A Christian’s Reflection to the Orlando Massacre

pulse-policebarricade_dayliOn June 12, 2016, America woke up to one of the deadliest mass shooting in its history. According to a report, an armed man stormed a gay bar in Orlando, Florida and killed at least 50 people and wounded dozens of people. The gunman, Omar Mateen, is said to have pledged allegiance to ISIS and have perpetrated this attack in the name of his religion.

With news like these, we are once again rocked by the fact that we are living in a dangerous world. Anything can happen in an instance without any warning. As Christians, what must we learn from this incidence?

Blaming the gun rather than the shooter?

It is mind-blowing for me to listen and read the statement of President Obama about this recent attack. He said:

“Today marks the most deadly shooting in American history. The shooter was apparently armed with a handgun and a powerful assault rifle. This massacre is, therefore, a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or in a house of worship, or a movie theater, or in a nightclub. And we have to decide if that’s the kind of country we want to be. And to actively do nothing is a decision as well.”

Hillary Clinton seems to agree with what President Obama said. Hillary mentioned:

“Finally, we need to keep guns like the ones used last night out of the hands of terrorists or other violent criminals.  This is the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States, and it reminds us once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets.”

Gun ownership is a very controversial topic in the United States. I even know some church members who own a gun. Many people believe that a stricter gun law will prevent things like this from happening. However, will this actually solve the problem?

Christian quote about gunFor one, guns are definitely designed to kill if not harm. However, it does not take a genius to conclude that guns can’t kill or injure anyone by itself. It has no power to function without anyone using it.

Therefore, it is not right to blame the gun for this terrorist attack like what so many people would love to think.

However, let me set the record straight: I don’t support gun ownership. I don’t see any way how owning a gun can protect me. I only rely on God’s divine protection. He is more POWERFUL than any gun. He is more than enough for me.

The people in Pulse Club died because of a man named Omar Pateen. They did not die because of the gun. They die because of Omar Pateen who used a gun.

The issue of gun ownership remains to be debatable. But one thing is for sure: a person who has the strong intent to kill another human being will look for ways to carry out his mission no matter how strict gun laws may be.

Did they deserve to die?

The shooting happened during the national Gay Pride Month in the United States. The shooter killed people inside a gay bar called Pulse nightclub. Most of the people killed are part of the LGBT community.

Radical Islam considered homosexuality as an abominable sin. We have heard the news about ISIS executing gay men, and it is very common for Muslim countries not to tolerate homosexual behavior.

Quote about loving sinnersThere is no doubt that the Bible does not support homosexuality either. We can read a lot of verses that talk about homosexuality as a sin. While so many Christian leaders and pastors would love to argue that homosexuality is an acceptable behavior just to be popular and attract more followers, no one can deny what the Bible plainly teaches about homosexuality.

So, did the people in Pulse nightclub deserve to die? The answer is NO. While homosexuality is a sin, killing people is a sin as well. Christians must not commit the mistake of condemning these people. We are all sinners, homosexuals or not. It is just that we sin in different ways.

Every sin is a sin. All sins must be repented of and after repentance, it is our Christian duty to stop repeating the same sin.

Instead of hating them, Christians must be an INSTRUMENT to lead them closer to God. Instead of condemning them, Christians must have the outgoing concern and care for them. I am not saying that we must tolerate sinful behavior. I am saying that we must be a light to the world. Instead of demonstrating hate, we must demonstrate love.

Christians must be a light of the world. So that when people see our light, “they may see [our] good works and glorify [our] Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

A time to turn to God

It is quite sad to see how the United States, a nation built on Christian principles and moral values, have degraded to become a secular society. There is no doubt; there are frightening repercussions when a country turns their backs from God.

The United States and every nation on this earth must take heed these words from the Bible:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).

Quote about turning to GodWe are seeing the fall of the most powerful nation this world has ever known. It is not because of external threats that are making them weak. It is their people that are causing the problem. History tells us that one of the reasons for strong empires to collapse is MORAL DECAY.

The Orlando Massacre that has taken at least 50 lives will not be the last of its kind. It will be followed by more and more terrorist attacks. Some will be less impactful while others will truly leave a dent in our history.

While we don’t have the power to change the entire society, we have the power to change our individual lives. It is high time for all of us to turn to God. Start living a life that is pleasing to Him. Seek to build a closer relationship with God because at the end; that is the only thing that will matter.

This world is heading for chaos, destruction, and self-annihilation. It is up to you to make the right decision. TURN TO GOD. Make that decision today!

9 thoughts on “A Christian’s Reflection to the Orlando Massacre

  1. No, Joshua. I do not defend LGBTQI people to be popular. I defend them because they are my kindred in God, as was Omar Mateen (note his actual name) and every other Muslim in the world. Your judgmentalism is what betrays Christ.

    • I’m not sure how you concluded that I have been judgmental with my blog. However, I do partially agree with you. We need to be more loving rather than hating. Again, we need to be an instrument to lead people closer to God by our examples. But still, a sin is a sin and we need to repent of them.

      • I recognize that I’m a sinner who needs God’s forgiveness. But that doesn’t mean that Christians must not do their part in preaching the Gospel of God and sharing the God’s truth. Christ said to judge a righteous judgment (John 7:24). All the prophets are sinners as well. Are you saying that they should have not proclaimed the sins of the people because they are sinners as well? I hope you see my point.

        I could see that you are a good person and I respect your opinion about this matter. Let’s just agree to disagree. I know God sees our hearts and motives. He’ll be the judge.

  2. Great writeup. Sinners need deliverance and same with the so called Christians that hate sinners (gay, etc) they need our sympathy and prayers to be saved.

  3. Let me suggest that those who have sexual affairs are as bad as homosexuals. Those who lie are as bad as homosexuals. Those who are greedy are as bad as homosexuals. Those who hate their fellow humans are as bad as homosexuals. And, wonder of wonders, Jesus Christ died for all of them! And yet, we Christians feel compelled to single out homosexuals as badder than all others. Shame on us!

    • Thanks for your comment, Steve. Again, all sins are sins. All of them should be repented of. Since we are all sinners, it is important to judge ourselves first.

      I think Christians tend to single out homosexuality because of its dire effect to the institution of marriage. We already have laws against murder, stealing, and others but the redefining of marriage has been a big issue lately. Thus, I think, most Christians are compelled to protect traditional marriage. Satan is full of hate and he greatly hates godly marriages because through it, godly offspring may come.

      • Joshua, this is where your ignorance shows. Homosexuality has zero effect on marriage other than to set an example of longstanding devotion even when a relationship is not only unrecognized, but persecuted by civil and religious institutions. Marriage commitments are made between people and only celebrated by civil and religious rites.

        What “we” do you speak of? You’re in the Phillippines, aren’t you? You really have no idea what’s going on here in the US. Until you learn something, you would do well to listen instead of preaching from ignorance.

      • Are you sure about that? The agenda of homosexuality is to legalize same-sex marriage. Isn’t that not affecting the sacredness of marriage? If you’re a Christian, you should recognize that marriage is instituted by God, Himself. We don’t have the right to mess with what God says is holy. If homosexuals want to get together, then that’s their civil right. I don’t have the right to stop them from doing that. All I’m doing is just say what the Bible is saying about the matter of homosexuality.
        Yes, I’m from the Philippines and maybe, you’re right that I don’t have complete idea of what’s going on there in the US. However, I don’t need to know that to know what the Bible say and what God approves and not.

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