Gary Varvel: What's creating school shooters and how to stop them

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THE BATTLE FOR THE MIND

“I am tired of being trans, I wish I never brainwashed myself.” This was written in a manifesto posted online before Minneapolis school shooter Robert Westman, 23, killed two children and injured 17 others as they prayed in a church auditorium.

FBI Director Kash Patel said this was an act of domestic terrorism motivated by a hate-filled ideology.

News flash: This was not just ideological — it was spiritual. It was inspired by hate-filled deception and fueled by demonic forces.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

We are in a spiritual war with an enemy we cannot see.

1 Peter 5:8 says: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

The reason Peter tells us to “be alert and of sober mind” is because your mind is the front line in this war.

After watching some of Westman’s videos on X and reading his deranged writings, it is clear that he had surrendered his mind to spiritual darkness.

In one profanity-laced post he wrote: “Save your prayers, I am not God. I’m a demon, Illuminati, my sin. I lost them all, demons take me.”

Westman had succumbed to the “doctrines of demons” described in 1 Timothy 4:1–2:

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.”

Below is a post on X from Westman’s journal that translated the Cyrillic language.

Westman’s drawing of him looking in a mirror and seeing a demonic figure.

The anti-gun crowd always blames the gun. They don’t understand the power of spiritual wickedness in high places.

In 2018, Nikolas Cruz was arrested for allegedly killing 17 students and injuring dozens more at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. At the time of his arrest Cruz told authorities that "demons" gave him instructions on how to commit one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.

Why do demons fill people’s minds with murderous thoughts? Because the devil and his demons cannot hurt God directly, so they attack those God loves most — people.

Romans 12:1–2 gives us the answer:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Westman conformed to the godless pattern of this world. And his parents affirmed the deception. Instead of teaching, training, and discipling their son to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Westman’s mother filed a petition with the court to change his name to Robin — his transgender name.

But that only pushed him deeper into despair. He even admitted that he had brainwashed himself.

Instead of focusing on his own gender-dysphoric feelings, he should have filled his mind with the living Word of God. The Spirit of God could have transformed and renewed his mind.

But he lost hope — and became a slave to the devil.

Parents, is this what you want for your child? If not, then stop affirming your children’s sin. Teach them the truth.

John 8:31–32 says: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

The cover of the New York Post called the trans shooter what he was — demonic.

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SPEAKING EVENTS

• Contact gary@garyvarvel.com to inquire about speaking rates and availability.

RIGHT VIEWS

The Federalist - Elle Purnell: Those scoffing at Christians’ prayer after Wednesday’s tragedy repeat the folly of the crowds who dared the crucified Christ to save Himself.

Townhall - Matt Vespa: Minneapolis mayor doubles down on this horrific talking point about the annunciation school shooting.

The Federalist - Jordan Boyd: Curbing the rise of shootings committed by gender-bending people starts with treating transgenderism as a serious mental health issue.

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