Double mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton have broken the hearts of Americans. We are glad when our country is listed among the best in the world for so many characteristics, but shooting our own people is a distinction we do not want.
In the flood of explanations and proposed solutions there is the realization that no single solution is enough to stop the slaughter. As Christians we read the words from Romans 8 in the New Testament about “the sufferings of this present time” and that “we do not know what to pray for as we ought.”
When we can’t find the words to pray we are told that “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” When the Spirit of God has groanings too deep for words, so do we. It is time for American Christians to pray for God’s intervention — teach us what to pray, show us what to do, give us solutions, stop the killing of innocent people.
Leith Anderson is president emeritus of the National Association of Evangelicals and pastor emeritus of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He served as NAE president from 2007–2019, after twice serving as interim president. He served as senior pastor of Wooddale Church for 35 years before retiring in 2011. He has been published in many periodicals and has written over 20 books. Anderson has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, and is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Bradley University and Denver Seminary.
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