Why did God allow the Sandy Hook school shootings?

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Why did God allow the Sandy Hook school shootings?

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One of the questions that Christians struggle with and are often unable to answer is why God allows horrible tragedies such as the recent murderous shootings in Newtown, Connecticut? How do we as Christians process this? How do we square this with a loving God? Why would He allow this to happen? Why didn’t He prevent it? Can we blame God for all of the many problems in this troubled world?

The Bible says that Satan is “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians:4:3) who has been “a murderer from the beginning.” He is to blame for all of the problems of this world, including murder. He is the real enemy of all mankind, not human beings (Ephesians:6:12).

All human beings are victims of Satan’s hatred of God and His plan, and Satan takes out his anger and frustration on human beings in the form of killing by crime and murder. He often takes advantage of troubled human beings to carry out his evil schemes.

So why doesn’t God stop him? Why didn’t He just get rid of him even before He created Adam and Eve? Why has he allowed Satan to hang around all this time, causing so much pain, suffering and grief?

Nobody can presume to speak for God, nor do we need to defend Him. To answer these questions, we've got to understand the long-term plan of God. It's a plan that extends beyond this life into eternity.

He created us as free moral agents who have to make choices in life. He wants us to choose to obey Him from the heart. He wants us to enthusiastically love and cherish His values and standards, which are based on two overriding principles —loving Him with all our hearts and loving others as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:35-40).

But the history of mankind reveals that human beings ever since Adam and Eve have made the wrong choices. They've sought to live their own way instead of God’s way. So God has progressively backed off and allowed mankind to suffer the consequences of turning their back on Him.

The only way that man will ever be ready and willing to live God’s way from the heart is to learn the hard way. We have to learn from the tragic consequences of living by man’s way, especially under Satan’s influence. It has to be bad enough for the lesson to sink in. Otherwise, some could say, “Well it isn’t really that bad.”

But that doesn’t mean that victims of violence are evil people that God has singled out to punish. Jesus made this point about a massacre that occurred in His day: “Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. "Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?" Jesus asked. "Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too" (Luke 13:1-5, New Living Translation).

Many innocent victims—including Christians—since the beginning of history have died as martyrs, whose shed blood documents the evils of this world under Satan’s influence (Genesis 4:10, Matthew 23:34-35, Revelation 6:9-11).

In the famous Olivet prophecy, Jesus said that that world conditions would eventually get so bad that no one would be left alive “unless those days were shortened" but He promised that "for the elect's sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:22).

That’s the bad news. The good news is that God plans to bring all of mankind back to life in a world free of the dangers, suffering, wars and violence that is rampant in today’s world. Those little children that were savagely murdered will live again and have the opportunity to be reunited with their parents and live a full life in peace and safety in a world where war and crime will no longer exist.

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Comments

  • Larry Walker

    This is in response to Rose Marie's question--a good one! The Bible teaches that everyone will have to "stand/appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10). That includes all of mankind who have ever lived. So obviously that requires that they be resurrected. Jesus said that there are two types of resurrections--to eternal life and to judgment (John 5:27-29). Most translations render the Greek word krisis as "condemnation," but the word means "legal process of judgment" (BDAG lexicon).

    Furthermore, the Greek noun resurrection is "anarthrous" (not preceded by the Greek article), which means that it refers to two types of resurrections rather than only two specific resurrections.

    Revelation 20 reveals 3 different resurrections. The first resurrection is the only one to eternal life (verse 6). The fact that it is referred to as the "first resurrection" indicates that there is at least one more, which verse 5 says will take place after the 1,000 year rule of Christ on earth. A careful reading of verses 11-15 reveals two more resurrections to judgment (verses 11-12 and verses 13-15) Notice that the book of life is opened (indicating an opportunity to be given eternal life) only to those in the first group, so the second group is for incorrigible people who refuse to repent that are resurrected to be punished by eternal death in the lake of fire.

    For more information I would refer you to the UCG booklet, "What Happens After Death?" You will be surprised (and encouraged) by what you will learn.

  • Rose Marie

    When you say at the end of this article some day all will be reunited - are you referring to those who have repented and are saved? Certainly, you are not referring to all of mankind?

    Thank you for your Biblical answer.

  • joaopaulo

    These time make me think of the Book of Job. My understanding of Job story is that God is still in control. Even satan has to have God's consent to touch God's people.

    In my opinion there could be two scenarios here:

    One: The families affected are not of God's people. Therefore as the Larry Walker writes, God has withdrawn, therefore they do not enjoy God's protection.

    Two: God is allowing the incident as a test of His people's faith. They will be looked after.

    Either scenario is difficult to accept. It is only by faith in God that we can truly understand His plan. At times like these I realise that my faith is not strong enough; I have a long way to go.

  • Larry Walker

    This is in response to Candeliza, who asked me to clarify my statement, "Nobody can presume to speak for God. What I meant as that we don't know the exact reason why God does or doesn't do in any given situation. What we do know is what we can learn from scriptural examples and principles regarding the overall will of God.

    I certainly do agree that "We do speak for God in our actions, and our example, and our words," to which I would respond with a hearty AMEN! Very eloquently and accurately stated, and I couldn't agree more. We do speak out on God's behalf on our website, for which there is ample evidence, as well as on our Beyond Today TV program, our Good News magazine and all of our literature.

    We also have congregations in cities throughout the US and around the world, whose example we hope touches the lives of others with whom they come in contact. In fact in the Bend congregation that I pastor, we had a young coed begin attending with us as result of the example of my niece, who attends the same college.

    Thanks to Candeliza for asking for clarification on this important topic, which is a fundamental responsibility of a Christian.

    Larry Walker

  • tedmanuels

    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be.Roman 1:21
    The USA has drifted from the the ancient path , The nation has abandoned God and is facing terrible consequences that only a genuine repentance can solve
    if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.2chronicles 7:14

  • ms0483311

    there are reasons that GOD doesnt intervene reasons that we cannot even begin to fathom it could be as simple as with the loss of those childrens lives the parents and others may be drawn closer to him and begin to live a new life with him as their saviour as they may not have otherwise he stated it as his thoughts are not like our thoughts they are far above theyre will always be tragedy in this world and its going to get far worse so ive found peace in the fact that i love god for what he is and what he has promised this life is but a blink of an eye to him and i know what lies ahead in eternity but i am in no way saying to ignore what happened to those poor children but i know they will be with him in heaven

  • msimm82

    Do not be afraid - Jesus kept repeating this wisdom throughout his ministry. Keeping our focus on God at this tragic painful time, remembering that these children are in very safe hands, helps to relieve some of that pain that we all ache with.

    Pray for those families to give them strength and comfort in the knowledge and love of God. i have already seen the reactions from some families already that reassures me that God is definitely with them.

  • jgehrke

    Thankfully life in this world is very limited compared to eternity with our Lord. Even without violence, there will be sickness, heartache, fear, poverty and many other problems. I for one wound up beating myself down to a bottom point where I finally was shown humility and I then realized how much I needed God's help and now have gratitude that I too am saved, and I have enjoyed many blessed moments. My heart goes out to victims, and I see how mental illness and social unease of those who likely do not know of our Savior and His healing gifts can so darken a community. How I groan for His return and our eternal home.

  • bobjbowman

    Faith in God isn't always easy. Sometimes it is very hard. But believers know that the Bible is true and Jesus is the way. God's plan can't be seen in it's entirity at this time but trust in him that it will come to pass and will be complete. This world doesn't make sence and it seems to be getting worse daily. Peace Be still and know that he is God. I believe the children are with him.

  • Candeliza

    I do agree with this article!!! It is well written and right on target. But I do wish the author would have cleared up a little more about what he meant about, "Nobody can presume to speak for God, nor do we need to defend Him."
    This statement I don't agree with. We do speak for God in our actions, and our example, and our words. And He is our Great and Powerful Creator, and doesn't need anyone to defend Him (I get that part). But we are told to stand for Him and defend His name in several places in the bible, and not to be ashamed of Him. Didn't David defend God's people and His Great name and reputation? He didn't have to, God could have wiped Goliath out with no problem, but He chose to do that through David. We, as God's people need to do the same, and not shy away from speaking and defending God's honor. How will the world know, unless we speak? Even if they don't listen, or the majority doesn't listen. It is His words still planted. He sent Isaiah (6) to warn, and even told him that it would not work, but that he was there doing the job God directed, as an encouragement. There are many other examples of this. Randy Stiver's recent sermon about Isaiah talks about this. http://www.ucg.org/sermon/isaiahs-work/

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