"...18 children, 7 teachers killed..." "...2 more children die at local hospital..." "...elementary school shooting leaves 20 children and 7 teachers dead...." "...suspected gunman, age 24, grew up in small Connecticut town..." "...possible target was his mother, a Kindergarten teacher at the school..."
These phrases have filled the living room since I turned on the television around 12:30 this afternoon. From channel to channel, all regularly scheduled programming has been interrupted to report nationwide on this tragic event. As I have listened, many emotions have filled my heart. My heart began filling with sorrow, but as I continued to listen the feeling switched to that of wonder and questioning. Then as I began to question and ask God, "Why?", a switch flipped inside my heart, and as my heart slowly began inviting in the emotion of anger, the sorrow and wonder seemed to be pushed out. As I continued to read everyone's Facebook postings concerning this tragic event, I began to absorb their bitterness, causing my anger to swell.
I decided to sit down and work on a Pinterest project for Nate, while the kiddos were asleep, hoping to curb the anger and place my mind somewhere else. As I sat down with the tiffany blue fabric and scissors, my mind did go elsewhere; back to Sunday morning's sermon.
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not
murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell
you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to
judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,' is
answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in
danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember
that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift
there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come
and offer your gift.
“Settle
matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court.
Do it
while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand
you
over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer,
and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out
until you have paid the last penny."
We have been studying the Sermon on the Mount during our morning services at church the past couple of months. Our pastor has decided to spend the next year or so walking us through those important three chapters in Matthew's gospel, verse by verse, and Jesus' words are just as bold and brutal today, as they were when spoken. This past Sunday's sermon was all about what Jesus says regarding the Old Testament commandment, "Thou shalt not murder".
So, as I sat on the floor, fabric and scissors in hand, ready to begin my project, the sermon began replaying in my head. Then I realized why God brought this back to mind. Today's tragic events were murder, yes. However, they are also a perfect illustration of what Jesus was talking about when he stated:
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not
murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell
you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to
judgment."
News reporters have said that the suspected gunman is most definitely mentally insane, based upon medical definitions of insanity. But I would have to argue that point a little. He murdered 27 (thus far) innocent people, but why? What were his motives? I just wonder if maybe it all started as a little thought or feeling that lodged itself somewhere deep within his heart? A little feeling of bitterness and anger toward something, someone, some situation. And that anger grew and grew and grew, until it exposed itself as murder. Hmmm....Jesus says that those who harbor anger in their hearts are just as guilty of murder as those who commit the actual physical act of murder.
Maybe I am overthinking things, but I feel like this is what Jesus meant in His sermon. When He said...
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember
that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift
there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come
and offer your gift. Settle
matters quickly with your adversary who is
taking you to court. Do it
while you are still together on the way, or your
adversary may hand you
over to the judge, and the judge may hand you
over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you,
you will not get out until you have paid the last penny,"
...I think about this 24 year old mass murderer. Where did this physical act of murder come from? According to Jesus, it came from his heart. It came from the anger and bitterness harbored deep within that he never "reconciled...settled quickly...while you are still together on the way". Psychologist can try to rationalize and justify actions based upon scientific data or mental conditions (the latter of which I am in no way saying do not exist), but I think Jesus gave a pretty clear explanation here. Jesus wanted us to understand the severity of anger, bitterness and hatred, and truly grasp the reason behind the severity. And that was perfectly, and tragically, displayed this morning.
Why did Jesus say that anger, hatred and bitterness are equal with the actual physical act of murder? Because, as seen today, when we harbor it deep within our hearts, we are in essence "handed over to the officer" (Satan), and "thrown into prison", a prison that we have placed ourselves into, a prison encased with steel bars named, "anger," "hatred," and "bitterness;" bars that we have given Satan the power to control. Then, deep inside that dungeon that we cannot escape, we allow the feelings and emotions of the heart to control our outward physical actions.
Anger, bitterness, hatred = murder...maybe we should listen more to what Jesus spoke. I'm pretty sure He knew what He was talking about :)
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