Where Was the Church?

From the top of this post, you need to know my source of information is Facebook, and we all know how accurate that information can be, but even if this latest information isn't true, it does not change the substance of my blog post, so please indulge me as I muse for a few moments here about "Where Was the Church?"

The world was stunned just over a week ago when a gunman walked into an elementary school in Connecticut and started shooting. Well, most of the world, that is. The congregants of Westboro Baptist Church however, felt the funerals needed their brand of protesting, insisting the shooting was potentially linked to the recent decision of Connecticut voters to legalize gay marriage.

As most of humanity asks how could a loving God allow such atrocities, this "church group" shouts it was God's hand that brought this judgement to the community of Newtown.

Let me be clear, Westboro is WRONG! God is not a vindictive God. He is a fair judge, He is just and holy, and He is LOVE. There are many stories in the Bible which we consider horrific, how could God command the new nation of Israel to completely destroy the Amalekites? What kind of loving God slays a man and his wife (Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts) simply because they told a lie? What kind of loving God would allow the baby of King David, a man after God's own heart according to Acts 13:22, to die despite the fervent prayers and fasting of David and his household?

Each of these questions is an entire book in itself, and I'll pass on answering them for now to continue with my primary goal of this post. However, I believe God is LOVE and Westboro is WRONG.

So why did my Facebook friends post a picture showing Hells Angels motorcyclists standing between the Newtown residents and their antagonists? Where was the church? I applaud the Hells Angels for standing in the gap. However my heart hurts that churches were not leading this charge against hate.

It is a difficult place to be, asking churches to stand against other "churches" ... but when it comes to showing love to a hurting world, when it comes down to "protecting" the innocent from blatant hate-mongers, when doing the right thing is clearly evident; the church needs to take the lead.

Only then, only when the church finally stands up for the lost and hurting in our midst, will there be "peace on Earth and good will towards men."