Unfortunately, we live in a time where there is evil in the
world. Too many times, we turn on the news and hear of another tragedy that
happened. When they are in other parts of the world, we get numb to them. We
pass off violence in Africa because they are not as far along as a society as
we are. We ignore violence in the Middle East because they have a long history
of killing each other. Too often, though, the news has not been coming from
overseas. It is coming from our own backyards. Does that make the violence
worse? No, but sad to say we pay attention to it more. We feel our way of life
is being attacked.
In the wake of the horrible attacks like Sandy Hook or
Orlando or of the many others we hear about, we as Americans feel we need to do
something. We line up on our different sides: “BAN ALL GUNS” vs. “EVERYONE
SHOULD BE PACKING” (Please note that both of these sides were represented with
hyperbole on purpose. I have not heard anyone say either one of these
statements). If we have more guns on the street, we will have more accidents
and more incidents of people being shot over misunderstandings. If we have fewer
guns on the street, we will have more opportunity for crime and larger shooting
sprees by criminals with guns. We had crime and murder before guns were
invented.
If we look at both sides, they are both trying to reduce the
number of incidents and the number of victims. Neither one is getting to the
root of the problem. The real problem is that we have people who get to the
place where they feel hate and killing people is the only way to deal with it.
Jesus tells us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Matthew 5:44. As one of my relatives put on Facebook from the band “Gungor” “We
don’t have to agree on a single thing in order to be kind to one another.”
“But Brad, they were in a gay bar so they got what they
deserved.” Wrong attitude. First of all, we ALL deserve much worse because of
our sin against God. They are no more a group of sinners than those that fill
our churches on Sunday mornings. If God gave us what we deserved, there would
be no one left on earth. Second, they were made in God’s image just like the
rest of us. And taking someone’s life is a grievous sin in the Bible because
you are marring the image of God. Thus, 50 people were killed and 50+ were
injured for no good reason. We should be sad at the situation and we need to
mourn and pray for the victims and families. Pray that God will make himself
real to those left behind as well as comfort and healing during this time.
“Brad, does it matter that the shooter had ties to ISIS?”
Unless we can tie him to a broader conspiracy to have multiple attacks like
this, it appears he acted alone. Even if he was trained by ISIS, which no one
has said anything like that, the fact that he is Muslim is a side note only. He
does not represent all of the Islamic faith just like Westborough Baptist does
not represent all Christians. Just because someone shoots at or blows up an
abortion clinic does not mean they are acting in the will of the God of the
Bible.
On the other hand, like it or not, the facts are that ISIL,
ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Taliban (to name a few of the Radical Islamic
Terrorist groups) are more active in terrorist attacks in the last few years
than at any time in history. Does that mean all Muslims are terrorists? Not at
all. Most are not. But to say that these groups are not Islamic is to not be
realistic about their origins. Just like Christians can have their own favorite
area of the Bible and try to down play or ignore the parts they do not like,
Muslims do the same thing.
Bottom line is this: this incident should not bring us to
ban all guns or to give everyone a gun. It should not be thought of a punishment
for the gay lifestyle. It should not cause us to look at our Muslim neighbor any
differently. It should cause us to mourn, grieve, and pray for those that lost
their lives. It should make us rethink our lives to make sure we are following
Jesus as our Lord and Savior. And finally, it should make us increase our
efforts of sharing the Gospel with those who do not know you. Because we never
know where evil will strike again. It might even be in your own town. As Queen
Esther was told, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for
such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 She was able to save her countrymen.
Who are
you supposed to point to Jesus?
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