How can we as Jesus followers respond to the events in Orlando?

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How can we as Jesus followers respond to the events in Orlando? 

Having walked closely with the Aurora shooting victims who were neighbors and friends I am deeply moved by all these events.

I read something this week written by Vince Vitale that resonated with me.

How can we as Jesus followers respond to the events in Orlando? 
1. Tears. Until we have cried with the victims we should have nothing to say. Period.
Then we must call this evil.  Some wish to philosophically say there is really no such thing as evil. There is.
We must repent of not challenging those who say that there is no such thing as evil.
We must double down on the reality that every single life is valuable and worth protecting.  Our love for all humans must be unconditional if we follow Jesus.  For all of us sinners Jesus preferred to die rather than watch us die.

2. We must stand strong together that it is never okay to treat people as anything other than sacred and worthy of dignity and respect.


3. We must stand for justice.  We will not overlook this kind of hate.  We will not forget what was done to those people in Orlando.  Jesus has shown us that God’s anger isn’t in spite of love but because of love.
Love and justice are not the opposite, but are aligned together.  We must teach this to our children and grandchildren.

4. Those who suffer must never be left to suffer alone. Jesus on the cross was with dying men some of whom chose to change even in their dying moments.  Jesus was there and gave hope.  Jesus felt forsaken.  Jesus had been overwhelmed in sorrow to the point of death and sweating blood.  He left the comfort of heaven to be there with those dying horribly.
Where there are people who are hated and murdered you can be sure God was present and near.  We too must be near.  Those dying in horrible pain as those on the crosses with Jesus had His compassion near to them.

This is a God worth following.  He is the one who gives real hope.  Not the hope of dying with more toys.  Or dying without pain.  But dying with hope.  Real hope.  God wiping away every tear and being in a place with God where there is no more crying, mourning or crying or pain.

We keep following Jesus to live a life not centered on ourselves but on helping others through times of suffering.

Larry Wishard
6.16.16
       

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