Once again, an act of hate and cowardice has ended life and caused harm, this time to concert-goers in Las Vegas. For those injured and for the many families who lost loved ones, we pray for comfort and healing. For the First Responders, those who are providing care, and those who are investigating this horrific act of terror, we ask for the Lord’s strength and guidance. We pray for peace for our nation and for the world.
People of conscience are stunned by the capacity of some to do violence to absolute strangers with whom the perpetrators have had no interaction. Anyone who could shoot into a crowd with the aim of killing as many people as possible is certainly depraved. Whenever we forget that we are all created in the image of our Creator (Genesis 1:27), hate and violence can be easily embraced. When we forget that life is sacred, ultimately belongs to God, and that all human life is precious (Matthew 10:29-31), it becomes more easy to devalue life… in fact, that is exactly where such a sinful perspective will ultimately lead.
Life is precious. Life is sacred. Humans are created in the image of God. These values must be proclaimed and taught and celebrated regardless of nationality, creed, race, ethnicity, political perspective or anything else. It is up to people of conscience, especially those who are the Disciples of Jesus Christ, to lift up and live out this truth.