Tragedy in Columbia, Illinois

Understanding the tragic event at Columbia, Illinois

Murder…with a capital M. On the morning of May 5, the bodies of Sheri, Gavin and Garett Coleman were found in their home after being strangled in separate bedrooms. Lurid news headlines covered the country and horror struck in every household on their block. According to prominent news reports, the investigators had a suspect in mind, but took no action until final forensic reports were collected. Then, the husband and father, Chris, was indicted and arrested on the charge of first degree murder and jailed without bond. The latest online news today, May 22, indicates they found a red spray paint message on one wall, "I told you so." …whatever that might mean.

If true, the guilt of Chris Coleman in this tragedy will probably be ascertained at trial with all evidence and information pertaining thereunto. But my friend Millie’s question, "How could he do this, how could he murder his own sons?" is much harder to answer. We may not soon find any answers to the question, Why? Perhaps the trial evidence will point both to motivation and events preceding the murders. We cannot answer "why" just yet, but the "How" is a different kind of question. From a human perspective, it is simply unthinkable that a father would, or could murder his 9-year and 11-year old sons. From a biblical perspective, another light is shown on both the nature and character of every man.

The bible says with infinite clarity that there are only two kinds of people on planet earth – those "in Christ" and those "not in Christ". The difference between the new man (nature) and the old man (nature) is the difference between heaven and hell, the difference between sins forgiven and eternal judgement. From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, these are contrasted and examined in every detail. With respect to the old man, it says that,

"There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is
none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless
There is none who does good, There is not even one." "Their throat is
an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,"
"The poison of asps is under their lips"; "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness"; "Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

In contrast to this, consider the fruit of the Spirit available to every new man:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the
flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against
the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do
the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under
the Law. … But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Keep your eye on that last fruit, self-control, and also listen to the scripture describe the flesh and the old man immediately preceding:

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity,
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger,
disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things
like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that
those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Note especially the description includes jealousy and outbursts of anger. National and local history is replete with accounts of anger and/or fear resulting in horrific crimes, insensible relationships, and events we strive to understand from divorce to beating children to murders, robberies and immoralities of every kind. They are without self-control, which is the fruit of the Spirit of God. The natural man can do no other!

He is not a victim, but the self-chosen host of rage, revenge, and bitterness overflowing into the lack of self-control. Of course, not all natural men do these things to the same degree, but the fleshly lusts are evident within them. Let us praise and give glory to God that the Restrainer is active and busy on our behalf.

One of my newspapers today quotes a judge in Madison County (in sentencing a man for child beating) who quoted the scriptures: "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble."

Is the Lord God able to judge and bring to justice? Depend on it. We do not know the why, but the bible does give us the "How":

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones."