LITTLETON COMMENT

Let the Editor Add a Word

A comment from Dr. Robert L. Sumner, Editor of
THE BIBLICAL EVANGELIST

Dr. Kendall has spoken truly about the problem and its solution. What is true at Littleton is true everywhere. It is true in your community and in mine. And, thank God, He is able to have His way in the whirlwind and bring glory to Himself while the vilest storms are raging. He did at Littleton.

Since the gunmen were targeting Christian students (as did the one at Peducah, Kentucky earlier - opening fire as they gathered around the flagpole for prayer), several were killed and others were wounded. Three of the victims were highly committed teens: Rachael Scott, John Tomlin and, of course, Cassie BaRNELL. In their public memorial services there were probably at least 100 students coming to know Christ. At Cassie’s funeral there were more than 75 kids who made public professions of faith in Christ. At the service for Rachael Scott, who wanted to be a missionary, thinking it would probably be in Africa where she sensed a great need, there were more than 15 professions of faith. And at John Tomlin’s memorial, who had gone to Mexico last summer on a church mission trip, there were “a number” more.

Add to this the fact that some of the services were broadcast live around the world, in their entirety - along with the attention given by all the major networks, CNN, CNN International, and literally a host of other outlets making it one of the largest gospel presentations to the world ever. One reporter noted that each service placed a heavy focus on the gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ (90% on Christ and only 10% on the individuals). We doubt that the trio could have influenced so many people for Christ if they had each lived to be 95 years of age. And the teens surrendering their lives to Christ following the tragedy must have been in the hundreds, literally. Our understanding is that many teens who were nominal Christians are now on fire, inspired by the dedicated courage of Cassie and her friends.

Both young killers had heard - and rejected - the gospel. A good friend of Dylan Kleybold’s older brother had been burdened about the Kleybold family and had gone to witness of Christ to them last Christmas. They politely listeded, but there was no response. Twelve people attended Dylan’s private funeral and the minister in charge talked about David and Absalom and how, although the latter rebelled and tried to steal the kingdom from him, David loved him dearly and grievously mourned his death. We all need to remember that the parents of thes two troubled youths loved their boys and are grieving about their loss. Pray for them as well as for the parents of the shooting victims.

Eric Harris heard the gospel, too, just a week before he went off the deep end. Attending a Christian coffeehouse for youth where a concert was being presented, a string broke on a band member’s guitar and, while it was being repaired, the lead singer related his conversion story and made the salvation story plain. Eric left at the end of the service without surrendering to Christ.

We close these brief comments by quoting what Alan Keyes wrote in his weekly column a few days after the rampage at Columbine [High School, Littleton, Colorado]. Keyes, as you know, is a black Christian who sought the Republican nomination in 1996. He warned:

“Wake up America. God is in His Heaven, and if we go down on our knees and are really willing, finally, to prostrate ourselves before His will, there may be some hope for us. But if we are not, then I think we are just seeing the beginning of the judgment that must attend these things that we have been doing and tolerating for too long. God help us.”

PHILOSOPHIES OF VIOLENCE
by Rev. C. David Coyle

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