When a Symbol is Changed: Tragedy on Boston

I was saddened today when I heard the news that two bombs had exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon at a point in the race when this area was the most crowded.  I was even more saddened later when I heard that three people had passed away and nearly 80 had been treated for injuries.  When I heard the news I immediately thought of the World Trade Center bombing in New York in the 1993, the federal building bombing in Oklahoma City in 1995, and the bombing in Centennial Park in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics.  I also thought of the scenes in Aurora and Newtown from the past year.  The images that flashed across the screen seemed more like a scene from Batman than actual reality.  It seems that as soon as the news stops their daily conversation about the last major tragedy another one happens.

I mourn at the loss of life.  I feel empathy for those who were affected.  My heart breaks for those who were harmed, mentally or physically, and my mind wonder why an event like this happens.  I wonder how a person could be so evil as to plan and carry out an event like this.  I wonder what kind of hate has to permeate a person's heart in order for them to carry out mass murder.  My mind was filled with questions, many of which I will never know the answer to.  I can't explain what leads a person to do something like this, but I know what could have saved them.  I don't know what to say to those who mourn, but I know they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4). 

The sight of the explosion struck me in a particular way.  Whoever carried out this bombing chose a scene of jubilation and celebration as the scene for fear and terror.  A finish line is a symbol of accomplishment and joy, and today it was turned into one of confusion and panic.  It was clear to me that the person (or persons) who did this did so to take a positive symbol and turn it into a negative one.  As I contemplated this I couldn't help but think of the crucifixion of Jesus.  In the first century the cross was a symbol of pain and suffering.  Those who passed by Golgotha and saw men being crucified would have had feelings of disdain and disgust.  Jesus, however, didn't let the symbolism of the cross define him.  Through his resurrection, he defined what the cross meant.  After his resurrection people no longer looked at crosses with fear and no longer thought of death.  Now they look at the cross and have joy, being reassured of their salvation.

Just as Jesus took the cross, this negative symbol, and turned it into a symbol of salvation, I know that he can do the same with this event today.  Right now the scene is one of fear, death, and injury, but in time it will be redeemed and will again become a scene of victory and triumph.

There will be a lot of discussion in the next few days about why tragedies like these happen.  People will blame violent movies, the eroding of our educational system, the breakdown of the family, angry music, gay marriage, a lack of prayer in school, and on and on and on.  All of these explanations will miss the point, as the true cause of the problem will never be discussed.  These possible causes are merely symptoms of the real sickness: sin.  It is the sin within us that leads people to carry out such violent actions.  It is important to remember that we all sin and are in need of a savior.  It is because of this imperfection that God sent his perfect son to become perfection for us.  It is only Him who can save a hardened heart.

I know that good will come from this tragedy.  I know that God will work in and through this horrible experience.  I also know that we as Christians have the message that can bring comfort to those who hurt, clarity to those who question, and salvation for those that need saving.  May we never miss an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with those who need it.

Eating Alone

Today I was at what I call my "other job," working part-time as a server at a well known chain Italian restaurant.  At one of my tables was a man, probably in his late 20's or early 30's, who came in to eat by himself.  We have a lot of people that come in and eat alone, and as a 26-year-old bachelor who occasionally eats out alone myself, I typically don't find anything odd about people eating solo.  For some reason today though, I felt my heart breaking for this single man eating alone.

"Who was he?" I wondered.

"What is his story?"

"Does he know Jesus and have a relationship with him?"

Questions like these began to run through my mind as my heart felt heavy for another human being whose eternal destiny might be in jeopardy.  I began to quietly pray in the side station, not knowing where he stood with our Creator.

As I took his food out to him and brought him drink refills I began to chat with him a bit.  We were slow today, so I had some extra time to stop and talk.  My primary intention was simply to connect with him and let him know that he wasn't alone.  At the end of his meal I brought him his check, and we are supposed to give every guest what are called "Guest Connection Cards."  We are supposed to write a little message on one side, then ask the guest to leave us a comment on the back.  No matter what I write on the card, I always end it with "God bless."  Today was no exception.

After he had left I went and retrieved the card from the table.  He had left a note on the back thanking me for my service and for the great food, then he signed it "God bless. 1 John 3:16."  I was relieved to know that this man wasn't alone and that his eternal destiny in heaven was assured.

I knew that 1 John 3:16 was a familiar verse, but I couldn't recall what it was off hand, so I pulled out my phone, opened my Bible app, and quickly did a search.  Everyone is familiar with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  In my opinion, 1 John 3:16 is an equally important verse for Christians to know, and one that may be nearly as recognizable, even if the reference isn't always known.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

As Christians we are supposed to follow the example of Christ, and 1 John 3:16 tells us that we ought to lay down out lives for our brothers, just as Christ laid down his life for us.  Most of us will never have the opportunity to actually lay down our life and die in order to save the life of another person.  However, we do have the opportunity to lay down our lives for our brothers.  Every day we have the opportunity to lay down our desires, ambitions, pride, and fear; and instead pick up the cross of Christ and share our faith with others.  When we deny our own desires for the sake of others we are laying down our life.

As Christians we have been given an unimaginable gift.  Not only have we been saved from death by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but we have been given a message that can save others as well, and God has chosen us to be His messengers.  We have one primary responsibility as Christians, and that is to share the good new of Jesus Christ with those who do not know him.

We have two accounts from scripture of what Jesus' last words were before ascending into heaven.  One comes to us from the book of Acts, when Jesus tells his disciples that they will be his "witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8b).  The second and more well known account of Christ's final words is commonly know as the Great Commission and it is found in the book of Matthew.

I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.
Matthew 28:18-20

This is THE Cause of Christ, and this is the cause that all Christians are called to.  This is what we ought to be doing.  Sharing this message with everyone we can is how we lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  The message of Jesus Christ is so overwhelmingly beautiful and powerful that we cannot sit around and keep it to ourselves.  It is so true and transformational that we should be doing everything we can to take that message to a world that needs to hear it.

I'm sick and tired of seeing Christians gather in church buildings waiting for the lost to come to them. Jesus didn't say to sit around, build buildings, and run programs.  He told us to "GO!"  Church isn't a building, it's what Christians do outside of that building.  It's what they do the other 575 hours each week when we aren't at church that really matters.  I want my church to be filled with broken people looking for healing.  I want my church to be filled with lonely people in need of companionship.  I want my church to be filled with sinners in need of a savior.  And I want people to leave my church building every week excited about sharing the good news of the gospel with everyone they meet.  I want their hearts to break, like mine did today, for strangers and friends alike.  I want them to be so convicted by THE Cause and so overwhelmed by God's love that they can't help but lay down their lives for their brothers and share the message.

This is what life is really all about as a Christian.  It's not about getting the things that you want.  The only way to truly live is to die to our own desires, ambitions, pride, and fears; and to pick up the cross of Christ and share the good news with everyone we can.  We have been given a gift.  Let's not keep it to ourselves.