Each person who commits a horrific act of violence existed before they became known as “the shooter.” They had conversations. People knew them. They interacted with people, and they consumed news, entertainment, social media posts, and public signage. What happened? What series of events leads a person to become a mass shooter?
On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a church in Michigan. At least 4 people are dead. The gunman allegedly set the building on fire too. I cannot imagine the words that could comfort those who are struggling with this senseless violence. We repeatedly say this happens too often in our country, yet we as a population do nothing to stop it.
As I thought about this latest act of violence, I thought about the shooter. Before Sunday, what was going through his mind? What interactions did he have? If one of us were speaking with him, what would we say? Of more significance, because we could encounter a future mass shooter, what do we say in the interactions we have? Is it possible to say something that might redirect the course of “the shooter’s” life? Is it possible to do it in such a way that the person does not become “the shooter”?
I don’t know the answer to these questions, and it would be preposterous to think anyone does. Here’s what we do know though. Jesus said to be the “salt” and “light” (Matthew 5.13-14). He also said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5.9). In our epistle lesson from Sunday, Paul reminds us that there is no law against the fruits of the spirit. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5.22-23). Would being the salt and light, reminding people “Blessed are the peacemakers,” or embodying the fruits of the spirit stop a shooter? Maybe. I don’t know.
If, instead of judging or telling people how they fall short or don’t belong, every person who professed to follow Christ tried to be the salt and light, the world could have a different impression of Christianity. I don’t know if it would stop the violence, but it couldn’t hurt. Rumi, the great Sufi poet, once said, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” I don’t know if we can stop the violence but trying to be the salt and light might be a good place to start.