Christ is risen! Rest in peace, Pope Francis!
Before you read this, read this; Evil is a choice, if you'd like to check out my latest on Locals, Coffee and Christianity: Episode 98: In defense of infant baptism, and please read my previous article, here; Love your enemies, and, if you'd like to help me out, go here; Help with medical bills
Evil is a choice. Doing good is a choice. One of my biggest problems with Calvinism is the mistaken belief that everything that happens is God's will. I know that most Calvinists probably wouldn't frame it like that, but, it's true.
So, does this mean sin is God's will?
No.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God and our Savior, who desires all people be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”. (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
Now, of course, this doesn't mean that all WILL be saved, in fact;
“He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who will be saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I will tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able to”.
Hell is a choice, repentance is a choice. We have free will.
Some people abuse that free will, which leads to things like this (oh, and, atheists, when you deny freewill exists, you have no reasons to criticize these atrocious acts), Minneapolis resident describes rushing to scene of church shooting.
Now, of course, when someone does something evil, and has no repentance over it, hell is their lot. We tend to forget; hell is a choice.
Now, I am not going to judge the soul of the shooter because he could have repented at the very last second, doubt it, but it is possible.
As for the so called “problem of evil”, i.e., why would a loving God allow evil? Okay, why would a non-loving God allow good?
People focus so much on evil, that they tend to forget about the people that helped in a time of crisis. I'd imagine that the priest or priests celebrating Mass took all precautions that they could to keep children safe. Same with the teachers that were there, and other people of authority.
Now, I know, inevitably where this is going to go.
But, let me put it this way, there's a reason that my youngest sister prefers to attend Mass where there's always an armed police officer present.
May the souls of the children who died, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace, Amen.
*All verses from ESV Catholic Edition with Deuterocanonical Books, Copyright 2017 by Crossway.
(I had asked Catholic365 to cancel this, if you see this, they haven't, I still wanted the article, but, I wanted more time to edit it, I accidentally made it a day earlier than I intended).
Adam Charles Hovey is the founder of the Catholicism, news, and whatever community on Locals, and is the host of the weekly Bible study, Coffee and Christianity