Day 2957 of the 7 day Bible verse challenge.

Psalm 14:1 NIV

“Thoughts and prayers mean nothing to dead kids.”

Ok. Sit down. Buckle up. Brace yourselves. I got some stuff to say.

Can you imagine the kind of inherent hatred that must exist within someone to share that message in the moments and hours and days immediately following a truly horrific event in which truly innocent people lost their lives? Can you imagine the kind of contempt that someone must have in their hearts to utter those words, harbor those thoughts, consider that perspective when people have just had their lives ripped apart? Can you believe that we live in a world where that kind of response is not only possible but popular?

Yesterday we discussed many of the heart-wrenching questions that are asked in the wake of a tragic unfolding such as we saw the day before, and in many days prior. In the days following a moment of immense misery there's always this instinctual searching for a reasoning, an understanding, some kind of answer to try and give the pain a purpose. There's a human need to comprehend the misery, the brokenness, the heartbreak, the confusion, the malice.

And so, in the aftermath of tragedy, people being pondering these proliferating perplexities and searching for some answer that can help make it all make sense. But, due to our countless different backgrounds and perspectives and motives, the momentary unity found in seeking understanding quickly gives way to a much different purpose. The questions stop being asked and the statements start being made. The moments of compassion are replaced by moments of people seeking opportunity to voice their opinions.

The time fades for seeking unity, and instead, platforms are sought from which to begin speaking blame and sharing hatred and manifesting a furthering of the misery. Rather than actually seeking reason or understanding or a way of comprehending the unnecessary event that has unfolded, motives begin moving people in different directions. All because, in truth, nobody wants to understand. Nobody wants things to change. Nobody wants to see a better world. Too many just want to pretend that they’re better than those who they think are either causing the problems or failing to address them.

But as we talked about yesterday, in a world built on hatred that breeds darkness and division, those motives tend to start getting rather unhelpful. Some seek out someone to blame. Some resort to their personally held beliefs and refuse to consider any perspective that may be slightly different. Some instantly put together protests and paint signs. Some continue seeking answers from a heart truly trying to understand it all.

Then there are yet another group that just can't help but give into the hatred that's thriving inside. They take advantage of an unfortunate situation and use it as a platform from which to spew their venomous opinions. They take advantage of someone's pain and use it as a perfect moment to add to it by pouring their hatred onto the fire and seeking ways to hurt even more than those directly involved. They begin sharing these tired and hate-driving ideas that only poke those who respond to tragedy in a way that doesn’t rely upon protests or policy change.

Sadly, this kind of tragedy is a byproduct of a nation without heart, without compassion, without morality, without decency. This kind of horrific unfolding is a symptom of a civilization that's dying. But rather than find a way to make things better, some are perfectly content with burning it down. And, as an example of this hate-fueled existence, allow me to share with you one of the incredibly common reactionary responses to the tragedies that happen in our world:

"Thoughts and prayers mean nothing."

Just google it. There are all sorts of pre-made images ripe and ready for sharing should something happen that offers the opportunity to share your opinion that faith is foolish and therefore unfruitful. Wow, what a wonderful world we’ve made! How can we not be thoroughly proud of ourselves and this lush land of inclusion and acceptance that we’ve created? This wonderful world so filled with love and kindness and understanding is so welcoming to any and all, so long as you don’t actually believe in a God who thinks we’re destroying what He created.

If by some sheer happenstance you know me personally, then you know I'm an incredibly quiet person who is almost the poster child of introversion. I don't talk all that much as don't find that I have much to add to the contemporary conversations that most people have about things common in our world today. Instead, I tend to float through most hours of most days carrying a mind considering the life to come and how to better share with those here the truth that was offered that leads us to the only One who can lead us to that eternal life.

But, when my sister shared with me that someone she knew posted that quote above, in that moment this calm and quiet person erupted into a tirade of words of which I couldn't contain. Because I'm sick of our faith being a twisted into a stick with which society beats us down and blames for not doing enough.

All because they apparently think that we could accomplish far more by yelling on the street corner or carrying a sign that will end up in the trash or donating a few bucks to some fly-by-night organization that only pockets most of it and never actually accomplishes anything at all.

Why is it that the world thinks we're not doing enough? Why is that every time something horrific happens that you see folks sharing that obviously belittling message attacking those who are offering thoughts and prayers to those who are hurting? Why is it that our faith continues to be seen as a worthless and fruitless and needless and senseless and foolish set of beliefs that have no merit or purpose?

Because we live in a world that is completely convinced that there is no God. And rather than seeking understanding or standing on compassion the world around us attacks us because they assume that our prayers are nothing but empty words drifting off into the nothingness that they believe is above.

This world thinks our faith is foolish because they don't have the courage to believe in anything or anyone other than themselves and their precious opinions.

This world is so filled with hatred and contempt and division that folks refuse to acknowledge that our praying is being done from a heart deeply rooted in compassion. This world cannot see what we see, will not believe what we believe, and will therefore sadly never understand that praying to a God who loves us more than we love ourselves is the greatest thing that any of us could do in a moment of deep darkness and despair. This world only knows hatred and contempt, and so our faith and the love it implores us to seek simply makes no sense to the point that it seems impossible and worthless.

Instead, the world continues choosing to further perpetuate the perpetual darkness that they've grown to enjoy, to embrace, to embody.

Rather than allow folks to respond to tragedy in a way that they honestly believe to be loving, powerful and fruitful, the world attacks that love and grace and pure kindness with hatred and rebuke and rejection. And yet, we just keep wondering why things like this latest tragedy continue to happen. Hmm, got a real brain-twister on our hands, don't we?

Why do bad things continue to unfold on an almost daily basis? Could it maybe have something to do with the fact that even those who offer to pray and seek good and try to be compassionate and kind are attacked and belittled? Could it be that even light offered in the aftermath of darkness is continually met with further hatred and contempt? Might it be that the world just loves imploding and refuses to allow kindness, whatever the form, to possibly be acceptable?

I think the answer is hidden right here in the opening of Psalm 14. We're a foolish world. We're a world that blames God for not being there to make all the problems go away when we told God to go away. We're a society seeking the selfish satisfaction of sinful indulgence, and kindness and love and mercy and forgiveness and compassion and understanding are simply all but impossible because we're almost entirely focused inward and unable to do anything to anyone if it's not attack them for looking different, being different, believing different.

The fact of the matter is that our world is beyond corrupted. By what? Hatred. Selfishness. Animosity. Jealousy. Greed. Gluttony. Mental illness made admissible. Darkness, just a pure, pitch-black abyss where light and love are no longer known.

What I don't understand is how you make a situation better by adding personal hatred in the mix. How does it help those grieving to use their situation as a means to share vile drivel that only hurts more? How do we propose overcoming the pain by adding to it? Maybe someone can explain that to me, but since you can't, I won't wait too long for that explanation.

My point is this: Stop. Just stop. In the aftermath of a truly horrific event, stop. Stop using it as a platform. Stop using it to express your discontent with those who are different from you. Stop grabbing these moments and using them to further your opinions and instead use them to be kind. Use them to offer love. Use them as a moment in which you choose to rise above the hate inside and do some good.

Because in the wake of a tragedy, the last thing the world needs is more hatred.

It's fine if you think prayer does nothing because you don't believe in God. That is your choice, your decision, your life. This is ours. Our faith means more to us than your hate does to you, I can promise you that. But, if you refuse to turn off the anger and let go of the resentment and step out of the darkness, don't blame or beat or belittle those who refuse to walk out of the light. If hatred is simply who you want to be and how you want to live, that's fine. Just please be decent enough to save it for a few days after something bad happens.

We're all always going to be different in one way or another. To those among the faithful, don't expect much from a world where God isn't welcome. To those outside of the faith, be happy where you are, happy enough to leave us alone. If you're truly good with hate and misery and anger and contending so hard for your vile opinions that you can't bear any kind of good will given toward others, then please stay in your little corner of contempt. We won't bother you, we just ask the same in return.

In the end, bad things will continue to happen in this wicked world. Where God isn't welcome or accepted or believed in, His love will largely be missed and unseen and unknown. That's just the way it goes. But all of this derision and division, it's not helping anybody. Again, you can hate us, you can hate our faith, you can think us fools who are wasting our time and not accomplishing anything. That's cool if that how you wish to exist.

But I would rather stand among the few who respond to darkness with any kind of light and love they can find than with the many who hate any and all kinds of good simply because they’re okay watching things get worse and don’t have the courage to try and do something about it.

Each of us has to choose how we live our lives, and each of us will bear the consequences of those choices, whatever they may be. Nobody has to accept or understand or even choose to acknowledge our faith in Christ. We won't force it on you. We hope you'll change your mind, but we won't force it. I think it's only reasonable, only humane, only common sense to ask that we all just stop looking down on one another when truly only acting out of a place of love.

You don't have to understand how we love or how we believe in displaying it. But there's really nothing to gain by making fun, standing in judgment, or offering hatred in return for what we truly offer as an expression of our love and compassion and caring for those around us.

We may look differently, live differently, love differently than the world, and that way of life and way of love may be entirely misunderstood. But to us, turning to our Father who is who we believe to be the definition of love is the greatest thing we can offer to a world growing incredibly cold.

And no matter what anyone says or what their hate-fueled opinions convince them to be true, acting out of love, however it may manifest, will always be far more productive than acting out of hatred. And nobody will ever convince me otherwise. Not ever. So ya'll may as well stop with the stupidity, cause you're only making yourselves look to be a part of the problem, not the solution.

Many sadly think that they make themselves look better by making others look bad. But in reality, all that accomplishes is a furthering of the divides that are driving this place right into the ground. And while that may be acceptable to some, it’s not to us. Because believe it or not, we really do care. We really do want better. We really do operate out of place of love and kindness and an urgency to make things better. We’re just trying to do it the best and most powerful way we know.

And though our thoughts and prayers may mean nothing to the world, they mean more to us than we can explain. Because to us, they turn our hearts to something good and inspire us to do even better.

I challenge anyone to please explain to me how hatred can in any way do the same thing.

#LeaveNoSoulUntold