Responding to VA Tech Tragedy

The following is a letter I sent to DBBC:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As I write to you this morning I, like you, am still in utter disbelief at the tragedy which occurred at Virginia Tech yesterday. Why God permits such unadulterated evil to occur remains unknown to us (Romans 11:33-37). Yet, we do affirm these two great truths:

First, we know that Jesus Christ himself tasted the hostility of man and knew what it was like to endure overwhelming loss. Moreover, we know that God, our Father, knows the deep anguish it is to loose a child. In light of this, I take great hope that all those affected have a sympathetic high-priest available to them. And if they “draw near … to the throne of grace … [they] may receive mercy and find grace in their time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Second, despite the heart-breaking we now endure, we know the Almighty God is a good and sovereign God who rules over and through sin and the plans of evil men (Lamentations 3:32, Genesis 5:20). Our affirmation of this truth must be unbreakable especially in light of such iniquity, for it is in this truth that we find our confidence that our infinitely wise and loving God knows why such things occur.

As we ponder these truths (and scores like them), as we endeavor to make our way through this tragedy and as we come to the aid of the suffering we shall gather this Wednesday evening at 7:00PM and intercede for these victims to God through prayer. After our time of prayer we will consider how, as Christians, we should talk about this tragedy and others like it.

During our Sunday service, in addition to a time of prayer, we shall consider how we are to respond to this event. I do now covet your prayers for me as I seek to determine what message the Lord would have me bring to you.

Please invite your friends and neighbors to these services that they too may be able to see our compassionate and powerful God who is worthy of our hope and trust.

Your Brother in Christ,

Steven

P.S. Praise God that Keith Trent is safe and home in Keysville.