6.12.16

June 12, 2016.

It is now the date of the largest mass shooting in the history of the United States of America. Early Sunday morning, a young man by the name of Omar Mateen entered a local Orlando nightclub, and proceeded to open fire. After an exchange with police, Mateen was dead. But he wasn’t alone among those who died. Fifty people lost their lives, and at least an additional fifty were injured.

I’m aware I just took the worst attack since 9/11, and simplified it into 5 sentences. I wanted the state the basic facts first. Because this is a tragedy. However, then the details of this event came to light. Specifically that the nightclub, Pulse was one of the top gay clubs in Orlando, and that Omar Mateen was a practicing Muslim, and during his attack swore allegiance to ISIS. Through these details some found an opportunity to turn a moment of suffering into a political platform. This post is to silence such people that lack empathy to another human being.

This post may never reach the screens of those in Orlando, but you have earned the right to be addressed first: I pray your city mourns and heals together, and it pains me to see you have to go through such a tragic ordeal. I also don’t want to see fear take hold in your city due to this event. I hope your churches in the area are active among your community in loving on you, serving you, and ministering to you as you grieve.

Now to believers that are everywhere except Orlando: There is much you can do. First, pray for those in Orlando, those families who have now lost children, siblings, and parents. Those that have lost a close friend. Simply pray for healing to their city.

Second, for too long the Church has done a poor job engaging into the lives of those in the homosexual lifestyle as well as those of other religions. This is the time to engage, and to do so correctly. Love them. At this time, many as lashing out at both groups, this is not what we as Christians are called to do. We are called to mourn with those who mourn. We are to be a voice of hope in the hopeless. To be broken for the broken.