Speaking up

I have hit quite the wall of writer's block this summer between a very busy schedule and just life in general. I have sat many times to share something but nothing comes out.

Until this morning.

I have read in a few places, but haven't seen anything "official" in statement, that the suspected shooter from the tragic and horrific El Paso mass shooting claims to be Christian or to have committed this crime in the name of Christianity.

I want to speak to that, if I may.

As a Believer and servant of Christ Jesus whom you read about in the Bible, I am brokenhearted and angry over the tragedy. To hear, even unofficially, that this was all done in the name of Christianity makes me physically ill. There is absolutely zero percent possibility to act in such a way and truly love Jesus. It is not possible! There are a lot of situations written about throughout the Scriptures that I don't have a full grasp of understanding for but I do believe it to be true that what happened on Saturday in both El Paso and Dayton are not actions of a true and biblical follower of Jesus Christ but of someone who is either mentally ill or under the spiritual influence of great darkness...maybe even both.

Why do I write this? Because it's time for those who are the true worshipers of Spirit and Truth (John 4) to stand up and speak out. We cannot allow this type of hatred and ugliness to be connected with the Church of Jesus Christ!

And if you are a believer who struggles with any sort of ill-feelings towards anyone who looks differently than you do, then it is time to hit your knees because our Heavenly Father is not about that life; His Son did not lay His life down on a cross and then rise from the dead for just one group of people. His desire is for ALL HUMANITY to accept the sacrifice of Jesus, the mercy and grace of the cross, and the freedom of a life surrendered to Him. He longs for the world to see a kind of love that breaks down barriers being lived out from every single one of His children.

Newsflash! HEAVEN WILL LOOK LIKE THE UNITED NATIONS.

Beth Moore said it well on Twitter yesterday when she posted, "Let it be known, let it be declared by genuine followers of Jesus, that the man who opened fire in El Paso may invoke a christ of some kind but it is NOT our Christ. His christ would be unrecognizable to us. Unrecognizable in Scripture. We claim no christ of white nationalism."

It's time for us to call evil what it is and stop blaming others or circumstances. The actions taken by people who commit such atrocities as these are anything but patriots, Christians, and clear-minded. They are broken and confused, mentally ill and I will be as bold as to say demonic and evil. Have they been influenced by something? YES! But everyday we are all bombarded with things that are positive or negative, truth or lies, hateful and intolerant or seasoned with grace and love. And everyday we have to make a choice to filter out what is not lovely and acceptable and act on those things that are pure and beneficial. Scripture tells us that in Philippians when Paul writes in his letter, "8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." (MSG) (Emphasis added by me.)

People of God, speak up and speak in truth and love.

Let's all pray for those accused to come to a holy realization of their actions and how they are completely in defiance of the way Christ calls us to live and that they would have a real encounter with the Living God.

Let's all pray for their families and their devastation through this horrific event.

Let's all pray for the victims, their families, and those who witnessed the unspeakable actions of these men. Let's all pray for the first responders, hospital staff and communities affected by what they have seen and encountered as a result of the hate these men harbored within them.

Let's all stop pointing fingers at media, politics, video games and start seeing evil for what it is and recognize that there is a great need for the people of God to take a stance against evil and be the hands and feet of Jesus to this lost, dark and dying world.

If you happen to live in or near these communities, then step out of your comfort zones and step into the purpose for every child of God and be the true light of Jesus. Take a meal, snacks, cards of encouragement, messages of hope, to the people who are touched by these awful actions. Go ahead! Take some pizzas to the police stations. Drop off gatorade and snacks to the fire houses. Make cookies for the doctors, nurses and staff at the hospitals treating the victims. Write out letters or cards with your appreciation to the men and women in the thick of the mess. Go to the prayer vigils. Take flowers or balloons or words of encouragement to the memorials that are at the scenes. Don't be a quiet bystander. Use the mouth and heart God has given you to be His heart extended.

Maybe you are like me and you are not in the vicinity of these monstrous actions. You can still use your voice to spread hope and love and not feed into the negativity and politics. Let's focus on perpetuating the positive--the stories of those lost, the men and women who ran towards the evil to bring it to an end or to aid in what remains, the families of those affected.

I do believe that one day, closer than it has ever been before, we'll see the reality of God's Kingdom and His word played out before our eyes and the hope we hold to will be made evident before our very eyes. Until then we hold to the promise of Revelation 21:4, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”