said he intended to make the mass slaying “look mild.”
Then, Friday, a man walked into Houston’s Johnson Space Center, killed his supervisor, shot a hostage and then, killed himself. What was the motive? He was upset over his job review.
So, it was a tough week. It was a week in which many of us find ourselves asking, “Why are these things happening? Why, all of a sudden, are we having so many school and work-place shootings?”
Some of the incidents are of the “copy cat” nature. Law enforcement officials use this phrase to describe someone who sees an incident on television and “copies” that somewhere else. Some of the incidents that take place fall in that category. Officials say that some of those are carried out by people who want media attention.
But not all of these are of the “copy cat” type. Many of them are carried out by people who seem to be angry and want revenge. Maybe it’s a student who feels they have been “picked on” by their peers. Or, an adult who feels mistreated in the work place or didn’t get the promotion they desired. Or, maybe its a domestic dispute that erupts in violence.
What concerns me is that evidently there is a layer of anger under the surface in our country and at times, now, the manner in which people are dealing with their anger is by taking the life of someone. Instead of dealing with our problems or issues constructively, we are lashing out in anger by using guns.
Anger is a normal human emotion. Even the most calm, patient person has experienced it at some point. The scriptures say that Jesus got angry. When Jesus saw the carnival like atmosphere in the temple he was moved with righteous indignation and ran the money changers out of the temple (Matt. 21:12-13) So, it’s not wrong to be angry under certain conditions.
And, there are times we may get angry when it’s not justified. However, it’s how we handle our anger that is important.
The scripture encourages us to “be angry but sin not.”
The scripture also says “Do not let the sun go down on your own anger” (Eph. 4:26). Yet anger can consume us if we are not careful.
Also, as a church, we need to be aware of people who appear lonely or hurting and try to reach out to them with the love of Christ. All of us know people who are hurting. We need to share the love of Christ with them or just say a kind word to them.
There are troubled people in our world and troubled people need the love of Christ. Try to help a troubled person this week in Jesus name.