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SoulWork

Soul Searching After Mass Murder

Another reason we eagerly look for "the one who is to come."

Mark Galli | posted 12/13/2007 09:34AM

We're compelled to figure out why Matthew Murray shot and killed five Christians in two separate shootings this past Sunday. Bloggers and pundits have already begun exploring his Christian homeschool ...

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Dick	Posted: December 21, 2007 10:34 AM


I am more concerned about the Amish shooting of a few weeks ago where the surviving individuals offered their immediate forgiveness to the shooter and his family. Evangelicals seem to like to blame and postulate. Too bad evangelicals have so much more insight into these matters than the Amish.

post-modern population

Posted: December 21, 2007 3:44 AM


xqz my cruelty, but this is retailing. stil mo plane crushs, ... unexaustile batls, wars... post-modern population is no few, so no precious! prometheus is pushing the rock of man-mass up-hil

Marsha

Posted: December 20, 2007 12:38 PM


Wow, Jeannette. Quite the opinion you have. I'm curious to what your answer is for all the other hundreds of mass murders comitted throughout the ages that have nothing to do with Christians? And what about the thousands of WYAM missionaries and New Life Church members (or any church for that matter)that promote the love of Jesus Christ to others? Is EVERYBODY out to lunch but you?

Laura

Posted: December 16, 2007 2:17 PM

A few years ago a young man from my church slipped out of his house with his father's gun and killed someone. His Christian upbringing couldn't have been better. He knew his Bible. But he was in a period of rebellion (which a lot of people go through, even from the best of homes). And his family had communicated to him that a gun was a legitimate tool for protecting your rights and solving disputes (probably not in so many words, but that was the message that was received). In purchasing that gun that father thought he was protecting his family but instead he brought in the instrument of incredible harm is his son's life, enormous pain to his family's hearts, and the end of the life of a good and innocent person. IF YOU ARE THINKING OF BUYING A GUN TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY, DON'T DO IT! Let's remember to pray for the parents, other family members and the home churches (if there is one) of perpetrators. The grief is awful.

John	Posted: December 16, 2007 11:28 AM

I don't think you can draw comparisons between the school/church/mall shootings in America and Rwanda. Rwandans don't have MTV to poison their minds. I think Rick Warren's take that we are a "stressed out" society and that this leads weaker ones amongst us to crack is right on. Our society has over the last 30 years become both ultra-materialistic (Paris Hilton as a role model) and ultra-competitive (outsourcing, layoffs, cuts in benefits). Thus we sell our society that they should live like Paris, Brittany, Lindsay, Donald, etc., while the opportunities for normal people to even make a comfortable living are vanishing. Why we don't expect people to crack under this strain is perhaps most puzzling. As Christians I think we have a duty to speak out against both, against the crazy materialism of modern culture and media AND against the social Darwinistic capitalism of today's economy. Both need to be fixed in order to take the pressure off and stop things like thses shootings.

Karen

Posted: December 15, 2007 3:30 PM


Anyone can own anything and be responsible. No one can really be responsible without our Lord. Weapons have always been around. Prayer used to be in our schools. We took out prayer and now we have mass murders. It is not the gun owners, it is prohibiting public prayer to our Lord and recognizing his greatness.

Bob Kessener

Posted: December 15, 2007 1:51 AM

Simply retitle the article, "Mark Galli Speaks Out... on whatever". I agree with Eric Williams. The solution for this (and all problems = man's sin) is found exclusively in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the gospel that gave ultimate security to his disciples and to us today. Security outside of Jesus? Sorry, I don't trust it. Security in guns or government? Sounds like a sales pitch. God is His holiness has consistently poured out his forgiveness and tells us to practice the same. He does not ask us, much less compel us, to "figure out why Matthew Murray does anything". He compels me to repent of my personal wickedness, which continually frees me to love others. If we esteem God as did our forefathers, our constitutional republic (not an advanced democratic capitalism) will continue to allow unprecedented opportunity and wealth. I encourage all to use it wisely - do missions work, bless widows and orphans. Please advocate God, not worldly sophistry

john h pavelko

Posted: December 14, 2007 7:57 PM

Mark"s approach to the issues is really quite profound. Sorry Jeannette it is not about gun availability. (I hope that you are not an English Lit teacher.) We have created a system in which we are blessed in wonderful ways, yet that same system allows us to be harmed by the evil that lurks within us. For every step forward in the progress of civilization, we must risk being drawn back by the temptation to miss use the same technology we created for our advancement. Thanks Mark

Gene Kleppinger

Posted: December 14, 2007 7:13 PM

The article is extremely disturbing because it accepts the idea that somehow the church (whether New Life in particular or the universal church) was "targeted" by this gunman. I refuse to buy into the mindset that tells me to "be afraid, be very afraid." That too is part of the "order" that our faith must confront. If the gunman was deranged, then there is no rationale for his targeting; if instead we credit him with rational planning against Christianity, then we must dismiss him as a total crackpot for the victims he chose. Just a quick note to Stephen Leonard: the suggestion that gun restrictions lead to higher body counts when violence occurs (comparing the Virginia Tech shootings with those in Colorado) does not seem to generalize well. Iraq seems to be an area where lots of weapons, especially American ones, are associated strongly with high body counts when violence occurs. I refuse to attend any church functions where guns will be present, whether on parade or on persons.

Christine

Posted: December 14, 2007 5:33 PM

Looking at the recent events in the USA from a non-American view, it continues to amaze me that you seem to be incapable of implementing gun control, even after so many tragedies. It seems that the mythical "right to bear arms" has become more important than the right to live a life free from the possibility of being shot by some nutter. The more amazing thing is that a volunteer security guard at a church was in possession of a firearm! What sort of thinking is at work here? That a defense of such actions can be lauded on these pages is puzzling indeed.

Caroline

Posted: December 14, 2007 1:04 PM

I have respect for Galli’s interpretation of “the order…that made it easy” for such murder to happen. I actually agree with the points he raises; the order permits the manufacturing and purchasing of such weapons as well as “freedom of movement” and the megachurch. However, I feel the analysis describes only one level of a highly complex issue: the reasons why Matthew was driven to homicide/suicide. Certainly the order (advanced democratic capitalism) has created circumstances allowing the logistics of such shootings to occur, but this doesn’t serve as sufficient rationale for the shooter’s actions – perhaps this side of heaven we will never understand this foreboding event. I believe modern day psychologists may be the first to admit that culture and society certainly do impact one's mental health, but there is still much that is not understood about how the human mind, heart, consciousness, and spirit work.

Teresa Neumann

Posted: December 14, 2007 12:42 PM

In the decade I grew up (the 1950's) there were far fewer restrictions on guns and virtually NO mass murders of this magnitude. It's not about guns. It's not about democracy. It's a spiritual illness that has gripped our nation since the 60's generation thumbed their nose at God. Reclaim moral ground in this nation, teach children to admire purity and heroism rather than cult perversions, speak up when the press demonizes Christians and schools appoint god-haters to teach our children -- in other words, fight the good fight -- and we might round the corner on this nightmare.

Diane Fitzsimmons

Posted: December 14, 2007 10:08 AM

"I'm no anti-gun crusader; as unchristian as it may sound, I was glad that Jeanne Assam, the New Life volunteer security guard, owned a handgun and used it to take Murray down." That does sound unChristian to me. We may be thankful that more innocent lives were not lost, but I believe we should never rejoice over killings. Nothing can separate the saved from God; we have nothing to fear from death. Furthermore, God calls us to a different reaction to such situations: Romans 12: 17-21: Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Jeff Fiarchild

Posted: December 14, 2007 9:23 AM

While I can understand the frustration that we all feel concerning the recent mass murders by crazed gunmen, I, as a gun owner and a Christian pastor, am equally frustrated with Mr. Galli's and others call for more gun control. We do not need more gun control. That is a red herring in the debate. It is a fact that over 95% of the guns owned in the United States are never used in crime or for suicide. The problem lies with our culture and no one seems to have the guts to address these issues. Just look at the listings for movies. Look at how many of them are packed full of violence. Look at the selfishness that our society promotes that says that we can act and do whatever we want to regardless of what the consequences may be. Making more laws to limit legal possession of guns is not the answer. The answer lies in making some decisions as to what kind of a culture are we going to have here in our country. It also lies in how the press makes these people into heros by going on and on.

Jason

Posted: December 14, 2007 7:31 AM


I'm tired of the left-wing anti-2nd Amendment talk invading Christian circles.

Darrell

Posted: December 14, 2007 3:10 AM


YWAM is not a cult. That is absurd and defamatory. As a very rough analogy, consider this: is every business in the US that expects unpaid overtime a cult? Of course not. Mr. Galli's column was a musing on the issue and not a frantic effort to defer blame as some have implied.

Ron	Posted: December 14, 2007 1:52 AM

In regards to Jeanette's comment's He was released from YWAM because of mental health problems. Probably asked to get medical help, but you have to be careful now days what you say because you can get sued for recommending someone to go get help or sued for not recommending them to get help. That is a fact and a really sad one at that. Matthew's parents asked forgiveness and never indicated that their son was locked up and could not escape as Jeanette inferred. Occam's Razor would say that when given two similar arguments the one that is the simplest is the right one. Is it that YWAM locked him away and indoctrinated him and that Ted Haggard had some kind of sexual encounter caused him to murder people or that he was ill and that is what contributed to this? I would say that the facts, which those are good to use show that it was because he was ill. I think most of us have our views and then events reinforce those views even without facts.

Jude Dickson

Posted: December 14, 2007 12:13 AM

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he grows old he shall not depart from it. I could remember when I was a child, we were taught about hell fire, kingdom of God and eternal judgment. This kept the conscience of most of us alife till today. More-so, our teachers as at then taught us to pray, and we pray at school. This created the awareness of God's existence in our hearts which made most of the Americans then to have what we called self government in God that brought peace and prosperity to our great nation. But today, reverse is the case. America removed prayers from school and violence has taken the place of prayers. What you impart in a child from day one matters alot not who you taught him at age 18. The only solution to our problem is: Come unto me all you who are labored and are heavy laden and I will give you rest says "Jesus Christ. America is fighting for world security while fear looms within Americans hearts. Believe it or not only Christ is the answer for us.

Jeannette

Posted: December 13, 2007 11:45 PM

Wow. Talk about walking past the dead elephant in the middle of the room and saying "Smell? WHAT smell?"!! Let's not forget the two indoctrination tanks this young man was kept in: YWAM, which has been written about for years for operating like a cult, from which families have faced impossible odds to extricate their sons/daughters and then had to get them de-programmed (with limited success); and then the church that enabled the king of all perverts--Ted Haggard--to flourish in, New Life. Anyone who looked at that face and mouth talking, who did not IMMEDIATELY recognize all the signs of a con artist homosexual, is OUT TO LUNCH. It is so obvious that even a child can see it, as Matthew Murray apparently did according to reports of internet posts now traced to him. Sickened, mentally ill young people like this need serious psychiatric and spiritual help OUTSIDE the iron-grip places where they were so intensely indoctrinated. It is ABSURD to blame this on gun availability.

Ben DeHart

Posted: December 13, 2007 10:57 PM


What some will deem as controversial, I believe this article raises significant questions to established norms we rarely question. Mark does not appear to be calling for a radical revolution, he is simply helping us think through issues. Kudos to an evangelical who does not simply accept a position because its what we're supposed to think. Great Article... Hope there are more like this to come.

Stephen Leonard

Posted: December 13, 2007 9:53 PM

I have not yet heard what the "high powered" rifle Murray used was. But Galli's call for its immediate restriction could be the outlawing of every big game rifle in the country. There may be a place for strict regulation of true automatic assault weapons. But no matter what the debate it has been proven that taking weapons away from law abiding citizens so that only the criminal and deranged elements can get them does NOT and has never worked. Compare Virginia Tech's 31 killed to New Life's two, when there could have been a hundred or more. The VT gunfree zone led to a greater number of deaths. Galli needs to think this through better than he has. If we take to heart the Lord's own words:"When the Son of Man returns will he find faith on the earth?," to realize that until He comes we have not seen the last of this evil unfortunately.

Lest we forget...

Posted: December 13, 2007 8:56 PM

To answer the phrase: "I can't imagine why our country allows private citizens to own weapons whose primary purpose is not the defense of human life, but the taking of many lives as efficiently as possible," I suggest the following. That is a loaded statement. This statement presumes that we should allow only government personnel to have these weapons, because these weapons, in the hands of government, will only be used to defend human life. Let us not forget Nazi Germany (citizenry disarmed), or any number of other places in the world where governments disarmed their citizens (turning them into "subjects") and then committed unspeakable horrors on large scales. Citizens should have the access to these kinds of weapons precisely BECAUSE the government has them, and governments have shown time and again that they can not be trusted when they do not fear their citizenry. Yes, the gunman in Colorado was disturbed. But to suggest that a disarmed citizenry is good here? Think again.

Joseph Jr

Posted: December 13, 2007 8:53 PM

To blame "democratic capitalism" is simplistic and wrong. Our culture is out of control, and has been heading that way furiously since the 60's, the era that started our decline. We are a nation of people who glorify "rights" and disdain responsibility. We turn everyone into victims rather than making them accountable for their actions. We declare that "rights" are absolute, when in fact they are hard earned privileges. We do not teach our children about a higher authority, but teach them to disrespect authority. We do not teach our children to be accountable to God and to others, but defend their "rights" to own games and music that develop violence and rage to new levels. In short, we are not the only nation where people have access to weapons, where there is democracy or capitalism, but we are by far the most violent nation. We need to start looking more deeply at ourselves than at things around us. To quote Pogo, "we have met the enemy, and it is us". The answer is 2 Chron. 7:14

JEHolmes

Posted: December 13, 2007 8:34 PM

As an Australian with maternal American heritage (6 generations), I am struck by the discontinuity in the attitudes of citizens of the US with those of similar heritage, Can, NZ, Aust. etc. The fixation on guns is alien to us. That citizens in the most powerful country of the world seem so afraid and need so much personal protection, is puzzling to outsiders. The entertainment industris problem solution is to use guns, and free acess to guns is not a good mix. In Aust, all automatic weapons and pistols were removed from the public in a very expensive buyback. If you want access to those weapons, you must be licensed and have a good reason to do so. This seems to have reduced our problems considerably. Many less suicides as well. Guns are not the problem, but free acess make problems much worse, and often fatal. How much longer can damage to society be allowed to continue? More attention to lower cost mental health services needed, remove the causes, not sysmptoms.

Tom Fay

Posted: December 13, 2007 6:09 PM

What a poor article with such little thought and understanding. Yes, it is unchristian to say "I was glad that Jeanne Assam ... used it to take Murray down." So why are you endorsing it? Good thing Peter and the others did not have "the machinery and techniques of bureaucratic, managerial capitalism." Otherwise they would have messed up God's Church, just like we have. Please, I expect much better thought from Christianity today.

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