Candle in the Wind (Elton John)

In the wake of Carolina's most recent tragedy, a great many thoughts pace the corridors of my mind. I will try to articulate them, but time and confusion may render them senseless.

Andy Jones spoke at RUF last night. Using 2 Samuel 12:1-14, he discussed the nature of sin. "What sin does...." 2 things: it compounds itself, and it conceals itself. It's this compounding idea that strikes me now. People discuss this as if it's an anomaly. As if murder isn't a natural inclination; as if it were senseless and ungrounded in our society. We're better than that, right? Well I don't know who "we" is, but I know that I am not. Sin is not an isolated act. This is not some freak accident that tragically stole our student body president from us. This is evidence of the fall. This is evidence of the baseness of our nature apart from Christ. I am capable of committing the same crime against mankind, except that I have the Holy Spirit governing my heart and turning me towards the love of Christ.

But our campus doesn't understand that. At least, not yet.

So what's our responsibility? What's next? How do we cope?

We pray. And we love. And we pray some more. And we read Scripture. (Psalm 73 - see below). And we pray again. And we continue to seek God's justice, not to enact man's vengeance, but to seek God's will and purpose in this situation. And we probably won't ever know what that is.

But as people begin to ask questions, we must be prepared to answer as best we can. We know exactly why these things happen - because man is sinful. And we know the answer - Jesus. Does that help? Does that make the hurt go away? Probably not. But will God be glorified? Yes. Even in this, God is sovereign, and will glorify himself.

from Psalm 73
Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.

but as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.

When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.