Saturday, June 25, 2016

Let Our Response Be Love



It has been a sad couple of weeks and I guess it's time I share my thoughts.  Orlando is my home.  I grew up there, went to church on Orange Avenue and was married in the church that is just a few blocks from Pulse.  When we moved back to Orlando when my husband retired from the Air Force, we ended up going to a church that later moved into the same church that I had grown up in.  Although I live outside of Orlando now, it is still my home place. 

What happened early that Sunday morning is a tragedy.  Although I do not know anyone personally that was directly affected, my heart has grieved for the families that lost loved ones or have loved ones that were injured.  It seems that there are a lot of things on the internet and in the news looking to place the blame somewhere.  We know the man who did it and his allegiance to ISIS.  But there is a lot of blame being placed on guns, the people who previously investigated this man, the government, and some have tried to blame it on the victims themselves.  And what gets me is when  some say it is punishment or they try to preach their religious doctrine.  This is all distractions from the fact that an evil person did an evil thing.

What we need right now is love.  Not hate, not arguing the theological reasons.  We need to get to the basics that Jesus taught  - To love each other as He loves us.  The God I serve loves them.  If Jesus was here, He would not label them or separate himself from them.  He would meet with them, love them.  We should do what we can to help them during this time of loss and grief.  Jesus died on the cross for each and every one of them.  Let us not forget that that is how much he loves them AND how much he loves us.    

Let us mourn with those who have lost a dear family member or friend.  Let us help them carry this burden.  And to those that survived the carnage, we that weren't there cannot truly say we understand, but we can be there for them to lean on, to talk to, to cope with the drastic change that has happened in their lives.  We don't have to have the answers (especially when there is no answer), but to be there for them without judgment on who they are or how they are feeling.  There is no "right" way that each person should react and feel.  As we are all unique, so are our responses and actions when something horrible happens.  The only thing that I can say is the "right" thing for us to do is to love - love as God loves, without limitations, with pure love, love that would lay down your life for another.

I love the fact that the church just a few blocks from Pulse opened its door from the beginning for the first responders to come and find shelter or to get a brief respite from the scene.  The church provided food for them, a place of sanctuary and privacy, and prayer.  They have shown love to all those involved.  That is what the church should be.  That is truly being like Jesus, and most importantly like His heart. 

For  me, the answer as to why this took place is that we had an evil man do an evil thing.  If he hadn't used a gun, he could have used something else to accomplish his ends.  We can never completely create a safe place that nothing bad can happen.  Not saying that we don't try, but it is unrealistic to say that bad things will never happen.  What we can do is turn to the One who holds the future, who loves us and who carries us through these times when we cannot carry ourselves.

Let us keep our focus on God and rely on His strength.  Remember that each one effected by this tragedy is one of a kind.  The ones that were lost that day were unique and beautiful.  They can never be replaced.  Let's remember them and pray for the ones that they left behind as they deal with their loss.  And pray for all the workers, the police officers, fire fighters and all the other numerous people involved as they deal with what they saw. 

Again, let us remember God's amazing, unfathomable love.  For God so loved the world (that is each and every person that has lived, is living now, or will live), that He (God the Father) gave His only Son (Jesus), that whosoever (any person, not based on background, heritage, race, anything) believes in Him (Jesus) should not perish (not just physical death but spiritual death, separation from God, eternity in Hell) but have everlasting life (life with God, no sorrow, no more pain, no more death but fullness of joy and love in God's presence).  For God did not send his Son (Jesus) into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Jesus died because He loves you and me and wants to have relationship with those He loves.  The" might be saved" is that it is our choice to receive Jesus' sacrifice and to be with Him.

In my opinion, Jesus is not condemning the people.  When He met with the Samaritan woman, He told her the true way to God.  He did not condemn her because of her lifestyle and went on without talking to her.   He told her the truth about the only living God, God's love, and God's plan to save people.  There is no other way to God, no other religion that will get you to heaven.  It is only by the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus.  So let's speak of God's love and His truth.  What would Jesus want - To LOVE them, wanting them to receive His gift of salvation, and for them to love Him back.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.   For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  John 3:16-17

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