Almost immediately after mass shooting deaths and injuries, the area becomes a media circus and crime scene. Law enforcement agencies swarm the area. Reporters start asking victims how they’re feeling.
Later that day fearful relatives and friends flood the crime scene asking anybody who’ll talk to them if they know anything about the victims or the wounded.
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5
That same day, or possibly the next, an outpouring of
compassion and sympathy for the victims and their families blossoms. It spreads throughout the community quickly touching every heart. Friend or foe. It matters not whether the victims are students, Blacks, soldiers, Muslims, co-workers, senior citizens, gays, Democrats or Republicans. The effusive sympathy and care for the shooting victims and the wounded binds the community together in uncommon fellowship and unity–all with one goal: to relieve suffering and unite in one voice of grief and resolve that they’ll, “come through this tragedy.”
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39
Where was all this care and compassion yesterday? Where was the love and resolve to be united with neighbors?
Right after a tragedy you might have seen a gun-totin’, second-amendment-loving truck driver serving a meal to a Muslim family. Or a Left-wing liberal providing shelter for a right-wing Republican family for the night.
A few weeks after the tragedy passes, however, folks return to their “normal” judgmental, prejudiced, politically correct, intolerant ways.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who [insult you and] persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
On the 10th anniversary of 9/11 we witnessed members of the legislature gathered together on the steps of the Capitol singing “God Bless America”. After the song they returned to their fighting and arguing.
After a mass shooting the compassion, love and kindness lasts long enough for the community and families of the loved ones killed or injured to get through the tragedy and begin putting the pieces of their lives back together.
We probably won’t see the same kind of genuine unity again until after the next mass shooting.
For His Glory 
Could be that our innate self, that inward flesh is always thinking about our own… our self, our circumstance. Like Braves fans who become quite avid when a World Series is in grasp, and virtually non-existent when the Braves have an off year. We are selfish by nature. And when God is not the center of our being, self is alive and kicking.
Lack of Christian unity is a sign that God is NOT the center of everything we do. After 9/11 the churches were filled. A mere month or two later, the threat was over and the churches emptied. It’s why God promises that judgment will begin first in the church.
Humans innately look inward until something outward forces our hand and demands attention. Then we attempt to make the unified effort to “love” and pander to the thought that we are supposed to be like this all the time. But will it last?
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Ken,
This is an awesome response to the post on the United(now and then)States. I’d like to use it in a future post. Thank you for sharing and I agree with you 100%
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I wonder how many of those who demanded God be removed are now the ones asking for prayer.
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Excellent point, Patrick. Had not thought of it but I’ll wager you are exactly right.
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This is so true Steven. Everyone grabs for God in the depth of tragedy, but they never seem to get the idea that He is always there to assist them in living this troubled mortal existence.
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Thank you, Joe, for your comment. Yes. For too many folks, God is there and relevant in times of tragedy, but they don’t think they need Him in their daily lives.
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Where was all this care and compassion yesterday? Where was the love and resolve to be united with neighbors?
Seriously, my friend. If this isn’t how we live and breathe, than we have missed it completely. LOVE your neighbor AS yourself. Right? Wonderful post, Steven.
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Tanya, thank you for your thoughts. Yes, this is the way we live. And it devastates me. It makes me want to shout from the rooftops, “Beam me up, Jesus.” We’re singing America at church on July 3, and I don’t feel patriotic at all. Most of the words to me are a joke, sad to say.
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