Ask The Pastor - Rev. Tim Wiebe, St. Paul’s, Knowlton

Yet another horrific mass shooting. Horror, Terror, Fear, Anger, Mourning, Finger-pointing, Politics.

How could this happen?

Why did this happen?

How could we have prevented this? How can we protect ourselves against this ever happening again?

Who Is To Blame?

How do we make sense of this?

Do we make sense of this?

Or do we just keep our heads down, stay quiet, avoid attracting attention and hope it never happens to us.

Couldn’t a Good, all-powerful God have prevented this tragedy? Other tragedies?

Either God is Good but not all powerful because He is helpless in the face of such evil

OR

God is all powerful but maybe not all good- a frightening prospect.

This is the usual eventual line of questioning.

To which I would add one other premise. God is Good

God is All Powerful

Humanity has freedom of choice. God in His Goodness has allowed humanity the responsibility of Freewill.

Could God’s power prevent tragedy? Absolutely, but not without infringing on humanity’s freewill. To force a decision or, in fact the web of multiple decisions that lead to tragedies such as Las Vegas, is the act of a manipulative tyrant, not a good God. Love that is forced, isn’t love. But love that is freely chosen and freely given is the most wonderful, beautiful, amazing thing on this planet.

In Jesus, we see perfect human free-will intersect with complete goodness and ultimate power to reveal a true life of selfless love. “Greater love has no one than this, that they give up their life for a friend” says Jesus. Jesus did just that. In Jesus, God proved His love for you and for me by entering, not avoiding, suffering and death- so that- in the midst of horror, terror, fear, anger, mourning, finger-pointing and politics, we can know that we are never alone and that there is something more powerful in this world and beyond. Love- the love of God that is eternal, allpowerful and eventually, all healing.

“I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word is dependable and accurate.” Revelation 21:3-5.

Happy Thanksgiving Indeed.

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