Are mass shootings judgment from God?

What is the root cause for America's mass shootings?

Politicians answer this question by pointing fingers at their political opponents. The news media place the blame at the doorstep of the NRA. Christians bemoan the lack of prayer in schools. Social psychologists suggest violent video games. Still others point at the breakup of the traditional family structure. The list goes on and on.

All of these may be contributing factors, but I don't believe any of them hit the mark.

The Lord said to Cain, "What have you done? The voice of your brother Abel's [innocent] blood is crying out to Me from the ground [for justice]. And now you are cursed. ..." (Genesis 4:10-11 AMP, emphasis added)

Almost 3,000 years after Cain committed the first murder, Jesus mentioned the blood of Abel when He talked with the scribes and Pharisees. It seems Abel's blood still had a powerful voice before the throne of God.

So, if the innocent blood of Abel cried out to the Lord for thousands of years, how loud and how long will roughly 60 million innocent aborted babies cry out to the Lord for justice?

The argument for legalized abortion has always been that it is a decision made by women about their own bodies, which does not affect the lives of other people. Others should mind their own business and keep quiet.

The logic of this argument might be true if abortion were not an accepted practice by a nation. Then, it would be just another personal sin, which would ultimately be handled between the Lord and the women who had abortions.

But all of this changed when the Supreme Court made its landmark Roe v. Wade decision on Jan. 22, 1973, stating that pregnant women had a constitutional right to abort their babies without government intervention. At this point in America's history, abortion moved from being a personal sin for women into being a national sin for all of us.

Does this really matter?

A few verses before Jesus mentioned the blood of Abel in his discourse with the scribes and Pharisees, He said, "Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' sins to the brim. …" (Matthew 23:32 AMP)

Jesus' words about "filling up the measure of sins to the brim" echoed the words God said to Abraham about the Amorites – "their iniquity is not yet complete." God eventually removed Israel and the Amorites from their positions as nations because of their sin.

If you have any doubt that God judges nations for their collective sin, check out Matthew 25:31-46 where the Lord judges between sheep nations and goat nations. Sheep nations are accepted by Him, but goat nations are sent to an eternal punishment.

My guess is that murdering 60 million innocent babies created in the image of God certainly places America near the top of the goat nations list. So much for our nation being a shining city upon a hill!

OK, what does this have to do with mass shootings?

The Lord said to Cain, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's [innocent] blood is crying out to Me from the ground [for justice]. And now you are cursed...." (Genesis 4:10-11 AMP, emphasis added)

Biblical curses are not trivial putdowns, but are consequences for nations that rebel against God and His ways, as shown in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.

God pours out blessings on nations that follow His ways. Their cities, farmlands, commercial systems, children and families are all blessed by the Lord. God even protects these nations from their enemies, gives them peace and prospers them so they are lenders and not borrowers.

But if nations rebel against God's ways, terrible consequences will fall upon these nations. The Lord said, "I will set My face against you" (Leviticus 26:17) … "and send curses, confusion and frustration on all that you do." (Deuteronomy 28:20)

God's curses against a nation are meant to draw the people back to Him. He hopes they turn around, seek Him and discover what are the root causes of their troubles. Then, He expects the nation to repent of their wicked ways and change.

"And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance. … (Leviticus 26:25)

If ever a sword has been turned loose against America, these mass shootings are exactly that. Twenty-two deaths at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, and a few hours later, 10 deaths at a bar in Dayton, Ohio. So far this year, 248 mass shootings have occurred in America where at least four victims have been shot.

Can we expect the mass shootings to lessen in the future?

Unless Roe v. Wade is overturned, we can expect the mass shootings to increase even more in the future. You see, the consequences for rebelling against God's ways escalate over time when a nation refuses to repent. But not only will the mass shootings increase, we can also expect an even larger assortment of calamities to hit America.

What can we do?

"Even now, declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." (Joel 2:12)

The prophet Joel prophesied to Jerusalem and Judah during a locust plague of unprecedented proportions. Food supplies were destroyed. Thousands of people were facing starvation. Yet, Joel boldly proclaimed his message: fast, weep and mourn over your sins, and God will restore you.

America's only hope is to follow the prophet Joel's advice now.