tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12366201.post7951677368091139867..comments2024-03-27T14:58:23.360-07:00Comments on aka pastor guy: Jumbled Thoughts About NewtownMark (aka pastor guy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12920114022832644455noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12366201.post-30886674469484458692012-12-22T13:16:19.187-08:002012-12-22T13:16:19.187-08:00I completely agree that the existence of evil cann...I completely agree that the existence of evil cannot be ignored. I also think, however, that many avoid using the term because of the way it has been abused in labeling others for political purposes. Interesting, for example, how both sides of World War I tried to demonize their enemies.<br />Of course, one must always be careful not to go to the opposite extreme. Evil is real--it manifests itself in terrible tragedies, as well as in more subtle ways-even in our inner, unseen struggles.<br />The celebration of the birth of Christ is often far removed from this, but that is why it has lost so much of its meaning. If we fail to acknowledge the dark presence of sin in the world, we fail to acknowledge the need for a Savior as well.<br />If the citizens of Newtown took down their plastic lighted Santa Claus and Rudoph lawn decorations, and looked at the nativity with fresh eyes, seeing it as the scandalous event that it was, than that is not a bad thing.<br />For as Ken Gire writes: "On that starlit night in Bethlehem, God came to earth to do the one thing he could not do in heaven. <br />Die."Jeffrey Allershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17341623048476483612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12366201.post-89645334392383862082012-12-18T14:19:26.793-08:002012-12-18T14:19:26.793-08:00Thanks for the thoughts. Yes, it is difficult to t...Thanks for the thoughts. Yes, it is difficult to talk about. Great point in regards to sharing/supporting grief as the passage from Job attests. I also agree with John Eldredge.<br /><br />The government can enact all kinds of laws. We can create plans, and train, and be observant to prevent some of these tragedies and/or minimize their extent. But we'll never completely prevent them. And Christians should know why these tragedies - and many other kinds - happen: sin.<br /><br />Whether this man was in his right mind and sanely evil - or whether he had some chemical imbalance in his brain - doesn't matter. Both are wrought from the deterioration that sin has brought into this world. All creation groans (Rom. 8:22).<br /><br />And it saddened me to hear that many of the Newtown citizens removed their Christmas decorations because they feared it would be inappropriate to show "joy" after this. I cannot pretend to feel what they feel, but - I wonder rather if they need the message of hope and future restoration which Christmas gives, now more than ever (Acts 3:21)?Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11401460607083226726noreply@blogger.com