Here at ConversantLife.com, the goal is to encourage conversations about faith and life by meeting people where they are with engaging content from trustworthy communicators. The content can spring from the heart and mind of one of our ConversantLife.com bloggers, who post content in various topics. Or the content can come from the news, where everyday there are issues that impact faith and life, even if the events occur thousands of miles away.

A striking example of the second type of content are the tragic shootings that occurred in Colorado two weeks before Christmas. The headlines that surrounded this horror story hit everyone right between the eyes. At first it seemed like a random act of violence perpetrated by a troubled young man. Then, as the details of the case evolved, it became clear that that the shooter was targeting Christians and Christian centers, including the YWAM missionary center in Arvada where he had once attended.

In the wake of this information, you would expect that people would have serious questions about why this happened. A person with no particular faith in God might ask, "Why would a loving God allow such evil to happen?" A person of faith migh ask, "Why would God allow this to happen to Christians, especially those who are in training to serve him full time?"

Youth pastor Brent Parsley expected to hear such questions from his youth group. After all, he works at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, where Murray killed two sisters in the parking lot. But he didn't get those questions, at least not from the teenagers who gathered together days after the attack. Instead, according to reports, the kids said the attack "had left them with a sense of pride--and a quiet joy." One 16-year-old said, "This is building our faith. We must be doing something right in this church if Satan doesn't like it."

In fact, Satan pretty much got the blame for the attacks. "God didn't do this," said another teen. "That was Satan attacking." Even at the memorial service held for the victims in Denver days after the shootings, Murray's brother said the killings were the devil's work. "Even though Satan attacked my brother, I truly feel God is going to save a whole generation of people through this," he said.

Where does this concept come from? Is it true? Is it biblical? Did the teens at New Life come up with this idea on their own, or did the leadership teach the principle that Satan is the one actually doing such evil? We do know this about New Life. The former pastor, Ted Haggard (yes, the same Ted Haggard who stepped down last year after his relationship with a male prostitute came to light), taught that spiritual warfare is all around us. He spoke of the "devil's power," even revealing at one point that he had visions of demons "hovering over babies, waiting to corrupt them."

Evidently Rev. Haggard's beliefs on this and other issues continue to influence the church, in particular the kids. "The question, 'Why did God let this happen?' is a stupid one," said a 15-year-old. "One of the cool things about New Life is, we're not quick to question God's authority."

There are so many issues contained in this one tragic incident, that it cries out for conversation from thoughtful, informed people. In this one case are questions about God and evil, spiritual warfare, God's sovereignty, God's will, and human responsibility. What an amazing opportunity to get these issues on the table and talk about them in mutually beneficial ways.

Let's converse!