The news in the past week of the shooting at the school in Nashville was absolutely tragic and heartbreaking. Sadly, it has gotten to the point where it is not shocking. School shootings happen enough now that we have grown desensitized to it. What made this one unique was that the school appears to have been targeted because of their religious beliefs and in particular their opposition of homosexuality. It reminds me of the verse from 1 Timothy 3:12, where Paul says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…”. The Christians outside of Nashville were seeking to live a godly, biblical life and were persecuted for it period.
Today I read an article pertaining to a different type of violence. This one was also a church, but one that was far different theologically and would never be accused of seeking to live a godly life, at least from a biblical point of view. This church in Ohio was hosting a drag queen happy hour. Someone opposed to this movement threw some molotov cocktails at the church, seeking to “protect children” from the drag show event. Fortunately it was in the middle of the night and it does not appear anyone was hurt.
Other examples of violence could be given. Pro-lifers setting bombs at abortion clinics. Bombs at the olympics. Shootings at other schools for other reasons than the Nashville shooter. On and on and on.
Sadly, it is not just “one side” that is doing the violence. Non-Christian transgenders commit acts of violence, but so do some Christians.
I am writing this to say that it is not biblical or Christlike to carry out acts of hate against any group, no matter where they stand. We do not support violence against Christian schools. And we also do not support violence against gay clubs, abortion clinics, or liberal churches.
The reason is simple. Violence is not in the DNA of Christians. Has it happened before? Absolutely. Many times. Too many times. But that is not because the Christian is following his/her religious belief. On the contrary, a Christian that promotes or carries out violence against others is going against what the Bible says.
Jesus, the one for whom Christianity is named, never promoted violence against those we disagree with or oppose. In fact, he said to do the opposite! He told us to love our enemy. Even more, to do GOOD to our enemy. To turn the other cheek. To even pray for those we don’t like.
You will never hear anything close to violence uttered by Jesus. Even when Jesus was being arrested and about to be sent to the cross to die, he prohibited his followers from defending him with violence. When an overzealous Peter cut off the servants ear, Jesus quickly stopped Peter from doing anything and then healed his ear, essentially erasing helping someone who trying to kill him.
The first Christian leaders never promoted violence either. We are told to live at peace with each other. To pray for issues that trouble us. To NOT avenge ourselves.
Does any of this sound like we should turn to violence? No way!
But if this is the case, then why are people who proclaim to be Christian or have Christian morals engage in or promote violence? Why would some Christians support storming the Capital building? The answer is simple: disobedience and a lack of love for or trust in God
In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Jesus made it very clear what we should do about enemies. Love them! Pray for them! So if a Christ-follower is engaging in violent behavior against his enemies, he is doing it out of his own fleshly sin.
Christians live with the often-hard-to-understand reality that Jesus will ultimately take care of things. That one day there will be violence in the midst of Jesus returning. In the meantime, we are called to simply trust in him and wait for him to move.
A true Christ-follower will always hate the sin, but will never hate the sinner. A Christ-follower will rely on Christ to deal with issues that are out their control. They will not turn to guns, violence, bombs, and anything else. Instead, they will turn to prayer. To trust in the savior. To reliance on the one who is in charge.
That is the way of the savior, and that should be the way for us as well.