The Oregon Shooting

Oct 3, 2015

“Dear God, not again” was the thought that ran through my mind when I heard about the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon. 

Unfortunately the media is, once again, giving WAY MORE ATTENTION to the guy who murdered innocent people rather than the victims whose lives were taken.  (I won’t expound on this thought because I did so in THIS blog post entitled, “Pissed.”) 

Things like this are unfortunately becoming way too common in our country.

However, my reason for writing about this issue today is not to express my outrage that this tragedy took place (even though I am very angry), nor is it to simply ask people to pray for the people in Oregon (although we ALL need to be praying for the victims and their families!) 

These things have been said numerous times – and I stand with those who have said them!

One of the most difficult things in regards to writing is the fact that most communication (I’ve heard as much as 85-90%) is non-verbal. 

So, as you read the words that follow you will do so through a particular bias, and you will be unable to see or hear the emotions I use to convey my feelings.  So, let me say I am writing NOT to start a fight, but rather to use my voice to simply raise a strong concern I have that is seemingly going unaddressed. 

The more information that comes out about the shooting the more overwhelming evidence points to the fact that the shooter specifically targeted Christians. 

Let’s pause and think about that for a second, whether they lived or died was based on one simple question, “Are you a Christian?” 

Lucero Alcaraz, 19, Treven Taylor Anspach, 20,  Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18,  Quinn Glen Cooper, 18, Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59, Lucas Eibel, 18, Jason Dale Johnson, 34 Lawrence Levine, 67 (teacher), and  Sarena Dawn Moore, 44, were murdered because they said they followed Christ—on American soil!

And my issue is how the President of the United States and the mainstream media has virtually ignored this issue, choosing instead to bang the drum of gun control. 

I know there are strong opinions on both sides of the aisle in regards to gun control, and that is a debate we can and will have at another time.    

I simply want to go back to this again, TEN Christians were murdered for being Christians, and our President (along with Hollywood superstars who wept over Cecil the Lion) have ignored this. 

But I won’t stop there…

There is a scary silence from the White House in regards to the mass murders of Christians taking place in the Middle East on a constant basis, while there always seems to be a very quick and strong reaction to any other issue that may be labeled as a hate crime. 

Is this not a hate crime? 

Why the silence? 

Why the politicizing of the issue rather than addressing what really happened? 

I cannot help but believe if this had happened in a mosque, or a Buddhist temple or among a group of Hindu’s that the President would have been quick to address the religious implications behind this. 

President Obama has had no problems criticizing Christianity.  In fact, in a seeming attempt to defend Islam at the National Prayer Breakfast this past February the President called out Christians for the Crusades and the Inquisition, but completely ignored the travesties in today’s headlines. 

I do think the crusades and the inquisition are a great example of Christians “missing the point,” however, I also know those were issues hundreds of years ago, not 72 hours ago. 

Christianity is officially under attack, which to me is made obvious by the silence of people in Washington or Hollywood coming to the defense of those who follow Christ. 

So how do we respond? 

Great question! 

#1 – As Christians, we should pray that light will shine through the darkness so our President and others may see the truth. 

Let me be VERY CLEAR HERE—I am NOT saying Obama is or is not a Christian.  I never had a personal conversation with him and will not speculate as to whether he is or not—that is not my place (nor is it yours!) 

What I am saying is there IS a spiritual blindness that dominates our mainstream culture when it comes to any sort of persecution towards Christians. 

And as Christians we don’t need to go on the warpath but rather drop to our knees and ask God to open blind eyes so people can see this reality. 

I know there are those who will see this as a purely political piece and will use it to try to bash President Obama, or say that I am doing so.  However, that is not the intention behind this article.  I often tell Christians “how dare you criticize the President if you have never prayed for him.” 

If the apostle Paul can call for prayer for government officials in an absolute anti-Christian society, we should be willing to do so in a post Christian country.   (I Timothy 2:1-5)

I am simply calling for a truth that is going ignored to be acknowledged. 

#2 – Followers of Christ MUST Become More Passionate and Intentional About Sharing The Gospel. 

Jesus is the ONLY way for someone to truly change. 

The Gospel is the GREATEST news ever. 

And we cannot sit in silence and scream at politicians when we’ve been commissioned by our Savior to share the good news with a world that is screaming for help!!  (Proverbs 24:10-12)

Passing legislation will not solve a problem that is rooted in the heart.

It has never been more obvious worldwide that government will never be able to solve the deepest issues that trouble the human soul.   

Politics can make a point, but the Gospel can make a difference that will outlast any legislation that will ever be passed. 

#3 – We Cannot Allow Worry To Dominate Our Mindset.

We are living in a post-Christian America. 

Things are not what they used to be. 

Fewer and fewer people are attending church. 

Laws and legislation are being passed that are blatantly against what followers of Jesus have held to for over 2,000 years.   

Doomsday people are saying “this is the end!” 

But I ask, “what if this is the beginning?”

“The beginning of what,” you ask. 

The beginning of the next GREAT AWAKENING! 

God does not need the Government to be church going, conservative voting Republicans to do something amazing in America.  I can promise you He is not wringing His hands in worry and calling an emergency meeting at a heavenly roundtable because He has to figure this thing out. 

The stance of the government towards Christianity for the first 300 years of our movement were brutal, to the point of people being publicly executed by government officials for simply saying they were followers of Christ. 

And yet, with all of that persecution and opposition God used it all for good as the church reached half of the world in the first 300 years.  (Romans 8:28

All over the world in places where the church has been persecuted and forced underground, it is stronger and the movement is spreading faster than other places like America. 

Maybe what we would call opposition God would actually call an opportunity!

In conclusion let me say the purpose of this piece is not to say, “I hate Obama!”  That’s simply not true.  I was mortified not too long ago when I heard someone say they were praying for Obama to fail.  I DON’T WANT THAT!!  If he “fails” then our lives are impacted!  I believe followers of Jesus must be committed to pray for our President more than any other time in the history of our nation. 

This is not a piece for Christians who are “mad as hell” to use as a baseball bat to bang their “liberal” friends upside the head. 

I have been very careful in this article to articulate information based on facts!

It’s simply a call for Christians to become serious about prayer for people AND for a passionate intentionality to share Christ.  We’ve got work to do—and it does not begin at the ballot box in 2016 but rather in our “prayer closets” as well as our conversations with the people Jesus has placed in our lives. 

My motivation for writing was not to start an argument, but rather to use the platform the Lord has given me to hopefully point those who follow Jesus in the right direction.  The fields are ripe for harvest!!!  (Matthew 9:35-38)

(Quick word to those reading this on FB.  I know many of you are going to write out of reaction.  Let me be very clear…if you use this thread to bash the President or begin a gun control argument your comment will be removed.  You can go write that crap somewhere else, this is not the place.  Other than that, I welcome your comments- thank you!)