One shocking news from last week was of a junior in high school name Chris Plaskon who stabbed a fellow student name Maren Sanchez. It happened on Friday morning in a hallway at Jonathan Law High School in the state of Connecticut. Apparently Plaskon had a crush on the girl and he stabbed her since she did not want to go to prom with him.
I do not want to focus my post on this story as much as a piece over at the New York Times about this unfortunate event. The article can be accessed by clicking HERE. Its title is quite indicative of what I’m trying to critique: “Suspect in Stabbing at Connecticut School Is Described as Popular.”
From a Christian worldview one can’t help it at times to see the folly of what the media spew out which reflect their inability to grasp a deeper understanding of what is going on or what’s really the issue (see for instance my post “Miley Cyrus, Twerking and Yahoo’s Adventure in Missing the Point“). Theology does matter: A wrong view of morality and ethics (depending on whether it’s source is from God or not) along with a wrong view of man (is he basically good or sinful) will shape how interpret the new story at hand. I think this NY Times piece is a good case in point.
With pun intended, the writers and editors for this news article aren’t very sharp.
Let us begin with the title: “Suspect in Stabbing at Connecticut School Is Described as Popular.” So a guy stabs a girl to death for not going to prom and the headlines for national news is that this guy is popular? I’m surprise the two journalists in the article didn’t gives us the friends count of Plaskon’s Facebook account or the stats of how many people followed him on twitter. I think it is unfortunate that the title for the article concentrated on something superficial. As the maxim goes, one ought not to major on the minors and minor on the majors.
In the writers’ defense, I acknowledge that sometimes its the editors who can manipulate a news article’s title in order to get attention for people to read the news piece. It’s unfortunate today that people in the media who aren’t witty compensate by being sleazy. We may fault the editors, but is it justified that I fault the writers? To answer that, we must look at the content of the article itself.
The article reported an ignorant coach saying the following:
But a day after authorities say Mr. Plaskon, 16 and a junior, fatally stabbed a classmate in a school hallway, teachers and students were struggling to make sense of the incomprehensible: how a student whom many described as funny and popular could suddenly be accused of killing Maren Sanchez, 16, a well-liked honor student and his longtime friend.
“They’re looking for the kid in the black cape and the fangs and the black fingernails, but there was no sign,” said Mark Robinson, 38, who was Mr. Plaskon’s football coach before retiring last season. “He wasn’t a kid who was in the shadows. He was a well-liked kid. He was funnier than hell. That’s what makes it really strange.”
Note how this coach was quoted as saying they expected the suspect to fit a certain mold: it must be someone who enjoy wearing black apparel. “In the Shadows.” Not liked. Of all the people interviewed and all the things people say, one have to wonder why these two writers have to put into the news article an unhelpful stereotype? Now don’t get me wrong I’m not “emo,” but just because someone’s gothic or anti-social or an awkward weirdo don’t mean they are the suspect you know. Seriously how low (superficial) can the mainstream media go? Black fingernails doesn’t determine guilt.
Lastly I want to note what this coach Mark Robinson said in the end of his quote: “He wasn’t a kid who was in the shadows. He was a well-liked kid. He was funnier than hell. That’s what makes it really strange.” This is a good example of how Christian theology is relevant. Note that Robinson assumes that because a kid is not in the shadows, he’s not going to be one who commit such an atrocious sin. He says the same thing for the “well-liked kid.” And the kid who is funnier than Hades. What makes it strange for Robinson is that Plaskon were all these things and yet he turned out to be the suspect. But should a Christian be surprised that a well-liked funny kid is able to commit such heinous acts?
A Christian wouldn’t be totally caught surprised if he or she believes in the sinfulness of man as it is taught in the Bible.
This sinfulness of man began at birth. Note the words of the Psalmist David: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5)
Biblically, the sinfulness of man is universal in scope. That is, the state of man’s sinfulness is is true of everyone as Romans 3:23 states: “for all [a]have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Psalms 14:2-3 also testify:
The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who [a]understand,
Who seek after God.
3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.
The Bible also teaches that man’s sinfulness ultimately is not the result of his environment or outward appearances but the inward self, what the Bible calls the heart. Note Jesus’ words: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, [a]fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” (Matthew 15:19). Jeremiah even cried: ““The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” ( Jeremiah 17:9) Apparently Jeremiah tells us that our sinfulness in our hearts tells us constant lies. Fortunately God understands this and tells us in His Word.
The above is bad news to an already bad news.
But the Good News is that God has a plan to save us from our sinfulness and the eternal consequences of our sins. To play on what the coach Robinson joked about earlier, you can’t “be funnier than hell” as a well of escape. Instead our guilt before God is dealt with through the person and work of Jesus Christ: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This is indeed a free gift to those who trust in Him as their Lord and Savior. It is not something earned but given by God as Ephesians 2:8-9 testify:
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [a]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The Bible helps lay the foundation for us to properly assess the human condition and therefore what’s important and what’s trivial when it comes to current events. But ultimately it is for us to properly assess ourselves and therefore come to understand and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
I hear the distinct sound of a hammer hitting a 10 penny nail, my friend!
Hopefully it was right on target =)
Reblogged this on The Battle Cry and commented:
Excellent read that gets to the bottom line of a lot of the tragedy in this world.
Thanks for re-blogging this by the way
Very good point Bro Jim. I much better headline would have been Tragedy in High School stabbing another proof of mankind’s depravity and the powers of darkness at work. But who would want to read that? Lord bless.
Appreciate you reading this. Of course “Tragedy in High School stabbing another proof of mankind’s depravity” is more accurate but not appealing to the World to hear today. The World rather be in darkness than be exposed by the Light.
In the realm of social circles, we consider “popularity” a virtue and in church circles I have heard from the pulpit that it is a favor bestowed upon man by God to be “loved by the world.” And yet, as I read my Bible, the examples of being loved by God, our Father Who Art in Heaven, and the love by the world are two opposing spirits.
Why is it, when a popular individual commits a crime/ sin, it is far less serious than and individual who is not labeled as popular. Is it because the world equates popularity with love, adornment, and glorification?
And the church world is equally as proud when their child becomes the latest homecoming queen or king, and yet their twitters, tweets, and facebook accounts speak of such hideous speech that is rooted in the heart. One cannot imagine how in the world these individuals can become popular amongst their peers.
But then again, yes, we know how they become popular. The veneers are translucently thin.
I am humbly reminded of the Words of our LORD, “Do not love the world, or anything in the world…..” When we truly love the LORD, the things of this world, including popularity, grow strangely dim.
And that my friends, does not make you popular.
Please join me in praying for our young people today, as it seems to me that their lives are burdened with so many false messages and false hopes and unfortunately, we as parents, have not made a lasting impact on these children….for they are being fed the things of this world (tons of junk are given to this younger generation in which most young people have lost the heart of gratitude and thankfulness- it is rare to hear a thank-you or receive a hand written thank-you note from churched and non-churched children as they believe they are “entitled” to such things, perhaps our generation has not grown up spiritually as we too desire the love of the world as we work hard to garner the approval of the younger generation so we fail to discipline and disciple for fear of being cast out the social circles who define how valuable or invaluable we are to society (anotherwords, we have the immature teaching/modeling the next generation of entitlementors, and in the church system created by man, for man, if an individual is popular with the pastor in church/or the leadership in charge, (and we see those certain individuals/families swoon and salivate/prey upon the pastors). this favor gives those people licensure to use and abuse those they consider “less” within the realms of religion and they love it so.
I am reminded by our LORD, that before my surgery, I lay upon that table under that blinding bright light….. almost naked (just a simple hospital sheath upon me, with no personal possessions there with me, no family nor friends in that room to hold my hand and offer comfort………just a cold room with strangers surrounding me……
And yet, Jesus was and is still there for we can take none of this world (things/popularity/our self willed titles, etc.) with us when we enter into the presence of our glorious Savior. He is the HOPE within His children.
Ann,
I say a hearty Amen to all that you said. The thought of being before the Lord should sober us that what counts is not popularity but faithfulness to the Lord. Thank you for your warm and encouraging comment.
Excellent Ann
Please forgive me, I failed to mention that I appreciate the message of your articles in pointing out man’s failure to acknowledge the truth. Thank-You.
You’re welcome Ann. I’m glad you found this blog, read this and commented!
Yes, SlimJim, the root is radical corruption. So much of it is smothered in verbal drivel. The reason why God loved the world (John 3:16) – not Mars – is because there were some people in it that out of his mercy he decided to save.
Amen
Reblogged this on OneDaringJew and commented:
Worlviews matter.
Just had to reblog this on mine.
I do appreciate you re-blogging this