Many people, including members of the media are looking to find someone to blame. Whether it's the likes of Marilyn Manson, movies about violence, too much time spent on the internet or the kids themselves giving in to this type of evil, we can't ignore the fact that we have come to this in society. In an era where no one wants to take responsibility for his or her own actions, and where God has been kicked out of public life, should it surprise anyone when something like this happens? How many more schools will be war zones? How much more death can we face before we realize that we have neglected God from everything.
I have also spent some time with some of my gothic Christian friends, and even they have taken a beating because of how they look and the way they dress. Many are linked up with Marilyn Manson (whom many goths, Christians especially, despise because of his shock value and manic frenzy for people to join the realms of evil), while others get stares from people around town. The media itself has done a good job in portraying goths as people fascinated with the darker side and preoccupied with death. On the other hand, Pastor Dave of the Sanctuary church in San Diego had this to say about the gothic culture, a view that I feel is more accurate:
"First, people need to find out what a real goth is really like. [I'm waiting for the toxicology reports and more interviews to reveal their favorite music before I make any final assessment of who these kids were, but I don't believe these guys were real goths. I believe they were bright, computer geek wanna-be's; they didn't have the personality to be a true goth.] Goths are usually intellectual, artistic, and articulate. They are into art, poetry, and music. They are passive, introspective, and can be dramatically emotional. They can also be too self-absorbed, brood to a fault, and they internalize everything (even things that have nothing to do with them!) As a group and as a rule, goths take their stress and pain out on themselves, not on others - cutters, piercers, slicers - suicide addicts - they will beat themselves up in their guilt and their sorrow to prove how real their pain is. They are some of the most creative, interesting, wonderful gifted people I have ever met, and some of the most troubled. I know these generalizations don't fit everyone exactly, but as a group, these characterizations mostly hold true in my experience. And I know these are entirely flattering portraits, but it is an honest assessment, and these are not killers."Second, I think that we need to do some things as a Christian gothic community. We need to dispel the rumors about goths with the truth. Be honest about who you really are. For those of us who believe it is effective and important, we need to pray for all the kids and their families, those who lived and those who died. We need to pray for what remains of the "Trenchcoat Mafia". We need to pray for goths in high schools across the country that they will be able to endure any backlash that may occur in the next few weeks. We need to pray that there will be no backlash, no witch hunt.
"Now more than ever, we need to find courage and give courage to one another. We need to be prepared to expect and face more derision. We need to apply the principle of turning the other cheek, in a very real way. We need to be prepared to leave vengeance in the hands of God. We need to be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks us - an answer about who we are as goths and why, and about who we are in Christ (for those of you who are IN Christ). We need to practise the character of Christ in all our dealings, in faith, not fear."
With all that said, I think it's time we as Christians, goths or not, to pray for those who have lost someone in this tragedy, but above all, remember that this is also a spiritual fight. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Not only do we need to get God back into our public lives again, we also need to fight our dark enemy, Satan. Satan can only work when we refuse to let God have our lives, but when the Lord is supreme in everything, Satan cannot have a hold, and I'm awfully glad for that!
