Another mass shooting. I’ve lost track of the amount of them
since I became a pastor. And I find myself thinking, I don’t feel like I have
anything new to say. I really don’t. Nothing of substance. Nothing of note.
There’s a constant urge to say something new. To get to the front and speak.
But some days, you just need to mourn. Or stare at a tragedy until you find the
capacity to mourn. These are 49 image bearers that no longer live. People who
were made in the image of God, and had their lives snuffed out. We should be
heartbroken by this.
But more than that, we also need to speak clearly on this as
Christians. There is no place for violence against those in the LGBT community.
Some are going to be tempted to say, they got what they deserve. No, they did
not. No one deserves to be gunned down in cold blood. No one. I watched a
pastor say that they deserved it. That kind of thinking has no place in the
church.
Christians must not betray their own convictions on the
subject of homosexuality. But Christians must never go beyond where the text
takes us. There is no place for even considering justifying this. Murder is
evil. This attack is sin. We must call it what it is, an assault on those who
bear the image of God, and an evil to be decried.
The other think we need to do, is to guard against a
temptation to use this to make an argument for our cause, whatever it is. There
is a tendency to move to pet issues when something like this happens. It’s been
evident in the news.
Shots fired. The shooter is Muslim. The problem is Islam.
Shots fired. The problem is guns.
Shots fired, God gave them what they deserved.
Sometimes, God allows us to look in the mirror and ask, “Where
is our heart?” This weekend, different writers and politicians have put their
spin on this and score political or social points. We must not do that.
The real question for us this day is, “Do you weep with
those who weep, and mourn with those who mourn”.
This is a time when we must weep. Whatever our disagreements
with the gay community, this is not the time to have that conversation. Many of
them are scared and stressed. They worry that this will happen in their cities
and neighborhoods. Will we love? Will we weep? Will we offer hugs and comfort? Will
we hold up hope and say, we stand for your protection, safety, and best?
There is no place for violence against the gay community. No
one should be physically assaulted because they are gay or lesbian. Pray for
the peace of Orlando, and pray that in this moment, they receive not our
begrudging nods that this is bad, but real, true heartfelt compassion.
Let me end this, with a prayer. I did not write it. My friend
Brandon did. It appeared originally at his blog.
O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or
cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise. (Habakkuk 1:2-3)
Gracious Father,
As we wrap our minds and hearts around this weekend’s tragedy in
Orlando—the murderous rampage of an Islamic terrorist targeting the LGBT
community—we’re shocked by the magnitude of callous hatred, devastated by the
sweeping loss of life, and reminded yet again that this world is severely and
sickeningly broken.
Moreover, we confess that at times like this we wonder where you
are and why this happened. This is not how your world is supposed to work.
Human life is precious to you—every soul made in your image. Our hearts break
at the thought of cries for help going unanswered amid the attack. We mourn
with the families and friends whose lives have been forever changed through
such wanton violence. And we join their cry, “How long, O Lord?”
How long will violence go unanswered?
How long will fear and hatred rule our culture?
How long until you bring an end rebellion and sin on this earth?
We know that moments like this are not times for explanations,
but first and foremost for grief and mourning. And so raise our voice in lament
over this tragedy.
And yet we know that even when it doesn’t feel like it, you do
hear our prayers. You do see the violence committed on earth. And you have
promised to act. The day will come when you will bring the ungodly to justice
and wipe every tear from our eyes. A day when mourning will cease and death
will be no more. And we have confidence in that day because you have already
acted to establish justice, conquer death, and offer mercy through the life,
death, and resurrection of your eternal Son, Jesus Christ. In Christ there is
hope, and in that hope we pray:
WE PRAY for the victims and their families, those for whom this
is not some distant news story, but a personally crushing blow. We ask that you
hold them in their grief, and comfort them in their loss, anger, and
devastation. Fill them with a comfort that can only come from your Son.
WE PRAY for justice for the perpetrators. Not only for the
gunman, who now awaits your divine judgment, but for the culture of death that
radical jihadist Islam has fueled in this world. Would you open blind eyes to
the evil of this corrupt and corrupting system. For those who are attracted to
the idea of worshiping god through murder and hate, would you convict them of
sin and open their eyes to the truth, forgiveness, and new life of Christ.
WE PRAY for those in the LGBT community, upon whom a shroud of
fear has now descended through this weekend’s tragedy. No person deserves to
live in fear of their life being taken, especially because of something like
sexual orientation. Would you remind each person that they are fearfully and
wonderfully made, precious in your sight, and loved by their Creator. Would you
work in our world to bring about changes that protect and honor the dignity of
all human life, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation,
developmental ability, or age. Would you help those in the LGBT community to
look to you for strength and security, and not to what this world can offer.
Guard their lives and guide their steps to a love and security that nothing in
this world can take away—the love and security of new life in Christ.
WE PRAY that our churches would be places of safety and love for
the LGBT community, and that our Christian witness would be one of hope and not
hatred. May we not let our differences of conviction about sexuality and
marriage allow us to tolerate hatred or withhold dignity and respect. May we
stand united against hatred and terror, and work together for the protection
and preservation of all human life, even as we continue to hold out the
life-changing message of the gospel.
WE PRAY, finally, that our Lord Jesus Christ would come again.
We long for the day when Christ himself will “will wipe away every tear from
their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor
crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).
Come Lord Jesus.
In Christ’s powerful name, Amen.
This prayer was originally found at https://in-the-meantime.com/2016/06/13/a-prayer-for-the-tragedy-in-orlando/.
