Pastor Chuck’s Letter In Response To Las Vegas Mass Shooting

Dear Friends,

It is with great sorrow and a heavy heart that we earnestly and wholeheartedly pray for the families of those who lost loved ones in the senseless attack in Las Vegas, NV this past weekend. At the time of this writing, 59 lives have been taken and over 500 injured when a gunman took to the 32^nd floor of an hotel resort on the Las Vegas strip and opened fire repeatedly on an unsuspecting crowed of concert goers down below. As reported, the suspect, who would later die from a self-inflicted gunshot when breached by law enforcement, was heavily armed with multiple guns and ammunition.

Unfortunately, these types of attacks have become far too common in our country as this shooting comes just one week after a lone gunman opened fire in a church in Nashville, TN, killing a 39 year old woman and leaving 8 others injured and is just one year removed from an incident when a gunman killed 49 partygoers at a nightclub in Orlando, Fl. And let us not overlook the “mass shootings” that are sustained over time in inner cities throughout our country in places like Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and San Bernardino, that leave the nation baffled and befuddled, trying to make sense of it all.

Let me offer this, there is sense in the senseless, even if many are unwilling to admit it. There is a reason in the unreasonable, if we would just look back to the beginning…

THERE IS A MURDEROUS SPIRIT IN THIS WORLD!!!

It is one which finds its genesis in the Book of Genesis. One that entered the world with the Fall of Man on the day when rebellion was chosen over relationship. The coming about of this spirit is recorded in the fourth chapter, when Cain killed his brother…

“Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.” – Genesis 4:8

My friends, the murderous spirit is not a respecter of persons, race, relation, gender or identity. It is not black or white, poor or rich, male or female, Christian or Muslim, straight or queer. It is the result of sin and the product of a fallen world. It is an instrument of Satan, whose sole purpose is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), to wrought about fear in the heart of man. As seen more clearly and vividly in recent times, the very planet we populate testifies the same, with the destruction an devastation of natural disasters in Texas, Florida, Mexico, China and Puerto Rico in the latest news.

But friends, we have HOPE when it appears there is none to be had…

“For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.” – Romans 8:22-24 NLT

There is HOPE for these troubled times and it lies in the promises of God’s Word. And, it too has its genesis in Genesis. HOPE was planted before the foundation of the world, so it…I mean HE… was promised in anticipation of what would come. We find it in the first 4 words of the Book.

“In the beginning GOD…” – Genesis 1:1

There is no rhetoric or cliché in saying that, “GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!” He knew from the beginning that the world He created would not sustain. So before its foundation, He prepared its REDEMPTION. (Revelation 13:8)

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” – John 1:29

JESUS is our only HOPE and our great REDEMPTION. He is a very present help in time of trouble and, in these times, a reality most evident. There is no other way around it. God in not waster of our grief or despair, but a trumpet to the clarion call of worship.

In closing, the truth of the matter is that when the dust settles, and the news cycle turns its attention to the next tragedy, scandal or tweet from our Commander and Chief, folks will go back to “business as usual.” I am proposing that that is EXACTLY what we should do…continue in our Father’s business!!!

TRUE WORSHIPPERS…continue to WORSHIP!

All you PRAISERS…continue to PRAISE!

To the INTERCESSORS…continue to INTERCEDE!

All you SERVANTS…continue to SERVE!

You LOVERS of God and people…continue to LOVE!

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” – I Corinthians 15:58

I challenge you to do it even more!!!

And whatever you do, keep spreading the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!!!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” – Romans 1:16

In times like these, nations are brought to their knees. Let us not be counted among the many who brought low solely by fear. For God has not bequeathed that spirit unto us…the body of Christ.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
– II Timothy 1:7

But let us come to our knees in prayer, in full expression of the power, love and peace of His promise. And let us do so with vigilance and tenacity; not yielding or succumbing to the status quo. Let us be worshippers when others are worried, comforters for those in need and peacemakers in the midst of violence.

Join me in this prayer…

“Dear Heavenly Father, creator of the universe and sustainer of everything in it. We pray that You first and foremost, comfort those that mourn and sorrow. Give them the peace that only you can give in times of great tragedy and heartache. And grant us all that same peace in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, as our world continues to display what your Word has so precisely prophesied. Let us not adopt a spirit of fear, but comfort us with Your security as we live our day to day lives. Give us to know that you are still in control and that all things still work together for good for those that love You and are called according to your purpose. Help us to keep our minds focused on you and the task at hand, which is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ until this world comes to an end. LORD, bless our leaders, lawmakers and lawmen with wisdom beyond human understanding. That they would operate more closely guided by Your Spirit in their office and profession; enacting law, policy and procedure in a way that pleases You and serves the people most efficiently, effectively and expediently. LORD, forgive us of any shortcomings and guide us in resolving the issues we bear with one another, as much as it depends on us. Bless those who are mentally ill, frustrated, hateful, unstable or simply ignored. Fill them with Your love and deliver them from whatever force, seen or unseen, natural or supernatural, that has them bound and oppressed. As we wait upon You, we shall renew our strength and continue in You word as we live this Christian life in hopeful expectation of what you have in store. For we know that the sufferings of this world do not compare to the glory in the next. Amen”

My friends, I pray that this letter has somewhat been a blessing to you and source of comfort and divine inspiration. Please continue to pray and be steadfast in your faith, committed to the work that God has commended you to. Know that you all are continually in our prayers and remember…