My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. —1 John 4:7-8 (Message)
My heartfelt prayers and condolences are with everyone who have been affected by this!
(Writer’s Note): I first wrote the post below some time ago and I believe it is as important as ever. In the wake of the tragedy in Orlando, I believe the Christian community need to speak up. This is not a time to be quiet, but to take the lead in showing what God is all about!
I’m sure this will not be popular, but I’m not in a popularity contest. It’s time for those who claim to stand for “right,” to also stand against hate in whatever form it may present itself.
Many of the patrons of this club and victims, according to the news, are a part of the LBGT community and were targeted because of such. If this is true, it is time for this maddening nonsense to stop!!!
Now, I may not be able to speak to the whole world and every “group” there is. But I want to say to every professing “Christian,” it is time to put up or shut up! We, who are “supposed” to represent God & Jesus should be the leaders when it comes to expressing love.
However, in the aftermath of this tragedy, it has been eerily quiet from ‘our community.’ Whether you ‘agree’ with a person’s choices, or not, is not the question. But it is a matter of RIGHT or WRONG thinking on our behalf. This is not to say that they were targeted by Christians BUT we should be the first to stand up and declare that God loves EVERYONE…PERIOD!
Now you may read my earlier post
Have Faith1st ©2016 Faith1st MinistriesI’d Rather Love than Hate
I am constantly surprised when I hear hate expressed from a Christian—either in word or deed. I am not surprised by anything a non-christian does because they do not propose to live by the dictates of the Bible—which is God’s written Word. But a professing Christian expressing hate toward another person, saved or not, is beyond belief!
My friends, if we behave like the world, what’s the difference? Any person on this earth should be able to look at a Believer and see a difference in their life and living. We have a responsibility to show the love and hope of God in our daily lives; this is the light that the world needs to see. Far too many people can tell you about God’s judgment and not enough about His love.
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.—1 John 4:9-11 (NLT)
Since our very existence is predicated upon God’s love for us, it would be appropriate for us to replicate that love towards others because the alternative is not so pretty. The scripture declares: “Do not be fooled. You cannot fool God. A man will get back whatever he plants!”—Galatians 6:7 (NLV).
Therefore, let’s allow the love of God coming from us to be what distinguishes us from the world-at-large.
Share this:
Sebastian is a Christian, Author and Church Leadership trainer. His ministry calling, love for God, and His people; has led him into ministry of all types for over thirty years. He and his wife enjoy helping people in their walk of faith and finding solutions to the struggles of life, especially in the area of healing and marriage. Faith1st Blog is designed to open and continue the discussion on the subject of biblical "faith" as a "living" element of the Christian life. - "the just shall live by faith" - Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38 (KJV).
Faith1st Ministries 
Indeed, this is more than the point. God says we are defined by love. What does hate show about our humility, obedience and sacrifice? That’s rhetorical, of course. These are powerful words and I want to be public about agreeing, even though it is beyond our humanity sometimes, so God graciously helps us over our wrong into God’s right. I’ve been incognito for awhile and hope to be back online now. Blessings.
Peace
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you my Brother and it good to hear from you!
So much has happened since I wrote this post…it still has me shaking my head. But not for the reason many may think.
I could almost change the title and make some minor changes but leave the core in tact and the message would still be relevant to the current events.
I would like to get with you for some type of dialogue on what is an appropriate “Christian” response to these things. Anyway, thank you and as you so aptly end with….PEACE!
LikeLike
Sounds like a most interesting idea! I always start with what God gave Paul, “Weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.” And what Jesus said in Matthew 25, give food, water and clothing, and visit the sick and those in jail. Yet we cannot pretend we can help everyone, as Jesus said we will always have the poor. I have also engaged in formal hearings, civil disobedience and media soapbox to “fight” for justice. Usually it has been as part of a “team”, which I believe is also God’s way. But what do we do about terrorism in all its forms, whether a murderer in a bar, with bombs in an airport, with a truck on sidewalks…At the moment I am at a loss to know what to do about that.
Peace
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. My heart has been saddened by the events in the world over the past several months. It seems as though it is coming more rapidly. I am really at a loss as how to best address what we are seeing and experiencing.
LikeLike
Thank you so much Pastor for this message. My heart always hurt when I hear about tragedy such as in Orlando. Prayer is much much needed right now. We still should have that unconditional love for people regardless of their circumstances. The kind that GOD shows to us daily. Love is the key!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen and thanks Vickie! I apologize for the slow response. So much has happened since I wrote this that I’m trying to gauge my response. Thank you for your faithfulness! Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person