How to Share Your Faith Using the Bailey School Shooting
Another senseless act of violence this week added Platte Canyon High School in Bailey, Colorado to the list of schools and communities traumatized by school shootings. It's hard to imagine the overwhelming grief and trauma thrust upon the teens in Bailey as a result of the gunman who entered the school, took hostages and ultimately killed one student before shooting himself.
Our hearts and prayers reach out in support and comfort to those directly impacted. But our commitment and steely determination should also be aroused by this tragedy. Reaching out to others with the Good News should become a very real and urgent response. Not only does the death of Emily Keyes, the 16-year-old victim, remind us that every day is precious and unpredictable, but it also reminds us that we never know when our friends and family may be headed out the door, never to return.
The predictability of life can be interrupted by a car accident, an illness, a senseless act of violence, or a hundred other things, so we should live our lives knowing that each day could be our last opportunity share the message of God's love and salvation with those around us.
In a very real sense, before we received Jesus' gift of life and freedom, we too were hostages to the Evil One. And we all have friends who still are hostages. They need to hear God's truth and salvation message - for that is what will enable them " to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive." (2 Tim 2:26)
Evil and tragedy are difficult realities to confront, but we are not doing our friends any favors by avoiding talking about them. So take this tragic school shooting in Colorado and use it as a conversation starter to talk about spiritual things with your friends. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
- Ask your friends if they are afraid of dying. Ask them what they think happens when they die. Share what you believe.
- Ask your friends where they think evil comes from. Share what the Bible has to say about this. For help with this difficult topic, check out the Soul Fuel articles Evil: Blame It On God? and Why Is the World So Screwed Up?
- Find out where your friends turn when really tough times hit. Do they have a relationship with God that is a source of strength and comfort for them? Share from your personal experience what your relationship with God means to you.
Dare 2 Share Ministries was launched as a full-time teen ministry as a result of the tragic school shootings at Columbine in 1999. Each day the staff at Dare 2 Share gathers at 11:21 a.m. (the exact time that the Columbine tragedy commenced) and prays for a spiritual awakening among teens across this country. Praying each day at 11:21 also serves to remind us of the intensity and urgency of the spiritual battle for the souls of teens.
You have friends who desperately Jesus. Use this tragic event in the news as a motivation for sharing your faith and 'the hope that is within you'.
