By now you probably are well aware of the tragedy that took place last Sunday morning at the First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois. Pastor Fred Winters was shot while preaching his message in the early service. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital. Before going any further, let me say that I am praying for his wife, his children, and his church family. Please know that my heart is literally "aching" for you all!
Pastor Fred was doing a great work for the Lord in leading this church for 22 years; and seeing the Lord grow the church from 38 people to a membership of 1300.
My heart is still "numb" to the fact that something like this can take place in a Bible preaching church, right in the heartland of our nation! Not to mention the fact that this incident took place really, really close to home!
The verse that immediately came to my mind, when I was made aware of what took place, was Philippians 1:21 (ESV)
"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
I'm certain that Pastor Fred preached from this verse many times, and I'm also certain that he has gained far more than he could have ever imagined when he was ushered into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ last Sunday morning! I can assure you, he is far better off than any of us are today. However, that still does not change the fact that we are having to deal with the loss and pain of this event.
The Bible clearly teaches us that this IS NOT a perfect world. Why? Well, because there is sin in the world, therefore, people do the wrong things and suffering is the result. Notice this passage of Scripture in Ecclesiastes 8:14 (HCSB)
There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.
Here is the same verse in Eugene Peterson's "The Message:"
Here's something that happens all the time and makes no sense at all: Good people get what's coming to the wicked, and bad people get what's coming to the good. I tell you, this makes no sense. It's smoke.
What Ecclesiastes 8:14 is teaching is that we don't always get what we deserve.
Now, there are two mistakes you can make regarding a tragedy or disaster:
To think that all the good things that happen to me prove that I'm good.
To think that all the bad things that happen to me prove that I'm bad.
WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!
In Luke 13:1-4 Jesus was talking about two tragedies that happened in His day:
1 At that time, some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And He responded to them, "Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well! 4 Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed-do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!"
Luke 13:1-5 (HCSB)
Here is one thing you need to know, "Not everything that happens in God's will!"
When I hear people talking about this tragic event and they say, "Well, it must have been God's will," I have a spiritual term for that, "Baloney!" Don't blame God for the tragedy! God's grieving, too! God's will is not always done here on earth!"
Could God have stopped this gunman from walking down the aisle Sunday morning at Maryville Baptist Church? The answer to that question is really simple, "Yes!" But, in order to do that, He would have had to take away this man's free will, the freedom for this man to choose! And, in order to be a fair and righteous God, He would have to take away your free will, too!
The greatest blessing in life which God has given us is this: our freedom to choose. Although this is our greatest blessing, it is also our greatest curse because we often choose the wrong thing! And, when people choose the wrong thing, innocent people suffer!
This will come as no new revelation for you, but did you know that God's will is not always done in this world? Listen to this passage of Scripture:
The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (HCSB)
Question: It is God's will, according to this verse, that all should repent and none should perish! Answer: According to this verse, yes!
Question: "Do all repent?" NO! "Do some perish?" YES! "Why?" Because God will never force His will on your will!
That's why we're to pray in the Lord's Prayer, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Why? Because God's will is not always done on earth! If His will were being done, then we would not have to pray that prayer!
My purpose is not to explain suffering, and why bad things happen to good people. My intent in writing this is to assist you understanding how we deal with this tragedy in light of the Scriptures.
This Sunday I will be speaking on this subject. I encourage you to attend Victory Church this Sunday, bring a friend, bring someone that may be struggling with this tragedy, and together we will dive into the Word of God and search for His peace in the midst of tragedy.
God bless you all; you are loved and in my prayers!
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