Can God fix the shootings?

EDITORIAL

By Harold Armstrong

God Isn”t Fixing This! According to the opinionated headline of the New York Daily News on December 3, 2015, God either cannot or will not fix the problem raised by the San Bernardino Massacre. The editorial type article associated with the headline ridiculed the offers of prayer for the victims and their families harmed in that terrorist raid.

In that God is included to be as inept as political leaders from both major political parties to provide solid solutions to the growing threat of terrorism, it seems appropriate to seek biblical direction in what God will do or can do.

It should be noted that the system of justice employed by the United States is largely based in historical English system of justice. In that it is assumed that the judgment of mankind is limited, the legal system assumes that God, the Eternal Judge, will rectify mankind’s failures in the Final Judgment. Therefore, those wrongly accused of evil will be exonerated and those who escape man’s judgment for wrong will be convicted and sentenced by God.

The Bible is clear about God’s role in judgment. While commanding Believers to avoid taking revenge on enemies, Paul reminds followers of Christ “It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 NIV) Whereas God’s wrath toward evil is constant, His timing for vengeance may not correspond to our human desire for immediate action.

Paul continues to encourage the believers, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21 NIV) Paul then reminds them of a tool of justice God has instituted. “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” (Romans 13:1 NIV) Whether our leaders measure up to executing the responsibility God has given them we may question, but that it is their responsibility to protect the citizenry with justice is not ours to question.

Both for immediate temporal solutions and for the final disposition of justice, God has a plan and does act. The ultimate call in our land is for leadership from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of our government to execute their God-given responsibility to protect the innocent and convict the perpetrators of evil.

Harold Armstrong is the former Senior Pastor of Journey Christian Church in Apopka. He is now retired.

The Apopka Voice welcomes all opinions and editorial submissions.