Comments on: Virgina Tech Massacre and … Repentance http://tatumweb.com/blog/2007/04/19/virgina-tech/ Pentecostal Rumination and Review Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:20:05 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Joe Aleman http://tatumweb.com/blog/2007/04/19/virgina-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-64844 Joe Aleman Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:22:27 +0000 http://tatumweb.com/blog/2007/04/19/virgina-tech/#comment-64844 It never ceases to amaze me how Americans/Christians freak out at the death of those close in proximity, while those distant appear to matter little. In one massacre, we lost 33 men and women and the country is up in arms, yet in Iraq it happens everyday. Why doesn't that shock us anymore? Do soldiers make the front page? Truth be told, the same spirit which led Cho lives on in Iraq's pseudo-martyrdom militia: resentment, anger, bitterness, evil, malice, hypocrisy, and vengeance all permeate the streets of Bagdad. Cho's victims look identical to the armed forces who wade in the waters of death each day; and his motivation and message are quite similar to middle eastern clerics and terrorists. Therefore, however individuals respond to this tragedy, a deep consideration of Cho's emotional state and reason (seemingly justifiable to him) for mass murder would be wise. Although our tendency is simply to relegate him to the status of a madman: Is there any truth, wisdom, or social validity to his message? Has the media, booms, riots, and wars blinded our eyes? We hate oppression (of the weak and powerless), neglect, isolation, ostrascization, prejudices, feeling inferior, being treated like worthless imbeciles -- and we can't even handle the occupations of our parking spaces by strangers (much less our country by the rich and powerful bully's). Has the speculative legitimacy of our message and war overshadowed the feelings of others? It never ceases to amaze me how Americans/Christians freak out at the death of those close in proximity, while those distant appear to matter little. In one massacre, we lost 33 men and women and the country is up in arms, yet in Iraq it happens everyday. Why doesn’t that shock us anymore? Do soldiers make the front page?

Truth be told, the same spirit which led Cho lives on in Iraq’s pseudo-martyrdom militia: resentment, anger, bitterness, evil, malice, hypocrisy, and vengeance all permeate the streets of Bagdad. Cho’s victims look identical to the armed forces who wade in the waters of death each day; and his motivation and message are quite similar to middle eastern clerics and terrorists.

Therefore, however individuals respond to this tragedy, a deep consideration of Cho’s emotional state and reason (seemingly justifiable to him) for mass murder would be wise. Although our tendency is simply to relegate him to the status of a madman: Is there any truth, wisdom, or social validity to his message? Has the media, booms, riots, and wars blinded our eyes? We hate oppression (of the weak and powerless), neglect, isolation, ostrascization, prejudices, feeling inferior, being treated like worthless imbeciles — and we can’t even handle the occupations of our parking spaces by strangers (much less our country by the rich and powerful bully’s). Has the speculative legitimacy of our message and war overshadowed the feelings of others?

]]> By: Rich http://tatumweb.com/blog/2007/04/19/virgina-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-64794 Rich Fri, 20 Apr 2007 01:06:43 +0000 http://tatumweb.com/blog/2007/04/19/virgina-tech/#comment-64794 Well said, and Amen, Pastor Phil. Rich <a href="http://tatumweb.com/blog/" rel="tag">BlogRodent</a> Well said, and Amen, Pastor Phil.

Rich

]]> By: PASTOR PHIL http://tatumweb.com/blog/2007/04/19/virgina-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-64765 PASTOR PHIL Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:10:42 +0000 http://tatumweb.com/blog/2007/04/19/virgina-tech/#comment-64765 I agree. Jesus would not be a "grandstander" in the wake of this awful event. He would be asking the question, "What can I do for you"? We ALL need to put on the towel and and go to work. Paul said "Let this same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus"... that mindset was the mind of a servant with humility. If the King of all creation could lower himself to wash the nasty feet of his followers we should be jumping at the chance to do the same... serve people. Love them. Show them that you care and just want to help. Let the fruits of the Spirit show. It's not just about preaching and teaching. If you want to teach someone about the love of Jesus, don't just talk about it... get out there and SHOW it to them. Prayerfully, Pastor Phil I agree. Jesus would not be a “grandstander” in the wake of this awful event. He would be asking the question, “What can I do for you”?

We ALL need to put on the towel and and go to work. Paul said “Let this same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus”… that mindset was the mind of a servant with humility. If the King of all creation could lower himself to wash the nasty feet of his followers we should be jumping at the chance to do the same… serve people. Love them. Show them that you care and just want to help.

Let the fruits of the Spirit show. It’s not just about preaching and teaching. If you want to teach someone about the love of Jesus, don’t just talk about it… get out there and SHOW it to them.

Prayerfully,

Pastor Phil

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