An Unchanging Lens

As I write this post, I struggle with the challenge of communicating my thoughts on some subjects that are already saturated with ideas and comments from millions of people around the world.

You would think that after all this input, a general consensus would have been reached on a lot of these topics. However, time seems to show that division rather than unity is more often the result...even within the CHURCH!

Think of these hot topics right now for instance:

• Hillary, Trump, or neither...

• Gun control...

• Islamic Terrorism...

• Gay Rights...

• The Church's role in society....

And then you have the most recent event in Orlando that somehow managed to lump ALL of these topics into one observable scenario.

Which leads to the question: How are we as Christians supposed to respond?

I've read a lot of opinions by people that offer various answers. These include cliches that are easily stated, but are often less easy to apply consistently. 

For example:

• "Jesus loved people, so we as Christians should be known by our love during this time in our nation's history"

• "This is a perfect opportunity for the Church to come alongside others by loving on them and helping them in their time of need"

Ok that's true, but what does that mean? Is simply "loving on people" the only response we as Christians have to offer a grieving and shocked world? How is that principle to be applied?

Other Christian writers have used this as an opportunity to talk about American patriotism, emphasizing our common need to mourn, regardless of religion or sexual identity.

For example:

• "Regardless of our beliefs, we should come together to grieve and mourn with both Muslims and LGBT individuals alike. This was an attack on Americans, not just an individual group"

• "For all of my LGBT and Muslim friends, I would just like to say how sorry I am that this incident happened. You are all in our prayers"

Once again, these are perfectly fine and Biblically sound responses. Galatians 5 talks about the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, kindness, and gentleness. We obviously should be praying for those in Florida, as well as everyone else who has been affected by this tragedy. Prayer is a part of our role as Christians, and to mourn an act this heinous shows that we actually care.

However, I'd like to ask another question that I rarely see addressed during these kinds of topics. I think this is partly due to its sensitive nature in today's culture, as well as the fact that many Christians are uncomfortable with the truths that we are forced to acknowledge while asking it.

That question is this:

How many of the people killed in Orlando are going to be able to stand before the judgement seat of God and hear Him say "Well done, good and faithful servant"?

To ask that question is not to be considered hateful. It is something that a Christian should ask every time someone dies, not just when a mass shooting occurs at a gay bar. 

Too often, Christians become swept up in the emotion of an event. We become focused on the secondary things, such as the need to "love others" or our "common sorrow". This is, I think, a normal reaction given our desire to empathize and love others as Christ loved us.

However, the harsh reality that we must acknowledge is that 50 people are now potentially in Hell if they weren't saved when they died.

They would not be in Hell because of their sexual identity or religious identification. They would be in Hell because they were sinners who rejected Christ as Lord, just like you and I did before we were saved.

With all of our emotions,  it is impossible for us to distinguish what truth is unless we look through the correct lens. This lens must be something that rises above our human interaction and feelings as a society. Something God-given that has remained unpolluted and untouched throughout the course of history.  This leaves only one possible solution....Scripture.

The Bible is an unchanging lens that transcends history and culture. Its truths are found to be present and applicable to our everyday lives. In order to know God's will for us as believers, we have to know God's heart. This is found in the Bible, which is why every quandary we face as Christians can be solved through the searching of the Scriptures.

2 Peter 1:19-21:

"So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."

James 1:21-25:

"Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."

Does this mean that we shouldn't love and pray for people? Of course not! 1 Corinthians 13 specifically talks about how we as Christians are supposed to act. Christians SHOULD be known for their love throughout this tragedy. To not do so would be hypocritical of everything we claim to believe in.

However, we also shouldn't let our passion to love others stop us from speaking the truth of the gospel and our eternal destination. True love also involves telling the TRUTH.

Hell is real. Sin is real. Death is real.

But, Heaven is also real. Grace is real. Forgiveness is real.

We as Christians have the answer, through the "prophetic word made more sure." We just need to continue to proclaim the gospel to others, with the full knowledge that we all could be living our last day on earth.

Romans 10:14-15: 

 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things'"