I have to admit, I'm a bit saddened today. I look out on the landscape of people and I wonder. I wonder if people really understand the implications of their choices and actions. I wonder if they have considered anything beyond their own point of view. I wonder if their entire process for making decisions is simply charging blindly ahead to lay hold of whatever feels good to them at the moment. I look out on the landscape of people, and I wonder if they know they are playing with fire.

Where do I begin?

In the early hours on Sunday, June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen went on a shooting spree at a local Orlando Florida bar. It is believed he was targeting homosexuals for execution in the name of his religion.

Later that same Sunday, Pastor Roger Jimenez of Verity Baptist Church, while addressing his congregation, made some rather heartless comments concerning the results of Omar Mateen's actions. Comments which a lot of Christians -- myself included -- would disagree with.

This Sunday -- today, June 19, 2016 -- as a response to Pastor Jimenez, a protest was mounted outside of Verity Baptist Church. A variety of people showed up carrying signs of all kinds. Some were homosexuals denouncing the pastor. Others were atheists promoting their views. And still others were making proclamations that, as with Pastor Jimenez, I would disagree with.

These events, as well as others, have sparked a variety of reactions; from political posturing, to social posturing, to mudslinging, and much, much more. And all I can think to myself is, I wonder if we know that we are all playing with fire.

With each event, the rhetoric gets ratcheted up, the anger gets ratcheted up, and soon the violence will get ratcheted up. Anger begets anger, hate begets hate, violence begets violence... that is, so long as we feed into these things. And when we feed these, we all lose -- all of us.

I know there are those on each side of any heated conflict, feeling good about themselves, even laughing at the other side, truly believing that they are on the winning side, but you deceive yourself. It doesn't matter who or what we are -- Christian, atheist, Muslim, homosexual, whoever or whatever -- when we are at each others throats, we ALL lose! ALL OF US! And if you can't see that, then you need to look again.

To Pastor Jimenez, you have served to deepen the division, and furthered the hatred of Christians in this nation. Maybe not by a lot, but by more than enough. I have no doubt you have done so in accordance to an honest and heartfelt belief, however, you are in error. You are not the first to make such a mistake, and I'm certain you will not be the last. Nevertheless, I don't believe the Lord would be pleased.

To my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, it isn't that difficult to see that the darkness is getting darker. But if we are to be the light of the world God intends for us to be, then we cannot allow ourselves to go dark. Come out from among this type of thinking. No, I'm not talking about compromise. And no, I'm not talking about whitewashing sin, or no longer calling sin sinful. I'm talking about exemplifying the love, kindness, and compassion of Christ to all around us.

And to all others, don't be misled by those who paint entire groups of people with a single brush. All you have to do is look and see that not all Christians are the hate mongers many portray them to be. In fact, the vast majority of us are not. But even if we were, Christ is not, and it makes no sense to reject Him based on the actions of another.

I could go into greater detail on all of these things. I could lay out argument after argument for and against each. And then I could go back and tear apart every argument I made if I so chose. This is what all of us should be able to do with our beliefs if we were truly honest in seeking out the truth rather than trying to prop up an agenda. However, you know what? It doesn't matter. If we are so unwilling as a people to not even take a moment to look at ourselves, to examine ourselves and our motivations, or to consider the implications of our actions, then more detail won't help.

So allow me to leave you with this instead. In the Bible, Jesus told a parable of Lazarus and the rich man. (Luke 16:19-31) Lazarus lived a difficult life in poverty, and the rich man lived a life of comfort. When each died, Lazarus went to heaven while the rich man went to hell. In a desperate attempt to keep his brothers from ending up in the same place as him, he asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn them. But Abraham told him that even if someone came back from the dead, they still wouldn't listen to their warnings. Why? Because they were so hardened, they were unwilling to take a step back for anything, or anyone, and reconsider their choices and their consequences. They already had all they needed to know right in front of them, they just needed to care enough to look at it.

We're headed down a very bad, very dark road, and the alarm is sounding.

John 8:2-11 (NIV) At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," she said.

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

If you liked this message, then I'd like to ask you to please consider contributing to the work God has called me to do by giving a financial gift. Your support is vital in helping the message of "Freedom in Christ" go forth, bringing liberty to all. (Galatians 5:1) The Lord has made us to lean upon one another, and in doing so, together we are strengthened. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) So take all that I have freely offered, but then, consider giving back, as this is what the Lord would have us do. Click the "Gifts" link at the top of this page to find out how you can help.

May God bless you richly!

Mark Moyers