Thursday, June 15th, 2017

The tragic shooting of Representative Scalise and others as well as the UPS shooting in San Francisco shocked all of us yesterday, and unfortunately, are yet another two examples of evil in our midst. Although we do not know the motives of the shooter for sure, it is safe to say that he was not of sane mind and was likely acting on emotion. In Proverbs, these types often fall into a broader category of people Solomon refers to as "fools." Fools can take many forms, and not all are violent. In the aftermath of such inexplicable tragedy, some will attempt to cast blame where it does not belong. Others will rally for some sort of vengeance. As Solomon writes in Proverbs 26, the best method for responding to evil is to sternly rebuke it, expose it with truth, refuse to sink to its level in our reaction, and ultimately defeat it by maintaining our moral authority. Pray today for the victims recovery, praise God for sparing their lives, and join together in stern rebuke of such behavior in our society. 

"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes." -- Proverbs 26: 4-5 ESV