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The word ORLANDO is a Spanish word that means famous land. No truer words could be spoken right now, as the US and the world mourn the tragedy that occurred there this weekend. Amidst the barrage of news reports, social media opinions, prayer vigils and protests, our collective American voice is shocked, outraged and dismayed at the terrorist execution and wounding of scores of our citizens by a deranged person claiming terrorist indoctrination. As is often the case, we have decided that love trumps fear. (1 John 4:18)
Does agreement from Christ followers that this is a tragic and grief-filled situation that necessitates love to all involved cause us to run from our beliefs? No. We still believe that Jesus Christ is the one way to the Father, the Truth and the Life, (John 14:6) and that marriage presents God’s boundary for purity in sexual relationships. (Heb. 13:4) Believers don’t expect or require Christian beliefs from non-Christian people. Our mission, like Jesus’ is to seek out and love and help people who want to reconnect to God. (Luke 19:10) We must accept the fact that many will not agree with our beliefs… Jesus did.
In John 8, Jesus was teaching a group publicly in the courts of the temple. The Pharisees and teachers of the law brought before Him a woman whom they said, “Was caught in the very act of adultery.” They stated, “The law says we should stone her, but what do You say?” Their goal was to accuse Jesus, which is still Satan’s purpose. [Jesus purpose is to destroy the devil’s work. (1 John 3:8)]
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Everyone knew this woman was a sinner. They all knew she, and the unexposed man who had been with her, were in the wrong. That went without saying, so Jesus didn’t say it. He wrote something on the ground then first addressed her accusers, “Whoever is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her,” and with that, her critics were silenced. “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” Jesus asked her. “No Lord,” she replied. “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.“ Jesus’ sequence here is important: 1. He corrected/rebuked the religious leaders; 2. The woman encountered Him. He loved her and defended her from attack; 3. He revealed Himself as Lord and forgave her sins without condemnation; 4. He brought her to repentance. Stop sinning. To attempt to get to 4 before 2 or 3 is where we miss it.
If this attack had occurred in a heterosexual club, would the headlines read, “Club full of drunken, fornicating, addicted reveling, adulterers blown up in terrorist attack?” I seriously doubt it. Did we first investigate the sins of those killed in Columbine, Oklahoma, Sandy Hook, or San Bernadino? No. Every shooting or killing of innocent lives is a terrorist act. Whether the hatred is inspired by race, gender, religion or class, it is meant to inspire fear in us. Only God’s perfect love will cast out that fear (1 John 4:18) Christians are not to be overcome by evil. Evil can only be conquered with good. (Rom.12:21)
