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The Virginia Tech Massacre

Posted on Monday 16 April 2007 by Greg @ 12:29 pm
Filed under: Rants

I’m in mourning right now along with you. The shocking tragedy at Virginia Tech has got me reeling and revisiting some old feelings.

Eight years ago this week I was in a church with six youth leaders promoting one of our Dare 2 Share conferences. This particular conference was on spiritual warfare and evangelism. It was appropriately titled, "When all hell breaks loose…." Then all hell did break loose. The Columbine tragedy was unfolding twenty minutes down the road.

Such a horrific act of violence had never happened so close to me and it sent me into a tailspin. As I’m sure it did you. All the forces of hell did break loose that day through the trigger fingers of two angry young men.

Now its broken loose again, this time at Virginia Tech.

As the final death toll is being tallied and the devastation is being measured all of us are in mourning. We should be. We have moved into an increasingly secularized society. Movies and video games have gone from graphic violence to unspeakable violence. Prayer and God and all things Jesus have been moved out of the public eye and marginalized as irrelevant. And we continue to reap what we have sown as a country.

You can only be told that you are the result of random chance (as opposed to divine design) for so long until you finally act on it. Add anti Jesus secularism to easy access to automatic weapons and what do you get? Tragedies like Columbine and Virginia Tech.

Pray with me for the victim’s families and friends. Let’s pray together for this nation in crisis both abroad and at home. Then let’s do something about it.

Let’s serve the hurting. Let’s shine like Jesus. Let’s share the good news.

Before its too late.

49 Comments for 'The Virginia Tech Massacre'

On April 16, 2007 @ 1:55 pm Neva said:

I’m in.
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On April 16, 2007 @ 2:02 pm Will Bratina said:

How my heart hurts! God’s Spirit, my spirit, is so shaken and grieved within me. This even as I am disturbed by the denominational retreat my son and our church youth returned from this weekend. The keynote speaker spoke of our "brotherhood" with the rocks, trees and rivers and the debt we owe to protect these resources. I was told yet another speaker extolled the importance of condom use. How is it that our God has given us over to the ’me first’ attitude and unspeakable violence you spoke of, Greg? Yet it is only as He warns in Romans 1:22-26: 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Holy God, this must not be! Let us be fools for Your Gospel, Lord Jesus! Thanks for always urging on so many for His Kingdom, Greg. Jesus Christ urges you on to keep spreading His Fire, brother. Let’s share the Good News with just one today. Who knows, they may win 31 souls for Christ and the Life He gives instead of snuffing out people He made in His image like candles. - Will
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On April 16, 2007 @ 4:13 pm Caitlin said:

It’s so sad what people do nowadays….going out and killing people…..I was there during the columbine shooting…..I only lived a half mile from the school…..Me and my sis were taken out of school early that day, we didn’t know why. We weren’t allowed to watch T.V. and when the movie we were watching ended, I heard the news reporter say school massacre and that’s when it hit me. People were dead. The next day my teacher didn’t come to school, we were all worried and that night my mom asked me if I wanted to go to the place where people were remembering those who had passed. I said yes and we went the next day. Turns out that the teacher who died that day….was my teacher’s teacher. I left a note there small as it may seem it left a big impact on my teacher. She saw it that day… and when she came back she gave me big hug. I tried to comfort her to my best abilities and luckily she lasted the whole day, and that note only said… I never knew you and now I never will, but you will live on in my heart, with all the others who are with you. I didn’t know anyone who was lost that day but i was only just in Kindergarten….. I am NOT making this up. I was there that day, and now my heart hurts with the pain for those lost. I will pray for their families for as long as it takes. May God aid in their recoveries……
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On April 16, 2007 @ 5:39 pm Becky said:

My heart is devastated by this.See Iknew I was not the only one realizing that video games result in shootings like this one.~Becky~
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On April 16, 2007 @ 5:46 pm Pam said:

I have never been a particularly religious person , not until now. I just recently turned 50 , so I have seen a lot in those 50 years . I can see that this world has changed and I have to agree with you that the violence has increased significantly . I also believe that there is a reason for everything that happens . It maybe that these types of unspeakable , horrible acts of violence has to happen in order for some people to wake up and realize whats important . I know it has opened my eyes and my heart . I know that Jesus is the way , the truth and the light . All I want to do now is to reach out to others and spread Gods love .My heart and prayers goes out to all those touched by this event . We have to turn it into something positive and good . I have grown up with guns , I even own one myself . But now , it makes me sick to think about it being in my house. Tomorrow I will take it into the police station .
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On April 16, 2007 @ 5:54 pm Maegan said:

WOW…I didn’t hear about this until Igirl I worked with said something! I can’t imagine what people are thinking and I pray that when someone thinks about killing someone else they’ll think twice—I just don’t know what to say! I will pray for the families! WOW!!!!! I’ve never been so speechless!
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On April 16, 2007 @ 5:56 pm fordiym said:

I’m joining you in prayer. I have a former student from the ministry who now attends VT.
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On April 16, 2007 @ 11:20 pm Adam said:

i’m praying praying praying
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On April 16, 2007 @ 11:38 pm iwuvgod said:

i am so in! if u dont kno this which u probly dont or do. but 31 ppl died, 28 injured, and the suspect commited suicide.
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On April 16, 2007 @ 11:46 pm Ashley Buckner said:

Praying is all it seems we can do right now. It’s crazy just 2 weeks ago tomorrow I watched a kid collapse during a game of baseball. He died 4 days later. Now this? It’s so weird when things hit you fast like this or when it seems like everything is being thrown at you at once. Something shocking like this is going to start an uproar that will cause people to talk about it in a sad, I’m here for those who need us, kind of way, but are we really? Were there people telling the ones who died today about God? Were they there for them? Was there anybody there? Or better yet, are we really there for the people in our own backyard? What if some lost, angry person decided to go on a rampage and shoot at our friends? Could any of us honostly say that we were there for them in the way we need to be most? I have to say my answer is no. I put it off and "forget". What if one day after I "forget" one of my friends dies? How would I feel then? Knowing that I hadn’t done what God created me to do? Knowing that Jesus died so they could live, but they didn’t know cause I hadn’t told them? This is such a wake up call! And I just realized I went on a very long rant of my own just now. I’m sorry. L8r. Signing off, Ashley
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On April 17, 2007 @ 8:18 am Scott Eaton said:

Greg, you said: "You can only be told that you are the result of random chance (as opposed to divine design) for so long until you finally act on it. Add anti Jesus secularism to easy access to automatic weapons and what do you get? Tragedies like Columbine and Virginia Tech." I really take exception with the whole "easy access to automatic weapons" line. I happen to own some absolutely legal semi-automatic weapons and I have never killed anyone. Nor do I plan too. This killer used a semi-automatic 9mm (not an automatic weapon) and a .22 calibur handgun. Both are legal. The problem is not guns. The problem is sin. SIN! This madman was acting out of wicked, evil, sinful impulses. Impulses that only Jesus Christ can control and eradicate. This man needed Jesus and the good news that Dare 2 Share is all about. Until there is a revival in the land and a renewal of righteousness through the preaching of the gospel no amount of government intervention will ever curb the violence. Why? Because the government can’t change the desperately wicked human heart. Only Jesus can do this. This is a spiritual problem, not a government or gun problem. Sorry to rail on you and you know I love you bro, but I disagree with your statement. Don’t muddy up the real issue.
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On April 17, 2007 @ 8:24 am Alex said:

I’m with you Greg!
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On April 17, 2007 @ 8:54 am Greg said:

Hey Scott, Yeah, and after all they were not automatic weapons. They were semi-automatic. So I stand corrected. I do agree that it is a God problem and not primarily a gun problem. But I have to admit (and I own three guns myself) that I am concerned that weapons are so readily available to virtually everybody. I do believe that we as Americans have the right to bear arms. But that was back in the day of single shot muskets, not 25 rounds per second automatic weapons. I just think it’s an issue that conservatives have to be willing to talk about. I believe in guns for hunting and home protection, but not for mass murder. At the sametime this shooting shows that it’s not just automatic weapons that can create massive damage. And at the heart of the issue…it is a heart issue. Always appreciate your perspective Scott (but usually we have the same one
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On April 17, 2007 @ 9:24 am Scott Eaton said:

Hey Greg: Thanks for the response. Sorry if I was a bit rough on you. I agree that this is an issue that should not just illicit a knee-jerk response. I guess my knee was twitching and I’m the jerk! We do need to address these issues while trying to protect the rights we have been given by our founders. So again, sorry to react the way I did. May God add his mercy and grace to the families of those affected by this awful tragedy and the entire Virginia Tech community. Like everyone else, my heart hurts for those involved and for our nation and very fallen world.
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On April 17, 2007 @ 9:25 am Dan Lancenese said:

We need to remember that it is not guns that kill people it is people that kill people. People need to understand that God is in control of every situatuion. If people want to change the world they need to do what God wants them to do.
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On April 17, 2007 @ 12:12 pm John said:

As the final death toll is being tallied and the devastation is being measured all of us are in mourning. We should be. We have moved into an increasingly secularized society. Movies and video games have gone from graphic violence to unspeakable violence. Prayer and God and all things Jesus have been moved out of the public eye and marginalized as irrelevant. And we continue to reap what we have sown as a country.

Greg, I think this is sidestepping the issue. Saying that we are all at fault because we could have done more is also missing the issue. There is no evidence that Cho-Sheung-Hui was addicted to violent video games or even a product of American culture. I think it trivializes the deaths of the students to speak of a political agenda and a secularizing America. I consider it a robbing of the victim’s dignity. As another commenter has shared, the cause is sin. Cho had a desire that grew into a sinful action. The deceit of sin probably made him believe that he was justified to do what he did. It’s not society’s fault, it’s not Hollywood’s fault, it’s Cho’s fault. Period. Still, I agree that times like this can be a reminder that we are in a fallen world and that people need to hear about Jesus. If nothing else, I hope that we, as you say, can be Jesus to those affected.
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On April 17, 2007 @ 3:23 pm erika said:

satan stands tall when we fall down…but trembles when we pray…SO PRAY REALLY HARD~
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On April 17, 2007 @ 4:06 pm Greg said:

Hey John, Good points all. At the end of the day I guess its not just Cho’s fault, but Adam and Eve’s. Thoreau said, "For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, one hacks at the root." Only Jesus can hack at the root. I believe the blood is on our hands in the sense that we have not done a good enough job at getting the gospel out to as many as possible. The cause is sin…agreed. But that doesn’t mean that these other issues are not at the very minimum factors (aka "the leaves of evil"). Let’s keep sharing Jesus and praying for the victims’ families. Amen? Amen!
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On April 17, 2007 @ 4:10 pm Kyle said:

Greg, I just finished reading your editorial on the VA Tech tragedy online at christianpost.com. Great article, very persuasive argumentation and sound reasoning. I appreciate your calling to attention the issue of how we have devalued life and removed God and thus a moral standard from our culture. However, your opening thesis sentence: "What do you get when you add easy access to weapons and a culture that increasingly devalues life and glorifies violence from video games to slasher films." introduces an irrelevant idea (this is not touched on again in the piece) this "easy access to weapons." Are you arguing for stricter gun laws? Do you believe that access to any weapon is truly part of the problem here? While your premise of our culture devaluing life is one I accept I’m not convinced that access to two 9mm handguns really had anything to do with the shooter’s motivation or intent yesterday at VA Tech. As we have this important dialogue lets not buy into the liberal media agenda that "guns kill people." I wish that there had been someone with a gun in Norris Hall who may have been able to save lives…
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On April 17, 2007 @ 4:26 pm John said:

Hey John, Good points all. At the end of the day I guess its not just Cho’s fault, but Adam and Eve’s. Thoreau said, "For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, one hacks at the root." Only Jesus can hack at the root. I believe the blood is on our hands in the sense that we have not done a good enough job at getting the gospel out to as many as possible. The cause is sin…agreed. But that doesn’t mean that these other issues are not at the very minimum factors (aka "the leaves of evil"). Let’s keep sharing Jesus and praying for the victims’ families. Amen? Amen!

Hi Gregg, to give you some perspective, I came out of the cult known as the International Churches of Christ. This emotional cudgel of "if we had done more it wouldn’t have happened" was used time and time again to push up the numbers at small groups and church services. Maybe I am too colored by my past, but I thought it was manipulative then and I think it is manipulative now. However, it is important, as you say, to keep sharing Jesus and praying for and with the victim’s families. We may disagree on Adam’s guilt (I’m not a Calvinst) and on the "leaves of evil" (I am not a Republican), but we do agree that Jesus is Lord indeed.
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On April 17, 2007 @ 6:52 pm Greg said:

Amen John. I have had several encounters with the International Churches of Christ and totally understand your perspective (that is a cult my friend…perhaps the most dangerous out there in some ways. While they are not big they are totally manipulative. I’ve had a few good friends who were sucked up by their lies and techniques.) I guess my deal is that I think that for the most part the church in America needs to do more (reach out, serve, disciple, etc) and who knows what tragedies could possibly be stopped if we did. But at the end of the day our job is not to stop tragedies but to advance the kingdom of God. And Kyle, I am not one of those anti-gun guys (I have three in the house…for hunting and home protection) and I do think that if someone was on campus who had a gun when the perp came in they could have stopped him. Sometimes the best way you can love your neighbor is by stopping the other neighbor who is going to kill him. All I’m saying is that I think we may need to revisit how easy the access is for anyone who wants to get a gun. I have two kids and the last thing I want is some crazy dude down the street to be able to walk into any Walmart across America and pick up a 9 mm, just becuase he doesn’t have an arrest record yet. All in all I’m thrilled that this discussion is taking place. More needs to happen.
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On April 17, 2007 @ 7:25 pm Scott Hamilton said:

I am a graduate of Virginia Tech, and a Youth Pastor. I do not know what to say about what happened on Monday. I was totally numb when I heard the news. I live 45 minutes from campus and go there on a regular basis. I am hurting right along with the families and students. I am also a school teacher and had former students right on campus as well as students from my ministry. I want to see God use this terrible event to bring a great and mighty revival on every college campus accross our country. Please continue to pray for the families and students at Virginia Tech, because they really need it; but also do not forget to pray for God to turn our college students and their families to Him.
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On April 17, 2007 @ 8:40 pm Christopher Pokorny said:

I must say that I agree with you Scott. When the world fails (which it is programmed to do), MANY people turn to God and if not, theyre looking for answers. Everyone go out tomorrow and speak into someones life. Tell them that there is a just God who knows whats going on. A just and almighty God who loves them so much, that He respects their decision to not come to him. But when they do make that decision to come like a baby to Christ, his arms are big, warm, and comforting! What have they got to lose? Accept God and recieve a life of abundance or….live in a world that is programmed to fail and keep reaping that failure? This is a great opportunity to share the good news of Jesus. Hearts have been softened and if your being guided by the spirit, the Lord will put some people on your hearts to go talk to…maybe they will give their life to Christ, maybe your just setting up the framework for someone down the road… If you don’t who will? Go God!
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On April 17, 2007 @ 9:26 pm John said:

No problem, Greg. As my wife and I talked tonight - is there any use for a pistol besides shooting another human being? I grew up hunting and fishing and owning guns - rifles and shotguns. We never had a pistol in the house. As far as ‘the church in America’, I still believe that Hollywood would not make certain movies if no one paid for them. What makes a difference is changing an individual life. I do not think anything can be done or said to a faceless group known as ‘the church of America’, but I can say to my friend, "Why do you pay money for this?" We are Jesus and speak about Jesus in whatever way we can, right? As far as the ICoC, I still work for reform. Drop me an email if you care to hear more, but no worries. I assume you have other things to do. Keep plugging away, man! God Bless.
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On April 17, 2007 @ 9:38 pm Becky said:

Greg I think about this I think about how the media is influencing my fellow generation.It breaks my heart to see things get this bad. My heart breaks for the lostness and brokeness I see all around me.
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On April 18, 2007 @ 7:49 am Joe said:

Written Monday, April 16, 2007 oh sinners, let’s go down. Today, tragedy descended on the campus of Virginia Tech. A crazed gunman killed over 30 students and professors. In the shadow of such an event, people wonder, "What makes someone do this? How could one person be so evil?" The truth is, we’re all so evil. We’re all capable of even the most unthinkable acts of violence and corruption. However, it is not an event to brush aside as simply another display of man’s wickedness. Indirect victims had the most precious things taken from them: brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers. The family members of the ones killed are undoubtedly going through a time of serious grief and loss. The least we as onlookers can do is to pray. Pray for everyone connected to this attack, from the family of those victimized to the shocked television viewers overcome by today’s horrifying events. Pray for God to work this terrible act for good, to bring people to Him even through man’s evil.Oh sinners, let’s go down, down in the River to pray.
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On April 18, 2007 @ 8:28 am Taylor said:

I’ll be praying for them too.
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On April 18, 2007 @ 10:35 am Pastor Matt said:

Greg, Thanks for your comments and the the work that you do in serving our Savior. Dare 2 Share is making an impact on our youth ministry. Tonight I will be presenting some of these remarks on this bolg to our youth group. I want to start our time together sharing the different feelings concerning gun control, video games, and the condition of our society. The introductory time will give our kids time to express their felling toward what has happened. BUT, in the end I want our focus to be on the truth of what has really happened. I am asked all the time, "What is wrong with kids today?" And my response is always the same, ‘The same thing that was wrong with them a generation ago, SIN’ (Gen. 3). Your personal decision NOW can and will impact your future. The video games, the movies, and the friends you allow in you life today can and will show up later in you life. I know people don’t like to blame a video games or a movie for the death of college students, but these things create or are allowed to begin to create ‘mental mapping’ in our minds. We play a game so much or watch so many graphic movies that it becomes an addiction. Then it seems to have to escalate for us to gain satisfaction from it. More explicit or more real. Then we become desensitized to the situation. Then the real damage happens when it is acted out, not in video game, a pornographic web site, or in a movie, but unfortunately in real life. At this time we don’t know this guys back ground, but I would think we will find a lack of self control or parental guidance when it comes to this types of violent entertainment. I really want to make sure our youth group know who God is (His attributes), know how there action or lack of action will impact those around them (loving our neighbors), and gain an urgency to tell others about Christ (taking people on a GOSPEL journey). We will be praying tonight as a youth group the God’s love will show through His people and out shine those questions of "Where was God during this tragedy?"
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On April 18, 2007 @ 12:47 pm Jorden said:

Yeah,Monday was sad. I’m homeschooled so I heard right after it happened,and I followed it throughout the day. I’ve been praying for the families. It’s just sad that this generation has fallen into such moral decay as it has.
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On April 18, 2007 @ 1:08 pm Sen said:

When I hear stuff like this on the news, I hurt. My heart aches and I feel so useless. My family and I have deside that we won’t take this sitting down. Our hearts where crushed and our prayers are out and will continue.
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On April 18, 2007 @ 2:30 pm John Campbell said:

In January 2006, Virginia Delegate Todd Gilbert introduced House Bill 1572, which was meant to guarantee, with a few exceptions, that students with concealed handgun permits would be allowed to carry guns on college campuses. The bill died in subcommittee later that month. Like many schools, Virginia Tech had a policy prohibiting guns on campus, and Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker expressed pleasure at the bill’s defeat. "I’m sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly’s actions," said Hincker, "because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus." The problem is not "easy access to guns," as Greg S. puts it. The problem in the case of the victims at VA.T. was not enough guns. They may as well hang a sign in front of every school (and church) that says, "No guns here, criminals will be safe inside."
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On April 18, 2007 @ 2:37 pm JKStar09 said:

My heart aches and my prayers go out to the victims and their families. I have three kids of my own and I can’t even imagine the loss that the parents are feeling. I don’t have a comment on gun control, video games, or anything of this earth. This is yet another reminder of how big our God is and while we don’t always understand it right away, His will is always being done. I’ve seen pictures on the internet of students, on campus, holding hands in prayer. How often did that happen before Tuesday? Hundreds of thousands are praying around the world and drawing closer to Him. Make no mistake, God is using this to bring everyone together to reach out to Him. For those who would question how God could allow something so horrible to happen, I encourage you to read the first three chapters of Job. Don’t ever forget that God is alive and in complete control, even (ESPECIALLY) in times like this. Thanks Greg, and keep up the fantastic work. - Jason
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On April 18, 2007 @ 3:53 pm Ginny said:

With our country’s stupidity, I’m amazed God hasn’t "Sodom and Gomorrah-ed" us. And this little act wasn’t very encouraging to our country being revived, for -what- the third time? Guess we ought to keep in mind what many things God MUST have planned for this country and it’s inhabitants, seeing how He hasn’t destroyed us. We must have every sin in the book labeled as "something you’ll see everyday". Yowch. How God mourns for the country. How I mourn for my country.
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On April 18, 2007 @ 4:02 pm Steve said:

Greg, Praying is what we can do for those so far away. The question is what can you do for those you touch every day? Greg you teach it so well at your conferences, reach out to them in the name of Jesus and show them the way to heaven! GOSPEL! God bless, Steve
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On April 18, 2007 @ 6:44 pm Marc said:

I think two questions stand to be asked at this point, one which has already been asked: what does the Church do in response to such a tragedy - and second, perhaps most importantly, is what kind of ‘people’ has Christ called the Church to be in order to respond to such a tragedy with any integrity and honesty. I would propose that the Church’s primary responsibility is not to reform the social order: exact stricter (or looser) gun control laws; video game rating systems; bans on music with explicit lyrics - nor to take the easy out and blame it all on sin and the "devil." In a country built on the myth of personal autonomy and individual "rights," I believe this is simply one more example of the failure of the Enlightenment project that America truly is. This is not a liberal v. conservative argument. This is a matter of the Church buying into and swearing primary allegiance to liberal (i.e. based on the freeom of the individual - not any contemporary connotation) democracy - and upon seeing the cracks in the foundation as early as the mid-19th c., becoming to believe that it is the Church’s job to somehow support liberal democracy and make it ‘work.’ Christ never commanded us to ensure the success of capitalism or the protection of "endowed" rights. The Church can try and continue to make a sinking boat stay afloat - or truly pursue becoming the people of God whom God reoriented around his Son, Jesus Christ. Seeing this as our primary goal, it does not eradicate us from participation in the public sphere - as that would be next to impossible - or from advocating more ‘just’ social causes. Before attacking video games, music, and guns, attack the capitalistic spirit that creates a market for such items - if you’re really concerned, don’t perpetuate the market by adopting and providing a Christianized version - the Social Gospel movement attempted that in the spirit of 19th c. classical liberalism and they saw that it failed with WWI and WWII - do we have to repeat their same mistakes? What has God called us to do? - To model a different way of life, a people who place their hope and faith not in liberal democracy, American "ideals", Congress, but in the eschatological event that happened in the tomb on Easter morning. We don’t pack up our bags and wait in our churches until some (rather erroneous belief) of the rapture occurs - thanks Darby =\ - and perhaps we also learn to refocus our efforts not around how to best ensure a proper arrival in heaven after death - but learning to be a virtuous people, patterned around the example of Christ, telling the story of God and inviting people to participate in that Story - not simply getting their ticket punched for heaven one day. Maybe we conservative evangelical Christians will realize the content of the story we tell is extremely limited and narrow, ranging down to our overly simplistic and distorted concepts of the ‘gospel.’ Maybe we conservative evangelicals are reaping the fruit of the bad theology we’ve perpetuated over the years - seeing that it often fails to truly effect a change in the deeper social consciousness of Americans - i.e. we create Christians who are comforted by the assurance of their salvation, but yet continue to live a lifestyle that is unavoidably incompatible with the lifestyle, moral commands, and ethical living of Christ. We’ve managed to do this because for too long conservative evangelicals have relegated discussion of sin and morality to the private sphere/sector. Sin is about what "I" do wrong, "my" personal failures - salvation is about "my" sins - salvation is about "me" going to heaven - all of which is partially correct, but we sin when we place Jesus and his good news in the sole light of individual autonomy and freedom. Maybe if we find the middle road between attempting to Christianize the social order and perpetuating the erroneous belief that sin/salvation is primarily concerned with the individual - the Church could have something worthy of saying in a situation like this… Let’s learn to be the people of God before (and while) we’re worried about ‘doing.’
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On April 19, 2007 @ 5:25 am Greg said:

Hey Marc, Thanks for your penetrating insights. I do agree we need to preach the full gospel, that salvation has immediate not just eternal implications. But part of that immediacy (according to Hebrews 2:14,15) is that Jesus breaks the power of the devil and removes our fear of death. Confident assurance of our eternal salvation is part of what makes the pains of life endurable. And, yes, I agree that we as Christians DO NOT have our primary job in the area of changing the social order (gun control, media watch, etc) so with that in mind my friends, not just on the conservative evangelical side, but those whose theology demands it (because they believe we are here to usher in the kingdom of God on earth through social justice, etc) must focus back on preaching the gospel as our primary "weapon of righteousness" in our left hands and our right. Because it is this gospel that has immediate and eternal impact. The other issues are (guns, media, security, etc) are legitimate issues, but they pale in comparison to the deeper one. I think we both agree on that one. Thanks again for your well articulated comment.
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On April 19, 2007 @ 7:31 am John Campbell said:

The Church’s primary task in this world is to be salt and light, baptizing and making disciples of the nations (ethnoi) and teaching them to obey the commandments Christ taught us. Marc, however, seems to be saying that to Christians, events in the public square are matters indifferent to us. At the same time he rightly decries the escapist, ahistorical and unbiblical rapture cult. But if his first premise is true (which it cannot be for it contradicts our Lord), we have no basis ever to wonder or complain about such things as the atrocity at VA Tech or the rapture cult. Far from being “insightful,” Marc’s rhetorical vortex leaves me bemused. Perhaps someone can help me out here.
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On April 19, 2007 @ 7:59 am Greg said:

The Rapture Cult? Come on John. Isn’t that a little, well, mean? I don’t even know what a "rhetorical vortex" is but I think you had better re-examine the exact meaning of the word "cult".
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On April 19, 2007 @ 9:59 am John Campbell said:

I didn’t mean to start a new thread in this section - Marc brought it up - but if anyone wants to do so and invite me there, that’s fine, but since you asked: "Cult" is the basis of culture. It is the religious nucleus of a society, its most valued historical events and figures, its highest concerns and most cherished rites and ceremonies. In our case it’s Christianity, but that is changing into a version of Christianity unlike what our founders practiced and embraced. Modern obssession with "The Rapture" has altered - if not replaced - Christian culture in the US. It is largely unknown elsewhere. It’s primary tenet, after Jesus jerking the Church up to heaven, is that the culture and its institutions are irrelavent: just get as many folks into the gospel lifeboat as possible ’cause Jesus is coming back any minute. This has left "culture" unprotected, so that our vacuum has been filled by Hollywood, Death Row Records, etc. We have only ourselves -and our newfangled eschatological views- to blame.
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On April 19, 2007 @ 10:30 am Jeremy said:

I’m the student pastor at Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. One of Grove’s christian school 2006 graduates, Rachael Hill, was one of the 33 who lost their lives on Monday. She had a strong faith in Christ and a burden for the Virginia Tech campus. God is using her life to bring others to faith in Christ and I believe will continue to do so. Her memorial service is going to be held at our church this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. It is going to be available for broadcast and may be something seen by thousands of people who are lost and without hope. Pray for this opportunity to spread the GOSPEL! I also want to thank those who have been praying for "us" without directly knowing those you have been praying for. I spent much of the last few days counseling grieving students and preparing for Saturday’s memorial service and our student ministry service on Sunday. God is answering your prayers and providing peace, comfort, and strength for every Christian I know who has been affected by this awful tragedy. He is doing amazing things here and I can’t wait to share what He does over the course of this weekend! Thanks again for your prayers and support.
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On April 19, 2007 @ 11:32 am Greg said:

Jeremy, We all will be praying for this memorial service as a staff here at Dare 2 Share (as well as all our donors, prayer partners, youth leaders and teens reading this!) May God use this memorial service to bring thousands to faith in Jesus. I’m sure you will appropriately commerate her and effectively, compellingly and clearly present the good news of Jesus. You all are in our prayers. Please let us know how the memorial service goes.
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On April 19, 2007 @ 12:45 pm Tracy said:

My heart hurts for the families that lost loved ones in the VT tragedy and also for those that are wounded. I will continue to pray for them during this horrible time in their life. It just goes to show that you never know what tomorrow will bring and that we should always remember to tell our families that we love them on a daily basis. I think the media is largely to blame for the tragedies such as this. I know it is important to keep us informed but they are, in my opinion, creating copycat killers. They are wanting the attention that was received by this young man. Just look at how many bomb threats have been received at schools around the country now. Just today my daughter’s high school was informed about a student’s threat to bring a gun to school and another high school in our area was put on lockdown because a student there had made a similar threat.Please, everyone, keep praying for our country.
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On April 19, 2007 @ 3:42 pm Curt said:

This is a horrific tragedy, yes, and the students did not die in vain, even with all of the attempts by NBC to parade the killer across the screen and give him his so called glory. We have to realize that there is tragedy everywhere around us, especially loss of life. Hundreds of innocent lives are being taken in war-torn regions in our world everyday, and yet for some reason it doesn’t hit us as Christians enough to mourn and take action. Maybe the scope and brevity of the holocausts in Darfur or the bombings in Iraq don’t sink in because its not here in America. We are lulled as a society into our comfortable suburban existence which places the highest priority on safety and success. Greg, I have three kids and on one hand, I want them to be safe, but on the other hand, I want to leave them a legacy of risk-taking where by they consider others higher than themselves. My prayer is that they will not be lulled into this comfortable, safe existence, and that their faith will have a sense of sacrifice as its shield. I would love nothing else to see them grow to be people who risked it all for someone else in their careers, relationships, and their callings. i want them to understand the suffering of the less-fortunate and to do something about it, even if that means putting their lives on the line. My hope is that they would be like the professor who jumped in the way if the bullets to save those in the class. He was a holocaust surivivor - and I think he got it. A tragedy like reminds us there are no guarantees, and that we need to be ready for that day, and do everything we can to help others give their lives to Christ.
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On April 19, 2007 @ 8:20 pm rev. in training Bryce Vaughn said:

i didn’t cry for columbine i should have of course, i was four at the time, so i didn’t understand. this virgina tech shooting has shaked the nation. maybe this is a chance to make lemonade out of lemons. maybe this is what we need to break down the defenses of this nations heart, while it’s tender enough to listen
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On April 19, 2007 @ 10:19 pm Mandee M said:

Father God - Please be with the familes and friends of those who were lost in this tragic event. While we don’t know why this happened and we have many questions, we know that you are over all things and like so many other tragedies you will use it took bring glory to your name through comforting those who are hurting and by bringing others to you. Father, comfort my fellow Christians as they seek to minister to those that are hurting from the shock that this tragedy has brought to our nation. Father use this as an opportunity to bring the Church closer to you and to open their eyes to the needs for ministries that seek to meet the needs of others in times of tragedy throughout the world. Thank you Father for protecting the other teachers, students, and faculty from being hurt further by this tragedy. Thank you for the work that you have already begun to do to heal those that are hurting and we ask that you continue to use your Church to rise up for "such a tme as this" to minister to those in need so that your Love and power can been seen through each one of our lives. In your only Son’s precious and Holy Name, Jeus Christ, Amen.
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On April 22, 2007 @ 9:52 pm Homeboy said:

My cuz is a professor there, and he said he was there when it happened
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On April 23, 2007 @ 10:42 am Christopher Pokorny said:

One thing I cant help but see everytime there is a tragedy such as this. When the chaos is beyond bearable, and beyond our ability to deal with it….Who does everyone turn to? They PRAY to GOD! Amen for that….
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On April 23, 2007 @ 5:48 pm Jeremy said:

Greg, the memorial service for Rachael Hill was amazing! Every student and adult who spoke talked about Rachael’s relationship with Jesus and the GOSPEL was shared without compromise at the end of the service. There were over 1000 people at the service. I don’t know how many may have trusted in Christ because they didn’t have an alter call but I’m sure there must have been some who did. God was really moving in that service! The service was carried live on FamilyNet by satellite across the entire United States! Our NBC affiliate here in Richmond broadcasted the entire service on their website. By the way, the service was 3 hours long and very few people left early. Here’s a news report about the service: http://www.nbc12.com/news/state/7134586.html God is working!
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On April 27, 2007 @ 10:29 pm Ahabue Omoighe said:

It is so sad to know that such a sad incident like this has happened and it grieves me the more to know that violence such as this will never sieze in this world just because man has forgotten his First love, Jesus Christ. I pray for the victims and their families and equally pray for those reading this message that none of us or our loved ones will be involved in such act of violence. I pray we all get to a place where the fear of God will continually dwell in our heart and we can spread the word of God to those around us who do not yet know Him as Lord and saviour.
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Posted on Monday 16 April 2007 by Greg @ 12:29 pm
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Posted on Monday 16 April 2007 by Greg @ 12:29 pm
Filed under: Rants