Charlie Wear’s Notes

Bad things happen, and from time to time, they happen on college campuses. In Nov. 99, twelve students died in the collapse of a bonfire on the campus of Texas A&M. At the time, I was struck by this tragedy. I wrote:

When tragedy strikes, people of faith are called upon to respond to tough questions. "God, why do bad things happen to good people?" One thing that can be certain is that the Christian God is a suffering God. Many times in the ministry of Jesus, He was moved by compassion. (See the gospel of Matthew, Chapter 9, verse 36). In our tragedies and sorrows, God suffers along with us….until that day when…"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev. 21:4.

Eric Stanford contributed a great article to a special report we published at the time, in it he wrote:

There’s nothing like the sudden death of the young to punch a hole in our papier-mâché "reality."

* In a world where medical advances are announced daily and life expectancy is stretching like a rubber band . . .
* In a world where the economy has been so strong for so long that it’s calling into question the very idea of "economic cycles" . . .
* In a world where we have more ways to distract ourselves (Discman, Nintendo, satellite TV, on and on) than ever before . . .
* In that sort of a world, we can easily become insulated from what’s really real. The padding muffles the sounds, softens the edges. We are anesthetized.

Life is for real. This is the real thing. People don’t always get that, anymore. And then the young die suddenly.

These are some of the thoughts swirling around in the aftermath of yesterday’s tragic shooting on the campus of Virginia Tech University. The media is demanding the answers to other questions: Can gun control prevent this kind of violence? Are campus officials to blame for not issuing an earlier warning?

I am reminded that all around the world, particularly in war zones, mass casualties are happening every day. People died on our nation’s highways over the weekends (this happens week in and week out in America). Storms and flooding claimed lives in the last few days.

I have no answers. Just a sadness and a desire for God’s kingdom to come, on earth, as it is in heaven.

It is an interesting time of year for the above entitled article, but leave it to the Los Angeles Times. It seems as though this apologetic for atheism holds it out as just another form of belief, or religion, if you will.One interesting note, it seems that atheism would keep a presidential candidate from being elected, at least, as things now stand.

This post by one of the folks who visited Next-Wave from the "slicers" is just too good not to mention. What a great, biblical approach to what we should do in the face of serious sin in our leaders. Nice work, Rick. From the post:
"First. We should never discuss a man's sins publicly. We who confront doctrinal departures must be careful not to mesh a brother's sins in the same boat. Just in the last several months the secular world was astounded by the forgiveness shown by the Amish community in the face of the murder of some of their very children, and now we go on "lost TV" and discuss the sin's of a brother in Christ as if the world has a say. The world has no part of us, this brother should be dealt with by the elder body and by the Lord himself, not Larry King (et. al.)."

Several years ago I sat in a pastor’s meeting as the regional overseer made the announcement. A prominent pastor had resigned his position in one of the leading churches in our association. “He resigned because of sin in his life: pornography, misuse of alcohol and prescription drugs. There have been allegations of improper use of church funds.” [It later turned out that nearly every one of these allegations was untrue, and blown out of proportion]
The announcement went on as I thought about the public confession of this man’s sins. “What if other people knew about the secret sins in my life,” I thought. "If my personal struggles became public knowledge would I be judged any more fit than the brother who was the subject of the meeting?" In the harsh light of my own self-examination, I found myself wanting.
I thought: “If they knew me, really knew me, they wouldn’t let me pastor.”
Questions and answers and comments flew around the room. I sensed an undertone of anger and judgment. I felt a personal sense of shame as I heard the leader say: “Now, if any of you are struggling with these kinds of issues, tell us so we can help you.” “Yeah,” I thought, “Help you out of the ministry!”
Now it seems clear that Ted Haggard was struggling with serious "temptation." Unfortunately, it is also clear that he had no one who could share his private struggle and help him carry his burden. Now an opportunist who is attempting to make a political point has accused him. Another sad chapter that points out the reality that even the most visible, and strongest of leaders may have feet of clay.
But here's my question. While others may gloat, who among us is without sin? Who among us is righteous enough to cast the first stone of condemnation? Whatever our politics may be, whatever our theological inclinations, I pray that mercy would triumph over judgment and that devastation in this situation might be minimized.