The Good News

I debated whether to add to the "white noise" of blogs, articles and facebook posts responding to the tragedy in Connecticut. What can we do but grieve?

Last night I started seeing a quote by Morgan Freeman popping up around facebook. Maybe you've seen it. It was well-stated, I thought, and one of his main points was that we shouldn't focus our attention on who the killer was (as the "sensational" media does), that we should "forget his name" and instead remember the victims themselves.

As I was lying in bed, I realized that because I haven't been following the news very much (probably a good thing) I wasn't quite sure what the killer's name was. I could only vaguely remember that the killer's first name was Adam.

Adam.

In a footnote in my Bible it says "Adam" sounds like the Aramaic word for "Man." As I was thinking about this it struck me: this is not necessarily an indication on of one man's awful decision, but an indication of the depravity of mankind. And not just mankind's depravity, but my depravity!

I could say I would never do anything like this, but because of my sinful nature I am capable of committing a similar atrocity.

If I hate "my brother" (and I have), I guilty of murder. (1 John 3:15, cf. Matthew 5:21-22)

I, not exclusively a small group of Jewish religious leaders 2000 years ago, am responsible for Christ's death. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

According to Jesus' standards, I am a murderer.

Does this sound depressing? Sure. But there's another part to the story. Because of God's Grace, and only because of God's Grace, am I made righteous. (Romans 5:19) My sin is forgiven! I am no longer guilty! "While we were still sinners (THAT'S US!), Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) I couldn't do anything to regain my innocence. Christ did that for me.

And that is Good News!