We live in a sad, fallen world because of our sin. We have many articles on the Answers in Genesis website explaining why there’s suffering and death. The horrific terrorist attack in Florida reveals the reality of our sin-cursed world, and our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those who were killed or injured in the appalling attack.
Though the terrorist will have to answer to God for his own murderous sins (Hebrews 9:27), we are all collectively to blame for the violence and suffering, since we sinned in Adam. The world is fallen—groaning because of the effects of sin.
Read more: https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/06/13/we-live-in-a-sad-fallen-world/
http://www.moodymedia.org/blog/2016/06/mourning-orlando/
This past weekend the world was shocked by the horrific violence carried out at an Orlando nightclub by an Islamic extremist who pledged allegiance to ISIS. What is the religious motivation for such barbaric activity?
Read more: http://www.christianministriesintl.org/fast-facts/061516/
*Update 6/22/16 - It looks like I wasn't too far off, according to this latest report. See: "Omar Mateen's alleged lover says Pulse attack was motivated by revenge" - Orlando Sentinel http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/omar-mateen/os-omar-mateen-lover-talks-20160622-story.html
In short, Judaism and Islam both call for the death penalty on this, while New Testament Christianity does not. But this needs to be much more fully explained. Part of the reason I raise this issue here is because the enemies of Christianity love to abuse and misuse all this.
They seek to create a false moral equivalency between Christianity and Islam. They do so in part by claiming that both affirm death for homosexuals. But this is quite incorrect, so let me explain. I will first look at what Islam says about this topic.
Read more: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2016/06/15/homosexuality-islam-christianity/
(Friday Church News Notes, June 24, 2016, Way of Life Literature)
A New York Times article says that the apostle Paul ordered Christians to kill homosexuals. The report says, “A Republican congressman read his colleagues a Bible verse from Romans that calls for the execution of gays” (Jeremy Peters and Lizette Alvarez, “After Orlando, a Political Divide on Gay Rights Still Stands,” New York Times, June 15, 2016).
The ignorance behind this statement is astounding. The Bible “verse” in question is not one verse, but a passage, Romans 1:18-32, and it does not call on Christians to execute homosexuals. The passage begins and ends with these words: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. ... Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:18,32). This important passage of Scripture teaches that all sinners, not just homosexuals, are worthy of death before a holy God. It mentions fornicators, covetous, murderers, deceivers, backbiters, haters of God, proud, disobedient to parents, covenant breakers, and the unmerciful, among others. All are worthy of death, because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This shows the necessity of Christ’s compassionate sacrificial death in the sinner’s place. But absolutely nowhere does the New Testament call upon Christians to kill anyone, not thieves or adulterers or homosexuals or witches, not anyone. Someone with even the most basic knowledge of the New Testament Christian faith would know that such a thing is foreign to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Read more: http://www.wayoflife.org/friday_church_news/17_26.php
https://pjmedia.com/homeland-security/2016/06/12/orlando-night-club-attack-by-known-wolf-terrorist-previously-investigated-by-fbi/
http://polemicsreport.com/2016/06/15/sbc-megachurch-says-lgbt-community-is-the-chief-cornerstone/
After the massacre in Orlando by the lone, self-proclaimed, Islamic Terrorist, many Christians I have encountered seem confused about how to respond to it. I know of some who want to declare war on all Muslims. I know of others who say that the people who were killed at the Gay nightclub were under the judgment of God and got what they deserved. However, being one who takes responses to secular events like these and filters them through God's truth in light of the Cross, I have struggled going beyond viewing the whole thing as tragic, murder, and further encroachment of darkness enveloping our society. However on Monday, June 20th, I received an email from Ligonier Ministries where R.C. Sproul does a fine job of addressing the Christian's response to terrorism. Enjoy and be blessed my brethren.
Related: