Brett's Discernment

For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.


32 stones were put in as permanent markers of the shooting at VT. . . Really? 32? I think I have spoken of this here before, but it really blows my mind that in our world of political correctness, grace could not be had to put up that 33rd stone for the shooter, Cho. For there is no distinction. . . no one would have to put flowers there or pray, and yes it may anger some, but wasn't the greatest tragedy (in one way) in his lost life?

all have sinned . . . Grace abounds.

I think it is true that, as I have heard before, that mental illness is one of the last truly large prejudices and least publicly understood of the interpersonal challenges that confront us. There is such grief, to me, in the shooter's mental illness. There is also frustration in seeing on the NBC coverage of the investigation of the shooting that the summary or sound byte of the reasoning for the shooting was "several institutional safeguards" fell through. That makes no sense to me, and seems to throw blame on the social or institutional system, instead of just acknowledging this as a tragedy. I do not see why an investigation is necessary, but I know many of the parents and those involved would disagree. We are never really safe from these things, as much as we'd like to think we are - he had every right to be on campus and in those buildings - the report should be instead on how devastating depression and mental illness can be. Posted as a comment on a CNN story on this:

What's going to happen when a student goes to the student health with symptoms of depression? Are they going to be immediately locked up in a psychiatric hospital against their will? This actually happened to my daughter at Duke. I worry about a backlash against people with mental illness. It seems like our desire to be "safe" is going to take away all our civil rights and make it less likely that people with mental illness get the treatment they need. Mental illness can happen to anyone. You all talk like it's something that will never happen to you. (I'm not far removed from Tech, either; one of my sons was in nearby Cowgill Hall on April 16, and the other one is on campus this fall.)

I think he makes an important point, something that had been forming in my own mind as well. The other comments made by the anonymous public on this CNN article are much less kind and call Cho many things and words that strike me as immature. It worries me that I think the public is more likely to be sheep and look for a "reason" for tragedies such as this, rather than being conscious of being loving, open, unjudging, and Christ-like to our neighbor. It seems like for every safety-shattering event, we (Americans? or people in general?) seem to want to have an answer - or a scapegoat - for this one, it is those institutional safeguards, for 9/11 it is the enemy and the eye for an eye perspective, for Columbine and school shootings of the last decade, it has been gun control and the violence in our culture (speaking of which, everyone should read Culture of Fear). . .

The trend of God in the Old Testament and Christ in the New to choose the afflicted, to illustrate the Samaritan as our neighbor, to support those cast out by society, etc. is just a further testament to the true solution to all of this . . .

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. ^F177 9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. 12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps. Psalm 85: 8-13.

Completely unrelated - on CBS' Sunday Morning program this past week, they had an examination of atheism. It was at least a little bit thought-provoking, especially as I think of friends who struggle against that in their own environments and conversations I have had with others. But I feel no need for proof, not in the least. However, I feel I can still relate my true experience of faith through very relateable (sp?), human terms, and that sharing is important in explaining the "why" of faith. It is also something that, as for me, it takes most people a while to be comfortable with, sharing one's faith openly.

Pray for all 33. The current foreign policy and U.S. gov't (particularly executive) tries to be so steeped in conservatism and Christianity but particularly forgets to pray for its enemies and remember them as equals, as in the Romans verse from the top of the page. (Which, by the way, I heard recently Luther said "I'd rather vote for a smart atheist rather than a dumb Christian")
Christ himself teaches us, as hard as it may be, not to vilify our enemy, as our culture preaches, but:

(Jesus said in Matthew 5) "44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, ^F44 what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."