A couple of weeks ago a gunman entered a church and began to shoot those who were in attendance that sunday morning. He was an enemy who came through the gates and sought to make victims of the helpless. He was like a lion going to and fro throughout the earth seeking to steal, kill and destroy.
There are debates going on about what that woman (and the church) had done (or should have done) to protect those who had entered their establishment. Was there too much force? Should they have allowed themselves to be killed without fighting back as a Christian witness? Or was the act of saving the innocent just?
In Rome the authorities rounded up Christians and sent them to the forum. A great witness as Christians, covered in tar and hung on polls, were lit up at night to provide light and entertainment for the pagan populace. Torn by lions, put to the sword, etc. Sounds like a Hebrews moment.
Is this always to be the case?
A man and his wife, with two male friends from church, are walking down the street. Someone jumps out knocks the man to the ground and then begins to rape his wife. The husband and friends then go to their knees and pray while the rapist continues?
Your child is being attacked by other children, getting his head kicked in, again on your knees and prayer?
I might stand there and be beaten by others if the only danger is to myself. It is a different thing when it extends to others who are to be “under my protection.”
The woman who fired the shot will be struggling with the fact that she had taken a life. I think that far better than a dozen or more families struggling with the fact that a crazed gunman killed their husbands, wives and children while everyone stood by and watched.
My hat is off to those Mennonites who forgave the gunman who killed their children last year. But would they have simply stood by and allowed the gunman to kill their children if they had the means to stop him? I don’t know.
Remember that these are crisis moments. How would you respond? Would I cower in fear? Would I throw myself at the enemy? Or would I go down onto my knees and pray while it is happening in front of me. Honestly, I don’t know. I would most likely have a different response depending on the kind of day I was having.
Did this woman who shot the killer do right? A big part of me shouts “yes!” Yet a small part of me whispers “no.” I have placed my life at risk to help an older couple being attacked in their home. I am glad that I helped them. I am even happier that it is a very rare occurence.
What would you have done in that church, that sunday morning? Throw yourself at the killer? Stood there and pray for intervention? Cower under the pew crying for God to protect you? Or simply run away with no thought for the people being shot? We hope we know what we would do… but only God knows for sure.
Let us extend grace to the woman and to the church, and let God do the judging.
