Orlando needs more waiters...

Orlando…a tragedy of proportions we have not seen before, at least in our lifetime. No matter your stance on sexual morality, traditional roles of gender, or LGBT+ issues, human lives were ended. Early on a Sunday morning, just a few days ago, someone who can’t be asked for his motives, took the lives of numerous individuals. It doesn’t matter what your political stripe may be, you can’t help but be affected by this tragedy when the faces of the victims and their families are shown. PEOPLE, these were people, sinners, yes…but aren’t we all.

If we lose sight of humanity, no matter what it is wrapped in, are we not too far gone. You can be right in your theology, but quite wrong in your humanity. We should mourn with those that mourn, Romans 12:15 (KJV) “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Are we so callous in our pursuit of truth and theological integrity that we have forgotten that those who were murdered was someone’s child, sibling, and/or parent? I think of the words of Jeremiah, the ‘Weeping Prophet’, Lamentations 1:16 (KJV) “For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.”

True evil exists, but… sorry it was not that LGBT+ person that was gun-downed in pursuit of a goal that came from the pits of Hell. Paul said, Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Yes, Virginia (or Orlando), evil does exist, on display, in its darkest, most grotesque form. Evil manifested itself in the heart of a man, driven by irrational (and any one that thinks he was rational, needs to have THEIR head examined) thoughts, desires, and wishes. Pure evil…ugly…brutal…leaving death in its wake.

What do we do, those that claim Christ, which reject LGBT+ as an acceptable lifestyle, according to God’s Word? Simply we pray, love, and minister. Praying seems obvious, as it was instantaneous for the Christian who awoke to the news of the shooting. Prayers that continue to be lifted for those forever damaged by this unthinkable tragedy. We love them. Love does not mean accepting the lifestyle, but it does mean accepting the person. Christians are obligated to live peaceful, gracious, and forgiving lives, in our communities, work environment, and homes. Finally, let's minister. The Greek word, διάκονος, where we get our word ‘deacon’, and is often translated as 'minister', was used for what we would call ‘waiters’ today.

A good waiter makes sure you have everything you need to enjoy your meal. He doesn’t care if you are monogamous, LGBT+, and/or even religious. His (or her) duty is to serve the patron. The have come hungry (presumably) and you can provide that. Along the way you make sure their drink is full, bread is on the table, and their silverware is clean. Some will say the best waiters (or waitresses) are the ones not seen too much, but makes sure the essentials are taken care of. Maybe we need more διάκονος in our churches and less theologians-espousing the truth. Maybe we just need to make sure their table is not sticky (one of my wife’s pet-peeves) or they are not thirsty or hungry. Maybe, just maybe that’s what they need…

#tragedy #waiter #minister #serve