Articles
Mourning the Orlando Victims
I’ve read various commentary in the aftermath of the mass killing in Orlando. As we all know the attack was on a nightclub known for gay clientele. The response ranged from the disgusting comments of a California “pastor” who celebrated the murders as “deserved” to vehement hatred for all things Christian, although Christians had nothing to do with the shooting.
The loss of any life in such a tragic, random way is cause for sadness. Let us remember that the victims had their opportunity to respond to and serve the Lord violently ended by a man who had no right to make such a decision.
Let us also remember that other innocents – family, friends, police responders, the city of Orlando itself – are also horribly impacted by one man’s demented hatred. There is nothing to celebrate here, no reason to say “gays got what they deserved” when so many others are suffering.
We would do well to remember God’s rebuke to Jonah for his disappointment that Nineveh wasn’t destroyed. Compassion is never misplaced unless it leads to cowardice and failure to carry out our duty.
Further, do we think that gay nightclubs are the only places ungodliness may be happening on a given Saturday night in Orlando? Exactly how do we determine that such an event was the judgment of God on homosexuality? Why would He spare the nightclub across town where drunken heterosexual hookups and prostitution occur on a regular basis?
When Jesus was asked about the Galileans Pilate had slain in the midst of their sacrificial worship, He answered: “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no …” (Lk 13:2). The question posed to Jesus was similar to the mindset of Job’s three friends who were convinced that such a horrible fate surely was born of Job’s hidden transgression. They were wrong.
One mistake of drawing such unwarranted conclusions is smug self-righteousness. Job’s friends manifested it; so did those who questioned Pilate’s slaughter of the Galileans. Jesus warned: “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Lk 13:3).
The lesson of Sodom and Gomorrah is not: “This is what God will periodically do to homosexuals” but “This is how God feels about the sin of homosexuality.” It was an eternal declaration carried out in graphic fashion, much the same way that Ananias and Sapphira were stricken dead for their jealousy and lying. Unless God tells us, we have no way of knowing any deeper, divine meaning behind this tragedy. Let us not tread on God’s territory.
Here are some things we can do:
* Pray for the victims and all those affected by this horror.
* Be careful what you post on social media. Emotions are high and reason scarce. Don’t feel compelled to respond to every person who says something offensive, derogatory or just plain wrong.
* Study to give wise answers and engage in careful dialog with neighbors and co-workers concerning this subject. I am not suggesting that we compromise, but even Jesus did not feel compelled to respond to every foolish observation slung in His direction.
Homosexuality was already a hot-button issue. It is now glowing white. “Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known”; “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit” (Pr 14:33; 17:27).
