Who Did This??!

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't jealous. It doesn't sing its own praises. It isn't arrogant. It isn't rude. It doesn't think about itself. It isn't irritable. It doesn't keep track of wrongs. It isn't happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with truth. Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up. (1 Corinthians 14:4-7, GWT)


One of my close friends made the following post on Facebook.

"My heart hurts for the two reporters that were murdered today. They were so young. Don't know if I can sleep tonight. I keep asking, "Why God, do you let these awful things happen?" I'm just disgusted with all the shootings of innocent people. My heart is broken for the two young lives taken today."

With her permission, I am responding here in an effort to to answer her questions to help her and others who may have the same questions.

First, I'd like to lay a little groundwork. Let's go all the way back to the beginning. 

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1, NLT) 

"The Word was God". How can the Word (the Bible) be God? We have to step out of our "natural" minds for a moment and understand God is spirit. (John 4:24) We have to use the faith God gave us to spiritually "see" in order to reconcile what appears to be foolishness. (Romans 12:3, 1 Corinthians 2:14)

Now that we have that foundation laid down, we move on to step two.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16, NLT)

I've heard arguments and reasonings about how "the Bible is written by man". And "man" has their "own agendas" as well as "man forgets details", etc. Those arguments say, man is responsible for the Bible, not God. However, Corinthians 10:5 teaches us to cast those down and bring every thought to the obedience of Christ. Combine Corinthians 10:5 with 2 Timothy 3:16 and we resolve those arguments, reasonings, and theories.

Next.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. (1 John 4:16, NLT) 

Please make a note, "God is love."

Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8, NLT) 

Again, please make a note, "God is love."

All that said, we can easily ascertain, (through Scripture...inspired by God Himself), God is love.

Not "Hollywood" love that is here today and gone tomorrow. 
Not raging hormone love. 
Not, "I love you as long as this all works out for me love".  
Not, "I love you until someone better comes along love."

True love. Real love. Authentic love. Absolute love. 

In His own words (Bible), God defines true love. (1 Corinthians 14:4-7)

Since God is love, He doesn't have the capacity to hate. Since it is impossible for Him to hate, it is impossible for Him to engage in or "allow", tragic, evil, hateful acts. God (who is love) never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8) God withholds no good things from us, not even sparing His own Son. (Romans 8:32)

So who is the originator of these terrible, hate filled, evil acts? Our Good Shepherd (John 10:11) answers that question. 

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10, NKJV)

Would it not be counterproductive (as well as bipolar) for Jesus to come so that "we may have life and have life more abundantly", only to commit evil acts against us? 

This may be new information to some, saying, "Ok. You've shown me where the Bible says all this but I've always been told God in control." 

To that, I make this statement. I am a momma. I have a house full of girls. I would literally put myself in between a grizzly bear (or any other danger) and one of my kids. I actually have put myself in between a big, lunging, snarling, tweaked out dog and one of my girls. On two separate occasions. Its automatic. Mommas don't even have to think about it. It's like automatic tunnel vision. Baby...more aptly put, MY baby in danger...step aside Baby-Momma got this. It's a no brainer. Mommas fight for their babies. As a friend of mine puts it, "Mommas will charge hell with a water pistol for their babies."

Since that is true, how much more, will a perfect parent (God, our Father) fight for us? (Matthew 7:11, Matthew 6:26, Matthew 18:12-14)

However, I (as a parent) don't control any of my girls. Anyone who has ever dealt with a toddler knows that fact. Selah!

Neither does God control any of us. And, God doesn't set us up for tragedy anymore than we would set our children up for tragedy.

Jesus (God's own Son) "could not do any miracles" in His own hometown. (Mark 6:5, NLT) In that setting, it is obvious God wasn't in control. So, God who never changes, is in control of us today but not Jesus in His own hometown? (Hebrews 13:8) 

Saying, God is in control may sound like really good theology. I don't know everything, but I haven't found a place in God's Word to verify the statement. 

We choose who we serve. (Joshua 24:15)
We choose to open the door...or not. (Revelation 3:20)
We choose to submit to God...or not. (James 4:7)

Every day, we are faced with choices that bring life and choices that bring death. God tells us to choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19) However, we choose.

Sometimes, choices collide and tragedy strikes. I personally believe, when tragedy does strike, Jesus cries right along with us. (John 11:35)

When a child is standing over a dying parent. When a mother's baby is sick in the hospital. When a young widow is arranging her husband's funeral. In other words, any time tragedy strikes. I really-really-really cringe when I hear someone say (with a long sigh), "Well, God is in control." I cringe because I see it making people question God's love. Instead of leaning on God during those times they say, "If God is love, where is all His love right now?! And how can He allow this?"

In all actuality, we would most likely love for God to be in control. If He were in control, our responsibility would lessen and we could just let Him sweat it. We could throw up our hands and say, "The Big Controller in the sky is in control." I digress.

The answer has to be, God didn't control Jesus' situation and He doesn't control ours.




Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for my sweet friend who is has all these questions. I pray this answers her questions. I pray she walk in the measure of faith You placed in her. I pray her eyes see, her ears hear, her heart is full of peace, and she lays down in sweet sleep. I also pray for every reader right now, that they dig deep into Your Word and know You, really come to know You and Your wonderful goodness! May we never find ourselves in a position calling evil good and good evil. May we all know You so well, we immediately recognize the source of every situation. May we all walk in Truth, Your Word, in the name of Jesus!


John 14:13
Matthew 13:16
Proverbs 3:34