On Tuesday, June 7th, CNN reported that the United States was on pace to match or surpass its worst year on record for the number of mass shootings. We have been shocked and saddened by the recent killings of 10 African Americans in the Tops Grocery store Buffalo, NY, and of 19 Latino students and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Tx — but did you know there have been at least 246 shootings so far this year? And we had the same number by this time last year. What should Christian’s do? Most of us know Jesus Christ was a teacher of peace. In Matt. 5:9 He tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” We as clergy are often called to tragic incidents: race riots, wars, gang violence, domestic disputes, to bring God’s calming presence. We’re at hospitals to pray for healing. We perform funerals. We and our parishioners offer comfort to grieving families. Pastors are called on to answer difficult questions, “Why did this happen?” “Why did ‘God’ allow it?” We explain that broken people make wicked choices despite God’s goodness; but God’s desire is for us to live in love, joy, and peace. Evil decisions cause consequences that wreak havoc on innocent lives. This is called Theodicy—the vindication of God’s Divine goodness and providence in view of the existence of evil. These shootings, the war in Ukraine, the economy…tell us the world is growing darker and needs God’s light and God’s people.
What are you prepared to say? What are you willing to do? Faith without action is not faith at all. We all have a response-ability as children of God. Prayer is a constant—there is no question about what we are to do when it comes to prayer, but we don’t really engage it for real. We think of prayer as our last resort: not our first and most powerful option. What would happen if we were truly thinking the thoughts and praying the prayers of God in the first place? What else is required of us to facilitate justice as arbiters of truth? Isaiah 1:17 tells us “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow’s cause,” So…
• Will you vote responsibly, call or write your political representatives?
• Will you engage in local or national activism?
• Will you pray without ceasing?
• Will you offer lament, comfort, and support to grieving victims?
Taylor Schumman’s greatest pain was the inactivity of fellow Christians who went on with their lives while she lay in bed traumatized wondering how she would make it through another day. She felt alone and forgotten about, as nothing had changed. Don’t wait until you or someone you know becomes a victim before you activate your response-ability as a house of prayer. Pray for and lament with those who are suffering. Lord, forgive us for not doing our part…we lay down our pride…we seek your face, we turn away from our sin and evil, forgive us! Heal our land, comfort the hurting.
Through Christ,
Pastor Sherman
The Warehouse