The recent tragedy in Connecticut is unthinkable. Yet we must think about it. In fact, I believe we owe it to the children and others that perished to think about it. Many questions have been asked in the hours since the shooting, most of them around the issue of gun control.

As a Christian, I believe that the local church is the hope of the world. The Bible says that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). It is not the government, not the school system, not individuals. The government has no mandate to create truth, only defend it. The church and it’s leaders are the ones who shine the light of truth, morals, and righteousness into a culture. Without the church in a community, the truth has no foundation and it will cease to be heard.

That’s why your church is so important.

As a church planter, my heart is heavy. I see this tragedy as the ultimate example of exactly why we need the church: the presence of evil.

Evil will be with us in this world. It is the church’s job to stem that tide of evil and preach forgiveness in the Gospel of Christ. This tragedy seems like a failure of our ability to do that. But Jesus told us that His church will be victorious in the end.

If anything, this tragedy is a reminder to Christians that we carry the gospel light, and the church is the hope for Connecticut.

The church is the hope of the world.