4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left...
Loss can generate a host of emotions - and we can be assured that Christ will meet us in our deepest times of sorrow and grief, providing comfort to our hearts. When we are feeling unloved, we can press in to the love of Christ and experience His healing and restoration. And, when lives have been taken by another, perhaps even in an act of terror, we can rely on the Scripture that tells us that perfect love casts our fear. God's love is present with us and will sustain us in our darkest moments.
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In the aftermath of a tragedy, the hope of Jesus is available. We are called to be conduits of the love
of God. In 1st John 4, we read:
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The response of a nation continued to be expressed about the tragedy at a nightclub in Orlando throughout the day yesterday. The Orlando Sentinel reported that inside Pulse nightclub Sunday morning, "The first shots sounded about 2 a.m. as Mateen exchanged gunfire with an Orlando police officer. Mateen, armed with an assault rifle and a pistol, then ran further inside the club and started shooting into the crowd.
The article went on to say, "Witnesses said Mateen aimed at people, who dropped to the ground. For the next three hours, law enforcement and SWAT members worked to rescue hostages from inside the club." The newspaper website reports that the process of identifying victims continued overnight. It appears that around 50 people were killed and 53 were injured in what has been referred to as the nation's largest mass shooting and the largest terrorist attack since 9/11.
Fox News cited a Reuters report that ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack Sunday afternoon via its Amaq news agency. Amaq said an "Islamic State fighter" carried out the assault. It was not clear, however, if the shooting was actually directed by the terror group or only inspired by it. Fox explored Mateen's ties to radical Islam. Mateen was reportedly enrolled in a online seminary based in Orlando run by a former gang leader and bank robber who was released last year and a bodyguard to the Blind Shiek who carried out the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
1) Even though the news media played up the fact that the tragedy took place in a "gay" nightclub, we exercise sympathy for the victims because of their worth as creations of God, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Michael Brown, writing at The Stream, said:
A Christian colleague of mine posted on Twitter, “Just read reports of the act of terrorism at the night club in #Orlando. I’m so grieved by this. Come Jesus.” Someone responded, “Your work creates a culture that dehumanizes us. That makes it easier for people to kill us. Don’t grieve, repent.”
You can expect comments much more intense than this in the coming days from political leaders, journalists, social media experts and entertainers, as if Christians who renounce violence but who teach that homosexual practice is sinful in God’s sight were complicit in the slaughter of men and women in a gay bar.He later wrote, "Our words must be guided by truth and love."
2) I don't think you will find a Bible-believing Christian who would rejoice that dozens of people, presumably gay people, died in a massacre at a nightclub. Islamic State is taking credit and reveling in the brutal activity.
Brown continued:
Not surprisingly, someone posted on my Facebook page, “I blame YOU and people like you for the tragedy in Orlando. As of now, 50 people are dead, 53 injured, including at least one police officer, due to homophobia. And you, and your ilk spreading your messages of hate daily directly contribute to senseless tragedies like this. … SHAME ON YOU!”
I responded, “You’re attacking the wrong person. I get death threats and death wishes on a regular basis from the LGBT community, but I will continue to preach the love of God.”No, people died because of hatred in a man's heart, hatred that was apparently stoked by radical Islam. His hatred for people stirred him. It is unbiblical for Christians to "hate" anyone, even people who are homosexuals. Our desire should be to see them encounter the radical love of Jesus Christ. Now, that doesn't mean we should be in favor of allowing granting special considerations to people who practice it or other forms of behavior that the Bible calls sinful.
3) This incident highlights a key difference between Christians, who teach that a homosexual can experience freedom in Jesus Christ, and radical Muslims, who believe that homosexuality is punishable by death; Christianity . Christians should want to win those with whom we disagree, in a compassionate way. Terrorists are intent on killing the person with whom they disagree.
This is a critical difference. We serve a God of love, who sent His Son to die and to rise again, so that people might have a relationship with Him. We desire to promote life to all who call upon the name of the Lord, not to promote a culture of death that punishes disagreement.
4) This was an act of terrorism, and it illustrates the mode of operation of radical Islam, which teaches to take life in order to please Allah.
Brown points out that:
At Muhammad Ali’s funeral service, leftist rabbi Michael Lerner said, “We will not tolerate politicians or anyone else putting down Muslims and blaming Muslims for the actions of a few people.”
A few people, as in perhaps 200-300 million Muslims worldwide who are sympathetic to radical Islam? A few people, as in the few responsible for the 28,576 deadly Islamic terror attacks since 9/11, including 60 in the first 7 days of Ramadan, resulting in 472 deaths?But, he point out that our response should be measured, because "there are plenty of peace-loving Muslims in America who are not only appalled at this violence but who now fear for their own lives."
5) But, Muslims are also created by God, and we should regard even radical terrorists as those who need to come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Jesus died for all - regardless of race, cultural background, religion, or even sexual orientation. He wants people to experience Him and follow Him, so that they might live in freedom, peace, and love.
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