Doing the Best They Can with What They Got

Just as they had a hard time explaining how it could occur, Virginia Tech body is having a hard time getting through the after shocks of grief. But that's to be expected when you won't acknowledge God or His Word.

Today VT held a service to try to bring some sort of closure to the shooting that happened on the campus. The mysterious "moment of silence" was observed and a bell chimed for each person who died in the incident. A white, helium balloon was also let go for each person. Afterwards a barrage of balloons with VT's colors lifted off into the sky.

I need to ask, "What do balloons and bells have to do with grief?"

I've always been wary of the "moment of silence." It is the product of an atheistic and pluralistic society. It's evolution can be summed up like this: "We can't pray or mention Jesus, but we need to do something religious. I know, let's just be silent and not let anything fill our minds for a moment." That does a lot of good for the healing process, doesn't it? I'm sure that Satan loves that. He much rather have us dwell on nothing than something.

Candle lighting has also been used in times of trauma. It finds some of its roots in the Catholic tradition. I wouldn't doubt that there are some pagan roots as well. Christians have always acknowledge that Christ is the light of the world. But in our society, a lit candle is the expression of the optimistic agnostic: "There's hope out there somewhere." And besides, who doesn't like the way candles glow on a dark night.

When 911 came along we moved a step forward in our fanciful inventions, we added bell ringing. I'm sure it sounded like a good idea at the time (pardon the pun), but I'm not sure what purpose it served. I suppose that this was to replicate, in some way, the firing of riffles in a military funeral. But the riffles honor a fallen hero for his courage and service. Bells are rung, I assume, just to honor the dead for their dying.

And today we take yet another step: We fly balloons. I have no clue what reasoning may lay behind it. But I do know that it results from not wanting to let the truths of the gospel comfort souls in a time of distress. I'm sure that the VT administration's argument went something like this: Let them have balloons, not Christ.

I admit that I like watching balloons float into the sky and out of sight. And it may even be fun to watch--even in a moment of grief. But it will do nothing to alleviate the pain and trauma one may possess as a result of such an event. Once the balloon is gone, reality comes floating back.

It never ceases to amaze me what mysterious religious practices people will invent. The Reformers were right when they talked about how our imaginations will soar (like a white balloon!) when we are not rooted in the Bible. Take away the Bible and add some high emotions and you will have a catalyst for the most interesting religious innovations.

In sum, VT simply reflects our wider Christless culture. No one can answer the ultimate questions and no one can offer hope. So what do they do when they come face to face with them? They do the best they can with what they have: They look to empty expressions of sentimentality to give a little reprieve and then they move on with their meaningless lives.