Thinking about the Tragedy in Orlando

It wasn't until after our worship service  on Sunday that I heard there had been a massacre in an Orlando night club. Two things come to mind in regards to this:

First, anytime I hear of a tragedy like this I am reminded of Jesus' words when he was asked about similar events in his day:

There were some present at that very time who told [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices [a massacre]. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Tragedies like this serve to call us to consider the fragility and brevity of life. It also calls us to consider that all of us have a sin problem and that we must repent before the judge of the universe. Our neighbors need the hope of God's salvation through Jesus. There is no room for self-righteousness. Times like this are a call to self-evaluation and offering the only true and lasting hope to those around us.

Second, we ought to weep with those who weep. We realize that all those lives that were slain and all those family members grieving are image bearers- made in God's image. That, in and of itself, gives us reason to cry over the evil that was committed.

If you are still processing the events of this weekend, I encourage you to listen to Albert Mohler's briefing podcast from Monday, June 13, 2016. It is about 20 minutes long and helpfully reminds us of how Christians ought to think and grieve and offer the hope of the gospel.