This week we received news of another school shooting.  This time it involved a Catholic School.  It happened while many of the youngest of the children were in their chapel for a worship service.  The perpetrator committed suicide afterward in the parking lot of the school.  Two children were killed and many wounded.  We never want to hear of such things but they are real.  How are believers able to respond to such tragedies?  Many people were offering their “prayers” for the children and for the families.  Even the President of the USA offered his condolences stating that he was praying for them.  Is this a way to respond?

There were two high ranking political officials, that shall remained unnamed herein, who criticized anyone offering their prayers in the wake of this horrendous event.  The contention of these politicians is that prayers are of no value and that what is needed is some kind of legislation to rid the USA of all armaments.  (Perhaps a slight exaggeration but there is a political stance that does want that extreme and it does have a voice among many people.)  The thought behind the political perspective being expressed is that prayer and, most likely, anything dealing with spiritual beliefs constitutes inaction and insignificance. 

One person commenting on this captured a most important thought by referring to those stating that prayers were the last thing needed as being “spiritually blind.”  Jesus offered his thoughts on spiritual blindness when he referred to a group of Pharisees complaining about his teachings as “blind guides.” (Matthew 15:14)  This group of Jewish leaders were tasked with teaching the Law of Moses.  They prided themselves as being an example of what it meant to follow the Law.  Yet, Jesus saw their hypocrisy and called them out on it.  Jesus reminded his disciples to “let them alone; they are blind guides.  And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Unfortunately, there are too many “blind guides” in places of authority at all levels of our government – from local and State to Federal. 

While we say we are a nation of laws, there is evidence that this is one of the most abused aspects of our way of governing.  We never seem to ask the “why” of the laws.  What are they meant to do?  Having a law is one thing; understanding the “spirit” behind the law is something entirely different.   From a Biblical perspective, laws are meant to provide justification for actions.  Judges are supposed to interpret our laws so that society will be safe.  The ideal outcome of having laws is the creation of a society that “obeys” the law without requiring judgment for wrong doing.  If everyone truly obeyed the law, what would be the use of a court system?  But alas, we do not live in such a utopia.  The law remains and so does criminality.  This does not mean we should dispense with the “spirit” of the law which is aiming for as many people as possible who do truly follow the law.  This happens when we have a change of heart because we see the importance of our laws in the first place.

The Apostle Paul was following this logic when he wrote to the church at Corinth. (2 Corinthians 3:6) “…our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit.  For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  Praying is directing our hearts and minds toward the true and final Judge of all things – our Creator.  We are opening ourselves up to his instruction for what it means to be obedient and to asking for his understanding of how to provide compassion as well as counsel in seeking solutions.  More laws is actually unnecessary.  More people with a heartfelt love for humanity is what we need.  This will only happen when we have more people actually praying for God’s involvement in our daily lives.  With all the violence we experience in this world, why would anyone discount the presence of God’s love for our world?  The violence is rooted in the actions of the spiritually blind.  It is time to open our eyes and see the authority as well as the compassion of our God.  Let’s not settle for just changing a law; let’s seek to change hearts for God.

Pastor David