How Does the Bible Say Christians Should Respond to the Orlando Massacure? (Romans 12:1-21)

​This is basically a response to the response I’ve seen the past week. Some things I’ve seen are great, others not so much. I’d like to take a step back and let the Bible instead of the media define what the Christian’s response should be in light of Romans 12. This is not the only passage to give us guidance in this area, but it does point out many of the things that I’ve seen and would have spoken to myself. I’d just rather let God give His opinion here.

I’m open to genuine questions as always, but ask that if you have them that you send me a Private Message (PM). Usually I’m pretty open to public debate, but given the nature of this specific case and the need to remain sensitive to those that are still mourning (especially to my friends in the Orlando area that have lost friends and co-workers) and those that identify as being a member of the LGBT community who I am Facebook friends with, I will do my best to not engage in any open discussions about this on my Wall.
Romans 12:1-21 (NIV)
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Humble Service in the Body of Christ3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.Love in Action9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(end of Romans 12:1-21)

The following commentary is my own. In no way is it as important as the text itself, I only provide it for those who may need answers to these questions.

1) Who was this written to? That is partially answered in verse one where the apostle Paul (the author of the book of Romans) says, “I urge you dear brothers and sisters,...” This means that he’s specifically talking to a group of Christians. That’s important here because it is impossible to follow the instructions here without the Holy Spirit living inside of you to help you do these things. The love that’s talked about here is agope love which is a divine love that we really aren’t capable of on our own, but that we capable of letting God display in and through us once we are saved and His spirit lives within us.

2) What is the historical context and is there a modern-day application of this text? This is an excellent question, and the comparisons between the two cultures is amazing. However, God’s Word and His truths are timeless, and not subject to the whims of cultural shifts. We should be careful to not entertain any attempt to diminish God’s Word by arguing that it is “old” or “outdated.” If we do we end up with a “X-Acto knife Bible” and we are worshiping a false god made in an image we have created, we have set ourselves up as having authority over the Word of God instead of submitting to its authority, and we may still be in rebellion against God and would have to examine if we are genuinely saved as one of the characteristics of a genuine Christian is a love for the Word of God and obedience to its teachings and commandments.

3) How then should I (if I am a Christian) respond to this text and the Bible as a whole in regards to current events? Now that we understand as Christians what the word of God says, it is our responsibility to obey it. Specifically in this situation. There A LOT that could be said here, and brevity is not my strong suit, so I will try to stick to the passage above without doing a lot of cross-referencing like I usually do.

Applications:
i) Be Holy--You should not look like or act like everyone else as Christians and some things that unsaved people would say or do (even being well-meaning) are totally inappropriate for you.

ii) Be Humble--It is easy to let your “holiness” come off as self-righteousness and to come off as proud, even arrogant. This is very difficult, but necessary if you want the message of God’s love to shine through.

iii) Be Selfless instead of Selfish--Don’t use the gifts (Time, Treasure, and Talent) which God has entrusted you with to seek after Fame and Fortune like the world does. “ 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. “ (Matthew 16:24-27, NIV).

iv) Do Not Let the World Define Your Response--There’s a lot that could be said here, but the passage is pretty clear in verses 9-21. Our response is determined by the character and nature of the God that lives inside of us and the relationship we have with Him. We cannot and should not condone or marginalize sin of any kind, nor should we make it out that there are “degrees of sin,” for instance the shooter’s worship of a false god will condemn him in the eyes of God just as much as his murder of 50 humans. We can talk about BOTH issues as it was the person’s belief system that led him to devalue the life of humans he didn’t agree with to the point of being willing to murder them. In addition, it’s okay to talk about the sin of the victims though I encourage Christians to be careful in making statements to the effect of “They deserved what happened to them” or “This is obviously God’s judgment for (insert your reason).” Most of the time we don’t know why God does things the way he does, but we can and should warn people before tragedy that sin of all kinds has tragic results, and because we love people, even those who do not love God, and we don’t want them to experience the consequences of their sin here on earth or in eternity, then that love compels us to warn them to repent and turn to God for forgiveness and to ask Him to become their Lord and Master and receive the new life He gives in Christ.




Sincerely,
Daniel Westfall