By Chief Religious Editor, Rob Gocklin
Tragedy in Minnesota: What Happened?
I’m sure by now you’ve heard the sad news that a man killed a Minnesota state legislator and her husband, shooting them dead in cold blood. He then attempted to kill two more legislators in Minnesota, shooting one eight times and the other nine times. Miraculously, they survived.
We now know the shooter’s name: Vance Botler. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was an ordained evangelical minister who studied at Christ for the Nations Bible School in Dallas, Texas. He also held a couple of graduate degrees in secular studies. His profile also mentioned he preached in the DR Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo). An old friend, Reverend Daniel Thus, a pastor from Arkansas, was shocked. “This isn’t the same man I knew 15 years ago. The man I knew was a devout Christian who loved his family, was very kind and gentle.”
Spiritual Reflection: What Went Wrong?
We may never know what was going through this man’s mind, but Scripture gives us spiritual warnings about how someone can fall so far. As Paul wrote, “We battle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual principalities.”
When I was an evangelical, most pastors I knew were godly men who truly loved the Lord and their families. They would never have done something like this. Something changed in this man. Perhaps he was once a godly man, as his friend suggested, but what makes a godly man turn evil?
Galatians 5:4 – Falling from Grace
“You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”
The Council of Trent reminds us that we can do nothing apart from God’s grace. If we think we can justify ourselves through the law or natural ability, we are lost. Sometimes our Christian walk begins with good motives, but pride can enter, and we begin to think our external holiness makes us better. We become rigid, legalistic, like the Pharisees Jesus called “whitewashed tombs.”
The Danger of Outward Holiness
I recently heard Trent Horn reference Father Ripenger, who said that traditional Catholics often report higher struggles with sins like pornography. Why? Because those who are deeply ashamed of their sin often overcompensate by becoming outwardly holier—“elite Catholics.” But like the Pharisees, they look holy outside and are rotting inside.
Christians of all denominations can forget they are dependent on grace. If we could earn salvation on our own, Christ died in vain. But He didn’t. The danger is when believers continue to reject the Spirit. Hebrews 6:4-6 warns:
“For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened… if they commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.”
This is apostasy—turning your back on Christ after knowing Him. I don’t know if this man reached that point. He may have had mental illness. But the warning remains for all of us.
The Deception of the Heart
Jeremiah says, “I don’t trust my heart because it deceives even myself.” We may think we’re good, but we could become prideful, legalistic Pharisees. And the law leads to death—spiritual, and sometimes physical. So how do we avoid this?
Returning to Catholic Tradition
I thank God I returned to the Catholic Church. Its deep, rich tradition keeps us grounded. Practicing Catholics have many tools to fight the evil within and without. One of the greatest tools we have is prayer—especially the Our Father, prayed every day at Mass.
Matthew 6:9–15 – The Our Father
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”
There is nothing that stirs up evil in the heart more than unforgiveness. Jesus gave us the power to release that. If we forgive, we’ll be forgiven. If we hold on to unforgiveness, evil grows.
Prayer as Spiritual Warfare
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Tomorrow on Blue Collar and a Scholar, I’ll interview Father Dr. Joseph Iannucci—a Vatican theologian and exorcist. He says this prayer is a deliverance prayer. If someone is oppressed by demons, this prayer can deliver them.
When I was evangelical, I thought this prayer was “vain repetition.” But Jesus wasn’t saying don’t pray it—He was saying don’t babble like pagans. The command to pray the Our Father comes just two verses after that warning.
Forgiveness and Grace
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you forgive not… neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Catholics pray this prayer often. But we must pray it with sincerity. Think about the words. Mean them. Because apart from God’s grace, we are all capable of great evil.
Conclusion: A Call to Prayer and Mercy
Pray for this man. Pray especially for the victims’ families, for those still in the hospital. Evil exists. But through the grace of God, we can be delivered.
God bless. And always cling to grace.
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