How are we to respond to the “FIRESTORM” that has come upon California’s faithful under attack for offering “our thoughts and prayers?” The tragic shooting last week has sparked a storm greater than even the four fires throughout our state, with over 31 people killed, thousands of homes and buildings lost, a whole town evaporated. Has the “paradise” and hope of faith in our state and our nation also been tragically lost?
“Yay God” for His people who have tangibly stepped up this past week to offer shelter, clothes and meals for thousands displaced amidst the fires! But more broadly, our neighbors are wondering if our faith is merely a hoax or human fabrication amidst ongoing tragedy? Last week a former marine killed a dozen people in Thousand Oaks because he was “bored.” His last media post amidst his rampage was a manifesto, which has been picked up and promoted by some in the media mocking those of us whose usual response if often “our hopes and prayers are with you.”
Last Thursday, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews took the manifesto a step further and said “sending thoughts and prayers should be outlawed.” CNN’s Chris Cuomo mocked those who offer “thoughts and prayers,” stating,
“The only consensus there is, is in a canard and here it is: First, ‘I would like to offer my thoughts and prayers,’ because that’s what you do when you offer ‘thoughts and prayers.’ You mock those who lost loved ones, because if you gave it any thought at all, you would never walk away from any of these without figuring out a better way to deal with them.” (The Blaze)
And there’s our challenge believers: “… never walk away from any of these without figuring out a better way to deal with them.” That was what Susan Orfanos, the mother of a Thousand Oaks shooting victim declared in her grief “I don’t want prayers. I don’t want thoughts. I want gun control, and I hope to God nobody else sends me any more prayers.” Wow – Ouch – All these reactions hit us hard because it feels like persecution yet rings of truth and appears to me as a cry for help to find real, lasting answers. How do we as God’s people figure out a better way to deal with our society’s tragic situations?
What Must We Shift As God’s People in California, in America if we haven’t been a major part of stemming the tide of evil and destruction? I don’t know about you, but I cannot dismiss these events and the world’s challenge upon a theology of end times judgment. Nor can one retreat into their faith community for security (never God’s design anyway) because hate and terrorism is hunting us down in our worship services (Tree of Life Congregation, Pittsburg Oct. 2018; First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Texas Oct. 2017).
While being championed by partisans in media and government, legislating and policing the dangers and evils of society can play a part, but it has at best limited impact. It is an “Outside In” transactional approach to a situation requiring an “Inside Out” transformation. Even if most Americans don’t understand this, hopefully at least those of us of faith know that true transformation comes from the inside out. Yes, we as “God’s People” need to lend our thoughts and intercessory prayers to such tragic issues and circumstances, but then we need to leave our prayer gatherings, go out into the world and be the hands and feet of healing, peace and change. A year ago, Jordan Haynie Ware wrote in response to the church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas:
“I went to a little church in Waco once. As I entered the worship space, a sign overhead proclaimed, “Prayer is Work.” And on the other side of that door, the last thing I saw before leaving, “Work is Prayer.” Prayer—real prayer—is work, and requires something from us. It’s something we take out of our worship spaces and into the world, as we work to build the kind of world for which we pray.”
So how will we respond to this challenge?
Do we see “our lives of love and ministry” as something beyond the four walls of our congregation, to be salt and light to our neighbors, to the world?
- Are people of faith in Government bringing the wisdom of God to our city, state and national chambers to address terrorism, homelessness, economic distress, disease, gang violence, immigration, etc. Are all of us even participating by voting?
- Are people of faith in Education administering and educating our next generation with practical values and truths for the greatest good that stirs our peers and students to ask the source of our wisdom and faith?
- Are people of faith producing a non-bipartisan Journalism around the issues and interviewing people on both sides of the debate that possess wisdom and expertise to creatively address the issues.
- Are we collaborating with other area leaders and congregations, facilitating collective conversations with community members to impact each of the cultural arenas and needs: Government, Education, Media, Arts & Entertainment, Family, and the various sectors of the Marketplace?
- One last consideration about leadership? Do our leaders have the competencies and collaborative leadership skills to equip people for good works outside the congregation and family? Are our local, state and national leaders as well as we as the average citizen truly mature in character, competencies and faith to impact our workplace and world?
Faithful, prayerfully consider what shifts might God be calling us personally and collectively to put into action in response to our current FireStorm challenge! May it not longer be questioned of God’s people, “Why are you walking away from any of these without figuring out a better way to deal with them.” May the world see our faith in action unto transformation of the greatest good and His kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven.
“James wrote to Jewish Christians who had been scattered throughout the Mediterranean world because of persecution. In their hostile surroundings they were tempted to let intellectual agreement pass for true faith. This letter can have rich meaning for us as we are reminded that genuine faith transforms lives. We are encouraged to put our faith into action. It is easy to say we have faith, but true faith will produce loving actions towards others.”(NIV Life Application Study Bible)