After a tragically malicious shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas where a gunman killed 26 people and wounded many others in the First Baptist Church last Sunday, a nation turned to its leadership for understanding. President Trump stated his prayers were with the victims and their families and, whatever you may think of him personally, he pointed the people to connect with God -- which is always the right thing to do. Senator Ted Cruz did what the president, who was half way around the world at the time, could not when he visited the small town and mourned with its people the brutality and loss of life.

There are many ways to rightly respond to such evil. As the pastor of my church is fond of saying, “prayer is plan A”. Communing with God in troubling times is what Jesus did, and his days were troubling indeed. Mourning with those who mourn is also appropriate. There is a time for tears of sorrow and helping victims and survivors. Paul wrote to the Romans the appropriateness of godliness in all situations when he said:

Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. – Romans 12.11-15

Unfortunately we cannot turn back the clock and keep events from occurring, but we can help bring the peace of Christ to people’s lives.

What is inappropriate is mocking the very beliefs the victims find comfort in. I do not talk a lot of politics on this site largely because politicians do not influence our lives as much as God does when we devote ourselves to him. I’m making one small exception today as I believe such haughtiness and self-righteousness as demonstrated by Representative Pramila Jayapal ought to be considered and remembered as the worst kind of example. On the social media site Twitter, she responded to Representative Paul Ryan’s comment “The people of Sutherland Springs need our prayers right now” with this thoughtless post:

“They were praying when it happened. They don’t need our prayers. They need us to address gun violence crises & pass sensible legislation.”

Let me be clear: our brothers and sisters in Jesus do need our prayers; pray for them with stamina and pray for them frequently. For God can do more for them than the entirety of the United States government, and so can we.

Following Paul’s teaching we should be zealous in providing assistance, enthusiastic in our service to God, being persistent in prayer. When he tells us to “contribute to the saints” he doesn’t necessarily mean to give monetarily. Contributions can include providing comfort, food, a listening ear, prayers for and with the suffering, and doing all we can for those who are agonizing over loss. What will not help any of the victims is more legislation. In fact, if I may be so bold as to address the Congresswoman, we already have laws on the books that might have stopped this senseless act of evil if only they had been followed. Furthermore, it is ignorant to assume that any law will keep a lawbreaker from committing unlawful acts, or that laws are more powerful than God.