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Two Tragedies of the Aurora, Colorado Shootings
Preachers who refuse to ever discuss current events are pretty much useless. Even more so are they who will only talk of heaven while ignoring the management of what God has given us here on earth. I believe that.
I’m sure most, if not all of you by now, have heard about the shootings which happened in Aurora, Co., recently in the early hours of the morning. Apparently, 24 year-old James Holmes, dressed in black, entered a movie theater during a highly anticipated ‘Batman’ film after midnight, wearing a gas-mask and carrying 2 handguns, a shotgun and a ‘AK type’ weapon. He used tear gas to begin with and then open fired on the audience. At least 12 were killed, with many, many more injured.
The details are out there for those who wish to dig deeper into the facts of the crime. I’d rather focus on the tragic aspect.
Yes, there’s a difference. Generally speaking, a crime is an act punishable by law, and a tragedy is an event that results in great loss or ‘misfortune’.
There were two tragedies that took place in Aurora, Colorado in regards to this senseless shooting. Yes, two, not just one.
First, it was a great loss – of life itself – that so many died, and it was, at the very least, misfortunate, that so many were injured by this relatively young man. Upwards of 50 people were reported injured.
Yet there is a second tragedy associated with this terrible event, and it’s one I doubt many preachers will be mentioning – especially on social media. Why? Mostly because they are more concerned with popularity and career than speaking about liberty and freedom. You have to be ‘strategic’ these days to maintain a popular following, you know.
But not here.
Liberty. Freedom. Our founding fathers of this country that used to be America, fought and many died so that you and I could live in the land of the ‘free,’ to live in a Republic – not a democracy – and exercise our God-given rights to worship according to Scripture which guided our conscience.
Unfortunately, and slowly, this country’s citizens began taking that freedom for granted, shrugged off thoughts of God and His Law, and being relaxed in their own little world, became comfortable. Generation after generation allowed the government of the United States to chip away and remove our freedoms and liberties, and the people did nothing about it.
The prevailing attitude over the years has been ‘don’t rock the boat’. It’s a slave mentality and people have grown to like it.
If the people of Aurora, Colorado had loved liberty and freedom more, and not been so complacent and apathetic about what history had taught them – how so many shed their own blood for their right to take in a movie with their families – they would have been armed to the teeth and loaded for bear, carrying concealed weapons – not seeking out violence, but protecting themselves from the lawless criminals of society – whether they were elected to office, or not.
I wish I had not heard the story as reported with so many killed and wounded, a community scarred for who knows how long.
Rather, I wish that the people of Aurora had been so concerned with the loss of liberty before God Himself, over so many decades in this country – stolen by our own government, mostly in times of ‘crises’ and, of course, ‘for the common good’ – that at least three-quarters of that Batman-watching audience was carrying concealed weapons responsibly, and after the first shot was identified, stood up in unison and filled that young man with so much lead, his identity would be difficult to determine. That’s what I wish.
I don’t blame the people of Aurora alone. Everyone and anyone who is a citizen of this country needs to take a hard, honest look at history and that with the profound reality, that freedom and liberty must be defended, not merely by legislation, but by force of arms of its citizens. Defended, not only against thugs and maniacs who enter a theater, but against our own government if necessary, who seeks not our well-being or common good, but our submission to its insatiable, gluttonous, anti-Republic, anti-God appetite for tyranny.
(Are you new to 5ptsalt? Be sure and get regular updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joeltaylor_ )
He is right. We have all been quiet way too long. First, they take the Bible out of school, then prayer, then gradually taking more and more so that Christ has been taken out of Christmas, crosses are an offense to the atheists, etc. It seems all that is related to Christians is offensive to someone. We have been silent too long.
The government is unbelieveable. I know there are some Christians in there trying to do good, but seem to be blocked by those representives who are partial to Islamists. It appears that Obama does more financially (with taxpayer money) for the Brotherhood, Hamas, and their friends, dare I say, Alqaida? His own country is in trouble but he is more concerned with the Islamists. This is the first president who does not respect the flag, and what it stands for, nor does his wife, according to news reports. He is doing so many things that just don’t make sense. It is beginning to feel like the President may be the enemy.
According to the Bible, God hates complacency. As Christians, we need to repent, turn to God with all our whole heart and worship Him in Spirit and truth where ever we are, and at any time of the day. When a brother or sister in Christ is in trouble for refusing to go against their conscience in order to keep their business or whatever, we need to all call, write, and let our voices be heard on behalf of other Christians.
President Obama is giving our freedom away to the ones who attacked America on 9/11, the Islamists, and also to the atheists, and homosexuals.
What is good is being called evil, and what is evil, is being called good.
What happened to the gospel? Why the soul of those lost has npt been discussed? Is repaying the shooter more important than the message of Christ? I just scolded someone one on faceboook for hocus pocus word faith stuff. What is going on in the body of Christ? Have we lelost our first love?!
A man walks into a movie theater wearing a gas mask, carrying multiple weapons and a gas can. He starts shooting with the obvious intent of killing and injuring as many as possible, especially anyone who gets up to run. Would you stand up and share the Gospel with him in that moment?
Pastor Taylor, with all due respect, you and I were not there. We are speaking in the aftermath here. While we are debating the enemy of our souls are planning more attacks. I just want us to consider this. What saves us in the after life after we die in this life. This is all I wanted to get a cross—-some of those souls may not be with our saviour.
I wish I could shout AMEN! loud enough for you to hear me. I am sickened by the complacency in this country. Americans who claim to love freedom drink tyranny like water. Most don’t even realize just how much has been lost.
And what is wrong with the men in Aurora? Not even one man was prepared to return fire? I know the theater chain has a rule forbidding firearms, but if someone had killed the gunman last night before he emptied his magazines, would anyone care right now about a broken rule? Does the theater have the moral right to take away the ability of their customers to lawfully protect themselves? When they instituted a politically correct anti-gun policy, I would argue they created for themselves an even higher duty to protect their customers and they failed spectacularly. I would love to stand in front of a jury and make that argument. Corporate drones need to be taught to think twice before setting policies at odds with our God-given and consitutionally protected rights.
On another note, I haven’t gone to the movies without a firearm in a long time, fearing precisely what happened in Aurora. No, I’m not paranoid, I’m simply aware of potential threats and prepared. Men, it’s your job to protect your family. You should always know where all the exits are, you should keep reasonable emergency supplies in your vehicle, and you should never go out in public in less-than-manly footwear. Flip-flops are near useless for fleeing a building while carrying your child or grandchild, negotiating debris, or fighting a crazed gun-wielding maniac.
On Oct. 16, 1991 I was living in Copperas Cove Texas, a small town next to Killeen. On that day, Louie C., a friend of mine from church and an earnest Christian brother was shot in the “Luby’s Massacre.” As of that date, the worst such slaughter in American history. He was the worst injured survivor, and lost part of his liver and had other serious internal injuries. I went to see him a couple of times at the hospital.
Not six months later Louie was coming to see me in the hospital, as I had suddenly, and unexpectedly come very near death myself, barely surviving a bout with viral encephalitis.
Brethren, whatever conclusions you draw about our increasingly wicked culture, the demise of civility and Christian influence, the ruin of our country by effeminate liberalism, or the need for men with backbone prepared and armed to counter such evil – worthy topics all – be reminded of the brevity of YOUR life. No one went to that Colorado theater two days ago thinking it was to be the last experience of his or her life. Be reminded of the quickness and uncertainty of life (James 4:14) and be motivated to increase your fidelity to the Lord Jesus Christ.
There were two shootings in Aurora. Most only heard about one of them (it did involve more people…but why?).
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/12175