The White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting: A Sobering Reminder That We Live In ‘Perilous Times’
There has now been a third assassination attempt on President Trump. On April 25, in Washington D.C. at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California came in armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives. He charged through a security checkpoint and opened fire. One Secret Service officer was struck by gunfire, but his ballistic vest protected him. He has since been released from the hospital.
The suspect left behind a written manifesto clearly stating his intention to target the President and members of his administration. He also carried significant anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on his social media accounts. President Trump confirmed it himself on Fox News: “When you read his manifesto, he hates Christians.”
Also among those in attendance were First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Franklin Graham, Erika Kirk, and most of the Cabinet. It was only months ago that Charlie Kirk was assassinated.
What the Bible Says About the Times We’re In
Acts of extreme violence and threats have become far too common, and it’s deeply concerning for our nation. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting serves as a sobering reminder of the tense and uncertain times we are living in.
What is going on in America? The Bible has an answer.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words nearly 2,000 years ago, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come” (2 Timothy 3:1).
That word “perilous” comes from the Greek word “chalepos,” used only twice in the New Testament. Once here, and once in Matthew 8:28 to describe demon-possessed men so fierce and violent that no one could pass that way.
“Chalepos” describes times that are fierce, savage, violent, and dangerous. Times that are hard to navigate and impossible to control in our own strength.
These are unsettling days. But Scripture reminds us that this shouldn’t be surprising; we’re going to see these sort of things in the days in which we’re living.
But what are we left to do?
What the Church Must Do Now
Should we just freak out?
No, this is not the time to panic. This is the time to pray.
In fact, the Church has two secret weapons we must never lose sight of. One is prayer, and the other is the proclamation of the gospel. This should not cause us to shrink back, but to step forward with more boldness than ever.
So let’s pray for our president, the members of his cabinet, and our elected leaders. Also pray for our pastors and churches. We’re all under attack right now.
We’re having so much civil unrest right now in the United States. I can’t remember a time we’ve been more divided. America needs healing. God says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “[I]f My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (NKJV).
