Christianity Scapegoated for Covenant School Shooting A Sign of What's to Come

Blaming Christian values for the Covenant School shooting – this is what Jesus warned us of as a sign of the end of this age

READ TIME: 4-5 Minutes

Is Christianity At Fault for the Covenant School Shooting?

My heart dropped when I saw the headline about the shooting of children and adults at the Covenant School in Nashville. I felt sadness and remorse and immediately said a prayer for the families. But then an unfortunate thought popped into my head, “the world will blame Christian values for this attack.”

Based on some of the comments from various reporters and activists, this has happened.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ press secretary, Josselyn Berry – tweeted a photo of a woman holding two handguns with the caption, “Us when we see transphobes.”
Gun control activist Shannon Watts – “It’s your actions – including weakening the state’s gun laws – that’s killing kids in Tennessee. SHAME ON YOU. Covenant School.”
Sports writer Mike Wise – “…though I understand their outrage against an intolerant state that brainwashes children through religious indoctrination. The reality is this human still identified as that child attending that school and carried that pain into adulthood.“
Talk show host David Pakman – “Is it possible they weren’t praying enough, or correctly, despite being a Christian school?“
Eli Erlick, co-founder and former director of Trans Student Educational Resources – “As we learn more, it’s clear the Nashville Covenant School is a right-wing institution in which Audrey Hale and many others were abused.“
The Trans Resistance Network – “[she] had no other effective way to be seen than to lash out by taking the life of others.“

While I don’t believe this is the majority view in the country, it is a view we hear more and more.

The Measure of Morality

Some of the media took the position that Christians have twisted morality, standing against drag queen shows but supporting the second amendment. A few weeks ago, Tennessee passed a law banning “adult cabaret performances” in public spaces and gender transition surgery for minors. This law was instituted in part to protect minors from painful, permanent surgery and live sexualized shows.

But the critics comingled the two issues.

Television show writer Lee Aronsohn – “Dead, Maimed Children = Thoughts & Prayers™; Drag Queen Story Hour = Impassioned Condemnation and Priority Legislation… The thing is, If we gave an assault rifle to every drag queen the GOP would make Story Hour a national holiday.“
Newsweek – “Drag shows and gender-affirming care for minors were banned in Tennessee this month, while assault weapons remain legal.“

Clearly, Tennessee passed these laws to protect minors. The second amendment is an entirely different issue, though also formed to protect the innocent.

It is shocking that these activists blame the school, blame the lawmakers, even blame the gun, but fail to blame the perpetrator of the crime. The core issue is their worldview. They don’t hold to a Biblical worldview and therefore lack an understanding of sin and absolute morality. So instead of seeing the inherent brokenness and depravity in our world, they blame the symptoms of our troubles. And they blame the people who see the sin and brokenness through a Biblical lens.

Last year, as Christians stood against abortion, hate came against us. Now as we stand on Biblical definitions of gender, the rage is growing. Will the world hate us because we stand on God’s word?

Yes, especially at the end of this age.

Is the Hate from the Covenant School Shooting a Sign?

Should we expect something different than this? Jesus told us this would happen. But He also told us that this hate is a sign.

First, the world came against Jesus, and He told His brothers this. “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I am testifying about it that its deeds are evil.” – John 7:7

Then, He told His disciples that the hate would spread to them. “And you will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved!” – Matthew 10:22

Jesus then told His disciples that at the end of the age, hate would grow against them, even to death. “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. All the nations will hate you because of My name.” Matthew 24:9

This warning applies to us at the end of this age as well. However, Jesus also told us how to respond to this hate. “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…” – Luke 6:27

But He gave us reason to hope when we see this happening. “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because your reward is great in heaven. “Luke 6:22-23

And referring to the end of the age, He said, “But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near.“

When we are born again through Jesus, we no longer belong to this world (John 15:19). But the world hates us, especially when we testify that “its deeds are evil.”

The Cause of What We Are Experiencing Today

As we near the end of this age and the world grows darker, it will embrace depravity. We will see the people around us treat what we know to be evil as good. But because our morals remain unchanged, the world will grow further apart from us and will hate us for this.

Persecution will increase, so we must be prepared for opposition and loss. Yet, we must respond in love because God loves us and those in the world and expects us to reflect His nature. Do not let your outrage turn to hate, but let your goodness and love overcome hate.

As you see these things, take comfort that this is a sign that Jesus is returning soon. And when He rules the earth for the following 1,000 years, he will not tolerate such depravity.

If these times scare you, draw close to Him, and He will draw close to you. Pray for those who are hurting. Some of these people who support this depravity will be ready to receive Jesus once they find that their sin has led them to despair.

This era of brokenness will soon be over. And when Jesus rules the earth for 1,000 years, there will be no tolerance for horrors like school shooting.