As I watched the aftermath of another school shooting, it made me wonder. What if that teenager had been taught to love one another? Would it have made a difference if “Thou shall not kill” was hanging on the wall of his classroom and he was taught the reasons why? Perhaps he would have reacted differently if he was encouraged to pray in school and was prayed for on a regular basis. Being taught to love your enemy and pray for those who spitefully use you, might have changed the outcome. Could lives have been saved, if he had been “saved” and given his life to the LORD?
Maybe you noticed the killer had been involved in Church? I don’t know the details, but they would have had him for a few hours a week at most. The school had him for many more hours and they must have taught him something. Not sure what, since they don’t want to offend anyone. Did he offend them on that day? Maybe he learned all too well and put it into practice? He learned how to hurt those he hated and spare those he liked.
The school wasn’t responsible for all the teens training. That job belongs to the parents. Not sure what kind of family-life the killer had, but he wore a trench coat to school and a tee-shirt that read “Born to Kill.” Maybe they tried to raise him right, but at 17 years old, the killer will soon be considered an adult. He had access to his father’s guns, but that isn’t unusual in Texas. The Bible gives responsibility to parents, but the government has taken many of their parental rights away. If both parents had to work to “make a living,” they may have spent little time with their son. Now they will have a lifetime to wonder if they could have done more.
What more can parents do to train up their children in the way they should go? Besides accepting JESUS as their Savior, praying, reading and following the Bible, they could give their children a Christian education. I pray public schools will change, but they are moving farther away from the answers. I can’t speak for other Christian schools, but our Christian school is changing hearts and lives. How do I know? My daughter graduated from one, went on to get her degree and returned to teach. My son-in-law also graduated from one and our grandchildren are thriving in the loving, yet disciplined environment. I asked my grandchildren if they had accepted JESUS as their Savior, they all said yes, that was part of their studies.
I am amazed at the accomplishments of some the students. They all memorize Bible scriptures, but some memorize entire books. Several students were on their way to an international competition at the time of the shooting. The student’s spiritual development is an important part of the school curriculum and our Pastor makes sure they are trained up in the way they should go. Several students were filled with the HOLY GHOST after a former student had preached during their Chapel service. Yes, the HOLY SPIRIT is welcome in our school. Our students aren’t perfect, but they know where mercy and forgiveness can be found. Not only can the Ten Commandments be displayed on the wall in their school, but the WORD of GOD is hidden in their hearts so they might not sin.
Wayne Lance (2018)