Where is God?

Where is God? 
In the wake of yesterday's tragedy in Newtown, CT, "Where is God" is a natural question. 
I have seen many attempted answers to this question on social media and heard many attempted answers on TV. 

It is natural to want to point a finger, to place blame, and to figure out what would motivate someone to do such a horrific act. 

It is easier to vilify someone like Adam Lanza and write him off as evil than it is to try to identify and have compassion for the struggle in his life.  The more evil we can make him out to be, the less "like him" we feel.  The reality is that we are all broken and in need of God's love.  Some folks brokenness is just more visible than others. 

I admit, the heinous acts of Adam Lanza angers me greatly.  I think of those 20 young school age children shot down and I just want to cry.  My heart breaks for the families that are dealing with the loss of their loved young children.  I think of the adults that were lost and just feel helpless and saddened.

But I also recognize this is not a time for mudslinging.  I have seen some very angry, rude, and frankly just unloving post on Facebook.  I read these post on social media and John 13:35 comes to mind..."Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."  If we as Christians are known by our "love", it is not shocking that Christianity often has such a bad reputation among non-Christians. 

As Christians, now is not the time to mud-sling, to place blame, or to grab our children and retreat to our homes to home-school.  Now is not the time to retreat and hide from the broken world.  Now is the time to run into the broke world and show them love.  Now is the time to recognize our own brokenness and not try to just cover it up. 

Now is the time for taking responsibility for the brokenness of the world, and not a time to try to separate ourselves from this brokenness. 

The number one "reason" I see people posting for this tragic event is that "God was removed from schools."  Honestly, this statement angers me almost as much as the act of Lanza yesterday. 
I believe one of the greatest threats to the church today is the lack of ownership of one's faith.  We quickly blame our "lack of faith" on the pastor or church staff.  We blame our work schedules or school schedules.  We shift responsibility to others quickly, but rarely acknowledge our own laziness in our faith journey. 

The reality is, as long as there are Christians in schools, God is in the schools.  Government may be able to legislate how much God is in the curriculum, but they cannot regulate how much God is in our hearts.  They may be able to legislate how much teachers can talk to students about their faith, but they cannot legislate how loving the teachers are to their students. 

Government simply cannot remove God from schools.  If God is not present in the school, it is because Christians are not showing that God is within them.  That is an area we cannot put the blame on others, and must take ownership and responsibility ourselves. 

Matthew 18:20 tells us that "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”  As long as Christians bind together to show love to others at school, at work, in our neighborhoods and communities...God will be among them. 

I personally find peace in the belief that God was present with each person who lost their life yesterday.  I do not believe God stayed out just because our Government said God wasn't allowed.  God is not bound by our government.  I believe God is present with the families who lost loved ones.  I believe that God is present with the Lanzas as well. 

The reality is that we are all given a choice.  God granted us the gift of free will.  When it comes down to it, this free will is the ability to choose between having a relationship with God, or a life rejecting God.  Many folks do not see this as a gift.  Many folks see this as God's greatest "mistake". 
I believe it is very much a gift.  I believe that God understood that love and relationship cannot be forced.  If relationship is forced, it is not real. 

Lanza made a choice yesterday that had an impact on many lives. 
We also as Christians have a choice to make.  We can choose to share God's love with others, or we can choose to run, hide and sling mud at others for their choices. 

Government and places of work may be able to legislate what you can "say", but they cannot legislate the way you live your life. 

Oliver Goldsmith once said that "You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips." 

Our words have power, social media can attest to that.  However, our actions (often our actions through our words) can have a greater impact. 

Choose to live your life in a way that shares Jesus with others.
Recognize your own brokenness and do not be afraid to let others see that brokenness. 
Be careful what you say on social media, recognizing that people often take the words of Christians as the words of God. 

And remember, in Hebrews, we are told that "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." 

So where is God in times like this? 
God is within you.  God is wrapping God's arms around those who are hurt, broken, and struggling. 
God is devastated just like the rest of us. 
God did not cause this to happen yesterday, but God is very much ready, willing, and longing to be shared through this tragedy. 
God is present in YOU...and you are present in this world.  So if God is "missing" in this world, then ultimately that means YOU are "missing" in this world.  

Do not point the finger at others, but take some ownership of how you can help prevent this from happening again.  Keep your eyes open to those around you that are hurting and broken. 

Ultimately, "Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words."