Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims of the recent shootings at the Washington Navy Yard. Many people are asking important questions in the aftermath of that horrible crime. Perhaps the most important question is, “Why?” Leigh Jones wrote in World Magazine, “Unnamed sources told the Associated Press that Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old former Navy reservist, had been diagnosed with several serious mental issues, including paranoia and a sleep disorder…He sought treatment at a Veterans Affairs clinic for hearing voices in his head…Several acquaintances who spoke to the media said Alexis often complained about discrimination, and one person said he was mad at the government over a dispute about benefits.”

Without discounting these other factors, let me suggest a deeper, root cause for the actions of Mr. Alexis: sin. By committing these evil acts, the Washington Navy Yard shooter gave vent to the evil that was bound up in his sinful, murderous heart. Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person" (Mark 7:21-23).

Soon after the shooting, people in the news media began speculating about whether or not the shooter acted alone. It turns out that he did act alone, and yet, according to the Bible, he’s not alone. He’s one member of the human race whose rebellion against God is often marked by murder: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:10-18).

In case you think that somehow this excludes you, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:21-22). In other words, even though we may not have actually murdered anyone ourselves, we are all guilty of murder in our hearts.

So, as we mourn with and pray for the families and friends whose loved ones were ruthlessly murdered at the Washington Navy Yard, let’s remember that the human race is a fallen, sinful race desperately in need of a Savior. And God has provided that Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to save His people from their sins, even the sin of murder. “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).