Why

There have been many people who are far more qualified who have spoken about what happened at Columbine High School. There have been psychologists and psychiatrists and guidance counselors and talking heads discussing what happened, how it happened, why it happened. Although most major news organizations overlooked it, I first heard about Cassie Bernall on National Public Radio. For those of you who may not have heard this story, let me summarize the story.

A Columbine killer pointed his gun at Cassie Bernall and asked her the life-or-death question: "Do you believe in God?"

She paused. The gun was still there. "Yes, I believe in God," she said.

That was the last thing this 17 year old Christian would ever say.

The gunman asked her "Why?" She had no time to answer before she was shot to death.

It is that single word which has stuck in my mind since the shooting and it is the one voiced by the killer."Why?" There is no doubt in my mind that he never expected an answer. His question was designed to cast doubt on her belief, to try to undermine her faith. But still he asked her, why? Why do you believe in God?

A quick check of my concordance came up with over 400 references to the word Why. 116 of them in the New Testament. 83 times in the Gospels alone. Why is a funny question. It is used by those seeking knowledge and understanding. It is a question which requires more than a simple yes or no answer.

The disciples used Why? In Matthew they asked Jesus:

Why do you speak in parables 13:10
Why must Elijah come first 17:10
Why could we not cast out a demon? 17:19

And Jesus used Why. Again, in Matthew He asked:

Why do you doubt 14:31
Why are you afraid 8:26
Why do you worry about clothing? 6:28
Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye but not the log in your own 7:3

And there was at least one true why from John's Disciples, looking for enlightenment:

Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not 9:14

But some of those whys came from the Pharisees who had no interest in learning, only in finding something incriminating they could use against Jesus:

Why do your disciples not wash their hands before eating 15:2
Why did Moses give us a certificate of Divorce 19:7
Why do we still need witnesses 26:55

Just as the killer at Columbine had no real interest in Cassie's answer, the Pharisees had no real interest in Jesus' answers. But Jesus does. He is very interested in our answers, even though He knows them before we speak.

The questions He asked almost 2,000 years ago, are still valid and require answers. Why do I doubt? Why am I afraid? Why do I worry about where my food and clothing will come from? And, tied up in each of these answers to Jesus is the answer that Cassie wasn't allowed to give. Because answering Jesus' questions answers why we believe in God.

If I can speak of the times when I didn't doubt because I trusted God and my trust was not misplaced, then I can help explain why I believe in God.
If I can speak of the unnatural calm I have felt because I knew Jesus was with me every step of the way, then I can explain why I believe in God.
If I can speak of the blessings God has given me, blessing which could not have come from myself, then I can explain why I believe in God.

Witnessing does not have to have the learned knowledge of a Paul.

Witnessing does not have to have the eloquence of a professional speech.

Witnessing just needs the simple honesty of our walk with Jesus and how it has changed our life.