The shooting that claimed the lives of 49 people and the wounding of 53 others at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, June 12 — the deadliest terror attack in the US since 9/11 — has shocked the nation and the world.
Terror group ISIS praised the 29-year old mass murderer, Omar Seddique Mateen, a Muslim-American, as one of their fighters. Some left wing groups blamed Christians for creating a homophobic climate which they said led to the massacre. Sadly, an Arizona pastor described the shooting as good news because the victims were perverts. In Orlando itself Christians have been at the forefront of reaching out to victims and their families with compassion.
Mystery still surrounds the state of mind of the killer who was shot dead by police as he tried to flee the scene of the shooting — and media reports reflect a wide spectrum of responses to the tragedy.
We publish three reports (see the article links below) that convey Christian responses that stood out to us.
What if somebody had shared Jesus with the Orlando killer?
Orlando shooting and the Love Challenge
Rev Franklin Graham leads thousands in prayer for Orlando shooting victims
I don’t agree with the Arizona pastor’s comment. We do not have the permission to judge and condemn anyone to death,as we are all sinners, but for the blood of Christ. Of course, if we deem ourselves perfect in our own eyes, we may cast the first stone. We are called to pray for and seek to convert those who live contrary to God’s law. It is a very thin line and dangerous to cross as we will be judged by our own judgments of others.This is only my humble opinion.
the more we hate and remain prejudice towards LGBTI people the more they will turn away from The Lord. We re called to love one another and not to judge. For Love is the greatest gift of all. This sad event should be an opportunity to reach out in love. There are many wonderful affirming ministries that are reaching out to LGBTI people all over the world. Anyone who preaches hatred and judgement like the Arizona pastor and others likewise are not Christians. they preach another Jesus – not the Jesus who loved the sinner and welcomed them in.
Agreed, many of us are not in agreement with statements like that of the Arizona pastor’s. Agreed, that Jesus loves the sinner BUT He also told the sinner to ‘Go and sin no more!’. We are called to love everybody but to call them out of their sin. Jesus has already judged the sinner who fails to heed His call to depart from their sinful ways. In His mercy, He has been patient in giving man opportunity after opportunity to repent of any sinful ways or lifestyles contrary to His Word. God’s Word has never changed. Man has tried to change it to fit his/her lifestyle. May God remain true and everyone else judged according to His Truth.