"Guns, God & The Problem Of Evil"

"Evil is real. As long as humans have walked the earth, people have chosen to do evil things," said Dirty Jobs host, Mike Rowe in a facebook post. "This is what happened in Florida. A nineteen-year old man chose to do an evil thing. He planned it. He executed it. He succeeded."

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last week led to 17 deaths and a raging debate on why such things keep happening.

Rowe says that while it's important to figure out the contributing factors in the shootings, such as video games, accessible firearms, single parents, no parents, powerful medications, social media, mental illness, bullying, or anything else we can think of that might have driven the shooter--we shouldn't lose sight of the root cause: Evil.

Billy Graham, who passed away this week, left us the following example of how evil works:

"Satan may be able to put evil thoughts directly into our minds. For example, when Judas turned against Jesus and secretly betrayed Him to His enemies, the Bible says that 'Satan entered Judas'" (Luke 22:3).

"But Judas alone was responsible for what he did; he could not blame Satan for his actions. Driven by greed, he willingly accepted the money he was offered to reveal where Jesus could be found. In other words, Satan only took advantage of his sinful desires. The Bible warns that 'each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed'" (James 1:14).

The bottom line? Politically charged conversations won't stop evil people from doing evil things. The best we can do is make it harder.

"But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived." 2 Timothy 3:13

A wise man once said: "The Bible says that the problem is within us--within our hearts and souls. We are separated from God, and we need to have our souls restored. Something that only God can do."    -- Billy Graham 1918-2018

Billy Graham's Final Column" "By the time you read this, I will be in heaven."

News:

• The Wall Street Journal: Trump Holds 'Listening' Session For Victims Of School Shooting; pledges to push stricter gun laws, raise age limit from 18 to 21, ban bump stocks, and place armed guards or gun-trained teachers in schools.
• ABC News: Florida shooter claims he heard voices telling him to carry out massacre.
• USA Today: Billy Graham to lie in honor in Capitol Rotunda for service to the nation.