A Christian killer
It’s easy to dismiss Dylann Roof as godless, but he isn’t. At least he doesn’t think he is godless. Mr. Roof is a baptized Lutheran and regularly attended services.
Furthermore, the hate group Mr. Roof cites in his manifesto, the Council of Conservative Citizens, is a Christian organization, whose web site includes the following: “God is the author of racism. God is the One who divided mankind into different types...Mixing the races is rebelliousness against God.”
The point is that this problem does not easily resolve itself into a simple either/or, with Christians on one side and the godless on the other.
It’s easy to call oneself a Christian. Many Christians — certainly not all — believe all they have to do is have faith to be saved; it is not necessary to live according to Christ’s teachings —except, of course, when they find their reading of the Bible supports their prejudices.
For example, they seem to believe their right not to serve gays in business is more important than being charitable and loving toward all.
Talking the Christian talk is easy. On the other hand, walking the Christian walk the way the Rev. Clementa Pinckney walked it is very difficult.
Chip Ashley, Tollhouse
This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 3:00 AM with the headline "A Christian killer."