Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Religion News
Let Us Prove by the Way We Love Each Other That the Light Is Winning Despite this Act of Madness

Let Us Prove by the Way We Love Each Other That the Light Is Winning Despite this Act of Madness

Last updated on: October 5, 2017 at 9:46 pm by Tim Suttle

Let Us Prove by the Way We Love Each Other That the Light Is Winning Despite this Act of Madness 2017-10-05T21:46:48-06:00 Tim Suttle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

They were gathered to celebrate life and friendship, to revel in the music, to sing songs together and delight in the goodness of being alive. They gathered to experience beauty.

Then he opened fire.

Early reports are saying more than 58 people are dead. Five hundred have been taken to hospitals.

It was an act of madness. There is no way to make sense of this, don’t even try. You cannot reason with madness. You cannot swallow the darkness.

How long Oh Lord?

I have said this many times on this blog, and will say it over and over again. I will say it until I truly believe it. I will say it so that you will hold me to it… here it is:

I refuse to believe that evil wins. I refuse to allow this act of madness to breed bitterness in my heart. No one can make me hate. I will love my way through this. When I am faced with unspeakable evil I will refuse to lash out in hate and anger, but I will only love, love, love. I will believe that love is stronger than hate–that love wins. That the light is winning. I will continue to hope in the face of evil and it will be my ultimate act of defiance.

What should we do?

First: Don’t get used to this violence. This not how it has to be. Don’t tune it out. Don’t try to distract or numb yourself. We have to bear witness to what happened.

Second: Pick a side. Pick the side of light. Never make friends with the darkness. “Rage, Rage, Rage, against the dying of the light.” Weep with those who weep, to be sure, but never let evil tempt you to hate. Refuse to let this be one more thing that causes us to lunge at each other’s throats.

Third: Take the sadness and the horror and channel it into energy that motivates you to pray for those whose lives have been turned upside down. Pray that our society can find a way to live together without killing each other. Pray for justice, and mercy, and peace.

Fourth: Consider the idea that we might be able to come together around common sense gun laws that restrict sales of guns that are only designed to kill human beings. I’m a gun owner and grew up hunting. But I have become convinced that selling assault rifles to the general public is simply unwise. You don’t have to land where I have, but I challenge you to at least consider the idea as you mourn with those who mourn today.

Five: The most radical thing to do right now is continue to pray and act and think and live in hope. Hug your family. Be good to one another. Let us prove by the way we love each other that the light is still winning, despite this act of madness.

When my own words fail me, I know it’s time for the Psalms. I will be spending a lot of time reading Psalm 31 today**:**

1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
as for me, I trust in the Lord.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.

9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, Lord,
for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips be silenced,
for with pride and contempt
they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 26, 2017

To Kneel Is Human, to Listen Is Divine

Next Post

October 3, 2017 Top 25 Tom Petty Songs of All Time

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category abortion corruption Donald Trump elections Empire Entertainment Ezra Klein ideology Justice Lacan politics race Sports Ta-Nehisi Coates Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 March 2026 September 2025 March 2025 June 2024 January 2024 December 2023 May 2023 February 2023 October 2022 April 2022 March 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 September 2020 July 2020 June 2020 March 2020 September 2019 July 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 August 2010 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "The love of money is the root of all evil"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Solomon Job Jesus Paul