We live in a fallen world.
A few days ago, 10 people were killed on a college campus in Oregon simply for being Christian. Reports state that the shooter said, "if you're a Christian, stand up" and then proceeded to shoot those who did.
The Christian students in that room were faced with a choice; they could stay down and not say anything, or they could stand up and face whatever came after.
"But Peter said to Him, 'Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.' Jesus said to him, 'Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' Peter said to Him, 'Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.' All the disciples said the same thing too." Matthew 26:33-35/
Peter was Jesus' best friend and disciple, and Peter denied Jesus three times.
The people in Oregon that died for their faith didn't waver and they didn't lie to protect their lives, they died for the man who died for them, and now they are with their Father in their forever home. They are heroes, they are inspirational, and they deserve to be talked about, not the shooter. Our media has the tendency to give way too much attention to criminals rather than people who are worthy of attention. These students, as well as the survivors, are worthy.
I pray that situations like this don't go unheard or unseen. I pray they glorify the students martyred for Christianity and not the shooter. I pray our nation uses this to highlight the importance of religious tolerance rather than an opportunity to talk about gun control. I pray people hear of this event and are sober in the fact that Jesus saves, and that this was not in His plan, but in the devil's. I hope this country never sees anything like this again. I pray people would no longer be killed for their religion or their race ever again, in America, in Syria, anywhere.
I hope that you will join me in praying for the families of those lost in this shooting as well as the family of the shooter; its time that we all stand up and be courageous in His name.
