We know that many of you are experiencing the same emotions of grief and disbelief following the news of yesterday’s horrific events at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. It is same shock that we felt at the loss of nine lives during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015. We have seen this same evil at concerts, schools, workplaces and even on the street, but when it happens in a church we cannot deny the source and purpose of it.
In the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, the prophet finds himself witnessing injustice and evil as the Babylonians commit acts of violence against the Israelites. Habakkuk begs the Lord to intervene. God replies that he will act, but in his timing. God says that though his justice will “linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (2:3). Habakkuk chooses to trust the Lord even in the waiting. While we cannot understand why anyone would commit such evil acts or explain why evil seems to be more and more prevalent, we can take comfort that the Lord is our strength to help use endure even in the darkest of circumstances.
For our congregation, let us be reminded that our only real hope is found in the fact that Christ is building his kingdom and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). We recognize that our battle is not against “flesh and blood, but against the rules, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). Most importantly, we remember that the Father chose for Jesus to suffer for us so that through his sacrifice we could be saved.
The hope of those martyred in Sutherland Springs, Texas, is the hope of all martyrs. That through their sacrifice because of the name of Jesus, Jesus would be glorified, and that God will reward, restore, and renew them in a special way in his eternal kingdom. As for us, we are called to pray for our brothers and sisters in Texas who have been asked to walk such a hard road. We are also called to prayerfully consider how to exist in this current climate to care for our congregation while maintaining Christ’s witness of love and peace in this world. This is something that our board, staff, and various committees of the church have done and will continue to do. Finally, we urge you to pray regularly for Calvary that we would be willing to lay down our lives for others but that God would protect us spiritually and physically from the evil one as we gather together to worship Jesus.
Jim and Lisa Samra