(Image credit to NY Times)
I have purposefully not commented on the Orlando incident, until I had prayerfully considered how to best convey my thoughts within the framework of a Biblically based context. No doubt in anyone’s mind or heart that this was a tragedy not seen in our country in our lifetime.
What must first be our priority as Christians is to pray for the loved ones who lost a son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, niece or nephew on Sunday morning, June 12th at 2 AM when an individual – whether a terrorist or psychotic individual – chose to kill and wound innocent people.
Our second response must be of compassion and love to all families in this tragic situation, for as God says in Psalms 139:13-16 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them”. (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV)
These human beings killed or injured were fashioned after God’s own image, just like you and I. Though their lifestyle contradicted God completely, and what He had planned and designed for lives, they were still created in His image.
Many will say it is hate because of the alternative lifestyle they were leading; others will say they brought this judgment on themselves for the sinful life they were living. Whatever individuals may think or project on this tragedy and why it happened, one thing remains the same:
22 This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believes [and trusts in Him and acknowledges Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] [a]grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24 (AMP))
We have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. We may not sin the same way as others, but make no mistake – we are all sinners. Let him who has never sinned cast the first stone.
Could this tragedy been averted? No one knows for sure, but I am convinced of this one thing we as Christians – myself included – have become more interested in building our great halls of worship with our latte bars, theater seating and dinner show productions than in going to the streets as the apostles did, with the message of hope and redemption.
Join me in praying for the families of those affected by this tragedy, and that Christians will rise up and become emboldened to share the hope found only in the gospel.
