The
SUSQUEHANNA SENTINEL
June 20, 1999
Vol. II, No. 8

In This Issue

WAR AND PEACE

In Matt. 10:34-36, Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  And a man’s foes will be those of his own household.”

This statement must have been shocking and alarming to Jesus’ disciples.  Isaiah had foretold in Isa. 9:6-7 that His name would be called “prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.”  Both Isaiah and Micah foretold that under the reign of the Messiah, “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not take up sword against nation.  Neither shall they learn war any more” (Isa. 4:2; Micah 4:3).  And when Jesus was born, angels appeared, “praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men!’” (Luke 2:13-14).

Now, how do we reconcile these seemingly different concepts of Christ’s mission?  First, if His disciples found His statements in Matt. 10 shocking, as they probably did, it was partly because they had not yet realized the spiritual nature of His kingdom.  They had thought, and were still thinking that the Messiah was to be a political ruler who would deliver them from Roman rule and restore the kingdom to Israel as a material, worldly government.  This concept was evident in their seeking places of authority on His right and left hand after His government was organized, and in the attempt of some to compel Him by force to become that kind of king.  That same mistaken concept prompted them to ask Him the question they asked in Acts 1.  See Matt. 20:21; John 6:15; Acts 1:6.  Jesus’ response to such conceptions was, “You do not know what you ask” (Matt. 20:22).

While Jesus was on trial before Pilate the Roman governor, Pilate asked Him if He were a king.  Jesus’ answer is very revealing: “My kingdom is not of this world.  If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36).  Jesus’ government is not one to be spread by swords and spears and military force.  Rather, Jesus’ rule is one that is manifested in the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to His will.  And in the heart where Jesus reigns, swords have been turned into plowshares and spears into implements of peace.  If indeed “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21), then peace pervades your heart and mind.  But in those realms where Christ has been rejected, we meet opposition -- frequently even in our own families and among our own friends and neighbors.  And it will ever be so until they too submit to Jesus, the prince of Peace, or until Christ brings this present world to an end.

--CRJ

TESTIMONY OF DARRELL SCOTT 

[Note:  Darrell Scott is the father of two victims of the Colorado high school shooting in Littleton, Colorado.  This is his testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives, Thursday, May 27, 1999.]

Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil in the heart of men and of women.  We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence.

The death of my wonderful  daughter Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher and the other children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.  Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA.

I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughters death.  Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy - it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies!

Much of that blame lies here in this room. Much of that blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves..

I wrote a poem just four nights ago that express my feelings best.  This  was written way before I knew l would be speaking here today.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage.
You've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms.
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere.
And ask the question "WHY"?

You regulate restrictive laws.
Through legislative creed.
Add yet you fail to understand.
That God is what we need!

Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our makeup, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc.

Spiritual influences were present within our educational Systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historic fact.

What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God and in doing so, we open the doors to hatred and violence.

And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs, politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA.  They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that continue to erode away our personal and private liberties.

We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors.  No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre.

The real villain lies within our OWN hearts.  Political posturing and restrictive legislation is not the answers.

The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched!

We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy Television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored.

We do need a change of heart and an humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God.

As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes.  He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right!

I challenge every young person in America and around the world to realize that on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School - - prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered  by those students be in vain.

Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your conscience and denies your God-given right to communicate with Him.

To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before you cast the first stone!

My daughter's death will not be in vain. The young people of this country will not allow that to happen.

GOD’S NOBLEMEN

The people in Berea “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).  Note the things which made them noble:

1.  They searched the SCRIPTURES.

2.  They SEARCHED the Scriptures.

3.  They searched the Scriptures DAILY.

4.  They searched the Scriptures daily TO FIND OUT if the things they were hearing were correct.

5.  They received the world with all readiness.

Such an attitude comes highly recommended.  God’s Spirit can work freely in us when we present Him with an open Bible and an open mind.  Compare the case of the Ethiopian nobleman in Acts 8:26-39.

--CRJ