On Sunday, June 12, the deadliest mass shooting in United States history occurred. Forty-nine people were killed, 53 were injured and, just like that, lives were changed forever. This is such a tragic time for our country so when I read an article that displayed comments and statuses of people applauding the shooter for shooting gay people instead of “innocent people” and stating, “homosexuality is condemned by God so that’s why he let it happen ppl” I was sick. The worst part, these people probably call themselves Christians.
These naïve so-called “Christians” truly believe that this shooting was a good thing just because the victims were gay. Then we wonder why Christians get such a bad name. These people are completely OK ignoring other “more acceptable” sins. They are ignoring the part of the Bible where it says:
“But if you are lead by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance -- as I told you before -- that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 HCSB.
They chose to focus solely on the sins of those in the club as opposed to the sins they commit in their everyday lives. However, do they believe that because God explicitly stated that if you envy or have outbursts of anger you will not be allowed in the kingdom of God, that they also deserve to be shot? Didn’t think so.
Sin is what separates you from God. Whether you tell a little white lie, envy someone or are homosexual does not matter. It is all the same in that it makes you imperfect which is not allowed into the kingdom of God. That means you, me and everyone else walking this earth. Those who are critical of others' sins need to remember that it is their own sins they must deal with.
Christians, it is not our job to call out others and condemn their sins. What does God tell us to do?
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” Matthew 22:37-40 HCSB.
Nowhere does God state that you should love your neighbor as yourself as long as they aren’t gay or as long as they have the same morals as you. No, God calls us to love everyone and when we fall short of that we are not only sinning, we are going against what God claimed to be one of the most important commandments. It’s easy to love those who share values with you but that is not what we are called to do. Our country is hurting and God is calling us to love our neighbor as ourselves. We need to show the love of God to those who are hurting, the LGBTQ community, and everyone else we encounter. We need to pray for healing, comfort and peace to those whose lives are now shattered due to this senseless act of violence.
Christians, I beg of you, go love someone today who is hard to love. Go and be the hands and feet of Jesus and love your neighbor as yourself. Remember, you might be the only Bible some people ever read.
