A gunman with an assault rifle stormed a church in rural Texas on Sunday, killing at least 26 worshippers and wounding 20 others in a rampage to be notched into a litany of mass shootings that have plagued the United States in recent years.
The lone suspect, dressed in black tactical gear and a ballistic vest, drove up to the white-steepled First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs during Sunday morning services and started firing inside. He kept shooting once he entered, killing or wounding victims ranging in age from 5 to 72 years old, law enforcement officials told a news conference.
“We are dealing with the largest mass shooting in our state’s history,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at the news conference. “The tragedy of course is worsened by the fact that it occurred in a church, a place of worship where these people were innocently gunned down.”
Source: Reuters
My comment:
Jesus the Messiah never promised His followers an easy life, full on success on Earth. Rather he reestablished the broken relationship with our Father in heaven, by paying for our sins. And being raised from the grave, for our justification.
Related to the times before the second coming of the Messiah, the Bible testify about horrible times. In fact, Jesus says the human race will experience distress at an apocalyptic level. That would surely include mass deaths, and terror as bad, an unheard of since the creation.
Matthew 24:21.
For then there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equalled again.
2 Timothy 3:12-13
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Christians must rebuke all false teachers, who preach prosperity. The purpose of our faith, is not a long life on Earth, will wordily pleasures of all kinds. The propose of our faith, is to be with the Lord forever, inside the Kingdom of Heaven.
God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is capable of keeping us alive on Earth, as long as they desire. But when called home to Heaven, we will depart to a fare better place. Stephen became a martyr at young age. John the baptist were beheaded, as Jesus walked on the surface of the Earth. And all the disciples of Jesus were martyred, less John, who possibly died a natural death at old age. All of them now live forever, inside the mansion that Jesus has prepared for them inside His eternal kingdom. Amen.
What about you?
Written by Ivar
Banjara Origin News 
Amen! I read the Christian Post (which I don’t really recommend) that the man was an atheist and called Christians stupid. He was dismissed for bad conduct from the Air Force from charges of assault against his wife and child. He was always talking about how people who believe in God were stupid and trying to preach his atheism. He had a history as a vacation bible school volunteer at the first Baptist church in Texas they said. He claimed in the month of June 2013 where he claimed he helped the minds of children 4-6 years old to grow and prosper. The statement from the church down played his work and affiliation with the church. They said he was not a member and they said he volunteered one night during the 2014 vacation bible school. His in-laws attended that church from time to time. Seems to me this man was known among them, they must have known what he thought about God. This is persecution down right. This evil man was used by Satan, and now he knows who Jesus is while awaiting judgment in the place of torment (Luke 16:19-31). If what they say is true. The pastor of the church should not have allowed this man access to those children in even volunteering. They had to know about his domestic abuse against his wife and child because the in-laws went there. Why did not any one have a restraining order against him? Why did not the police know about this man who had previous problems? The news media claims that the police new nothing about this. Why? “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than His Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.” John 15:20-21 Be careful not to join with false religion in mourning for the lost!
I can answer a few of your questions. The police could not have known nor the whole state of TX because the Air Force personnel did not enter his Domestic Battery conviction into the nation system as required. This killer when to another state to buy a firearm and lied on the form. Yes even this “background check” did no good.
It seems stupid for the pastor and others in this church to allow him to teach children, but I have not read when the Domestic Battery conviction was given, so we cannot know yet when the church or in-laws knew either. It is also possible that they allowed this previous to the conviction or even before the allegation to allow him to be shown love in the hopes to change his heart. Sad either way.
Also, it depends on the state law whether a person is temporarily or permanently issued a No Contact order or a Protection order. (Restraining orders are for civil cases like divorce and have nothing to do with violence.) As with all criminals, a written law will not stop them, only “a good guy with a gun” can stop him, and one did.
Ivar, Thanks for reminding us that our Lord warned of persecution. I so easily forget!
I wondered if you had an opinion on self defense and defense of another to the point of taking a life such as this killer at the church building in TX. I carry a gun everywhere. I have only been a police officer for about two years, but before that I still carried to the church building, to the grocery store, and to a movie theater.
Luke 22 toward the end talks about the Lord telling the disciples to sell their cloak and buy a sword and to carry a pack or purse unlike before when he was first with them. I see this as he is physically not here and things are different. Also I see that if the Lord himself tells someone to buy a sword, it is not for poking a fire, it is for killing. I also believe the Holy Spirit can guide us to another response that does not include taking a life.
Thanks, in Christ, Tifani
Follow-up. As always happens we get more information. According to Christians news the pastor did know and wanted this guy to leave his church. But did nothing about it. The second issue is this, according to One news now, “Pastors rally around devastated Texas Church”. They will be praying with Mike Pence (Admitted Evangelical Catholic), and Greg Abbott a Roman Catholic. The affiliated church uses Beth Moore in their Bible Studies. Interesting. “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 2 Cor. 6:14-15. Like I said before when tragedy strikes, be careful not to join with false religion..