I think it’s appropriate to comment here on the shooting
incident that occurred at a Church of Christ in Texas last week. This should not be a political issue, but
rather a human issue. As Bud Norman said
in his daily column last week, Churches of Christ are “blessedly apolitical and
focused on more eternal matters.” There
is, however, a truth that cries out to be heard.
Those of the church family who were killed by the shooter are
surely to be greatly missed by the church and blood families as well as friends. The trauma inflicted on the survivors in the congregation
will be deep and long-lasting. The
deacon who shot the intruder will face and confront life-long after-effects of
his action. No one emerged from this a
winner.
There was also another victim here. The shooter.
He has been described variously as “evil,” a “threat,” or in some other
neutral terminology by the media. Those
descriptions may well be correct; however, we need to remember most of all that
he was a human being. He had a father,
mother, and possibly other blood relatives. He may have had friends. He had a soul. He was loved by God. He was one of whom it was said in II Peter of
God, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” He was indeed one of whom Jesus said that we
are to, “Love your enemy.” He had a name: Keith Thomas Kinnumen.
But please don’t misunderstand. Even though the above is true, it is also
true that Mr. Kinnumen, and only Mr. Kinnumen is responsible for the deaths of
two people, and his own demise at the hands of another. Only he is responsible for the trauma and
stress. Only he is responsible for the
grief and heartache.
As Christians it seems we are balanced between two poles, if
you will. On the one hand, we are to
love as Christ loved; on the other, the reality of this fallen creation demands
that we sometimes do things that seem to fly in the face of this overarching
love. We may be called to make, in a
split second, decisions regarding our love for God, love for fellow-man and how
that is to be lived out in our lives.
Sadly, those that responded did what they had to do. That has been the case in innumerable places
and situations before that, and regrettably will continue to be the case.
May we always understand that no matter where we as
Christians may be on the political spectrum, or what our opinion is regarding
the Second Amendment and gun control, we dare not dehumanize those whom God
loves and desires that they come to repentance.
Let us be thankful for those who “stand in the gap,” protecting and
serving. And may we always long for The
Day when all will be restored, evil will be forever defeated, and God’s people
will forever be with him and with each other.
Jay Plank