by Abram Kim
The start of a new year provides opportunities to reflect on the previous year. Of all the events of 2012, from my perspective, the single-most tragic event of the year came near the end of the year, on December 14 when 20 children and six adults were tragically killed and two more wounded at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Very few people knew of this small town before December 14, 2012, but now all of America and the world are familiar with the town. School shootings are always tragic, but the fact that this was an elementary school and that so many children lost their lives magnifies this tragedy.
I would have imagined that during the ensuing weekend, most of the churches across America held services and vigils to pray for the victims and their families at Newtown. LBCSD was no different. The day after the Newtown tragedy was LBCSD’s annual Christmas Concert, and the message from Elder Mike Chon related to the tragic events in Newtown and the hope we have in Christ. The next day, our church gathered that Sunday morning and Pastor Patrick Cho addressed the tragedy again, reminding us of the brevity of life and the hope that can only come from Christ. The news of Newtown was obviously on the hearts and minds of the leaders at LBCSD and it needed to be addressed to give our church proper biblical perspective. Pastor Patrick shared with LBCSD five reasons that Christians should speak up in the midst of tragedy like the one in Newtown. I wanted to use his outline to consider how parents and children’s ministry leaders can teach children to understand tragedies like Newtown.
1. Newtown reminds us that the real problem is our radical depravity.
What happened at Newtown is sad and very tragic. That goes without saying. But consider the gravity of the tragedy. Imagine in a moment’s notice the terror of that violence and rage from a complete stranger. Imagine not being able to play with your best friends because they are no longer with you. We need to explain the magnitude of this tragedy because it brings us closer to understanding the gravity of our sinfulness to the perfectly holy God.
Most of us may not experience in our personal lives or first-hand such wickedness. But regardless of what secular society may preach about man’s inherent good, the potential for this kind of wickedness, including its magnitude, resides in us all. It isn’t even that we are mostly good people that have sinned some and need a Savior to clean up the little mess in our lives, as some Christians may preach. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). It is only by God’s grace that tragedies like Newtown don’t occur more often. Newtown provided a sober look into the all-encompassing problem in this world and in man, our radical and wicked depravity.
2. Newtown reminds us that the gospel is the only solution to the real problem.
The immense gravity of wickedness can only be cancelled by an immense amount of righteousness. Of course none of us have any righteousness of our own to begin with. So who can save us? Of course, Christ alone! When we reflect on the depths of our own sins, we turn to the gospel of Jesus Christ and revel in the glorious depths of His grace. The greatest problem in this world we can emphasize to our young ones is sin, and the only solution is Jesus Christ. He is the only way, truth, and life (John 14:6).
3. Newtown reminds us that life is short and our opportunities are limited.
With all the advances in medicine today, the simple fact remains that no one can be certain of their last day on earth (even in some cases of attempted suicide). My mom would say that we may all have an order coming into the world, but there is no order leaving this world. Accidental deaths happen all the time. Homicides seem more tragic because they have the appearance of being preventable. But the fact remains that death is not far for any of us.
Consider the millions of babies in the womb that never get to hear the gospel because they are aborted before full term. As infants and toddlers, children may not fully grasp the concepts of holiness and sin, but we ought to teach them diligently. We believe God bestows special grace to those souls before the age of accountability. But no one can be certain what that age might be, and it might be different for every child. Every opportunity ought to be taken advantage of to teach the whole counsel of God’s Word, the character of God, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every Sunday School hour and LKC evening must count. Every little moment in the home and discipline opportunity must count. We must diligently be ready to teach and disciple and counsel and love and point toward our Maker, Savior, and Lord. So teach us to number our days, that we gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
4. Newtown reminds us to look to God because He is in control.
God is not the source of evil (James 1:13), but God is still in control over all the evil that happens in the world, and in the mystery of providence brings it all together for His glory (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28). We must be reminded that God is in control, even over the small and big evils in this world. When the world around you comes crumbling down, or your understanding of the world is shaken at its core, it is natural to seek someone or something to confide in. And we must teach our young ones that God is the most dependable one we can turn to, for He is always faithful. God was and is fully in control, and will continue to always be fully in control throughout all time. Tragedies in life ought to prompt us to repent of our sins and turn to the God who is in control (Luke 13:1-5).
5. Newtown reminds us that God is judge, and He will avenge.
Some may feel that Lanza’s suicide somehow cheated our society from exacting justice on him for his wicked deeds, and cheated the families involved from experiencing justice in this world. Yet no human court could come up with the penalty due such evil. Vengeance is the Lord’s (Romans 12:19). God is the perfect Judge and Executioner. Evil will be dealt with justly, for God is the Great Judge. No one can hide, no one can escape.
For those who are in Christ, Jesus bore the great wrath of God that we deserved upon Himself on the cross. The punishment was immense because our sins were immense. It required an infinite sacrifice to atone for our infinite sinfulness. When will the time be when God consummates the world and brings final judgment to those that are still in their sins? God isn’t slow to fulfill His promise of justice, but rather is patient so that more will be saved in Christ (2 Peter 3:1-10). And may God be gracious to grant us the opportunities to share the gospel with those around us, especially our children, that they may be saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.