While I do not know the whole story surrounding the Orlando act of terror, I am acquainted with the human story and our propensity for evil. I am grief-stricken and horrified that this is how mankind continues to use the gift of life: by robbing others of their own gift. The Orlando tragedy is part of a historical thread of destruction that has been and will be the way of mankind. I’ve read only a few different responses to the tragedy and it saddens me further that we humans are not simply grieving, but we are finger pointing. “It’s the problem of religion.” “It’s the problem of gun control.” “It’s the problem of certain kinds of sin.” No, it is indicative of the overall problem of mankind. Jesus addressed the problem through his teaching.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he explained that though an action has not yet been taken, the thoughts of malice and anger are already working towards an end action. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:20-22) The seed of anger gives birth to works of evil. Sometimes, the evil born is a great tragedy, such as in Orlando. Sometimes, the evil born is a massacre, such as Joseph Stalin’s starving of the Ukrainian people. Sometimes, the evil born is simply how we treat other humans in our daily life, robbing them of a loving community. And still further, sometimes the evil is the thoughts that we have towards one another that ultimately inform how we engage our world. 

We’ve seen such heart-breaking cowardice in Orlando. A human, rather than face disagreements and philosophical differences with respect for human life, runs away from confrontation and from the pain of maturity by killing others. And this tragedy is indicative of who we are; at different levels and in different ways. Jesus taught us to respect all human life in all aspects of our own lives, from our thoughts to our actions. He gave the radical teaching of unconditional love in Luke 6:27-36, when he taught us to “Love our enemies” and to “do good to those who hate you.” If we were to cultivate this type of environment, hatred would starve. Yet, ever tearing us asunder, is the misuse of the human will; rationalizing nearly everything we desire. “I don’t have to treat them well because they differ with me on sexuality/morality/religion/philosophy/politics/economics.” “I don’t have to treat them well, because ‘their’ people did harm to ‘our’ people in the past.” And thus the humans rationalize the very teaching Jesus spoke against, which is, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemies.” (Matthew 5:43)

“Haters,” “bigots,” and “oppressors” are those who do not agree with me. And so the human rationalizes that it is better to rid ourselves of those “haters” because the world will know peace if we can just get rid of them. Blinded to the truth, participating in the same intolerance of which they condemn, rationalizing destruction for the sake of peace and tolerance. The historical thread continues to weave its way through the generations, each one calling itself more “enlightened” than the past.

But there is only one way: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (Luke 6:27-28, 31) When the human steps a millimeter away from this teaching, the seed of anger has been planted. As that seed ages and takes root, it’s fruit of destruction rots human life, robbing even the most basic right to life.

So I grieve with those affected by the Orlando terrorism. And I grieve with those who are still affected by whatever act of evil has come to them in their lifetime. If it were not for the true hope and beauty of resurrection and redemption, I would not be able to bear the burden of a realistic perspective on human evil.