8 Ways to Respond as Christians to Personal, National, and World Tragedy

Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

In my Worldviews and Discipleship class at Cornerstone BibleAcademy class the other night, our instructor, Pastor RobDalrymple, asked us to discuss a question: How should we, as Christian Americans, respond to the tragedy of Boston?

There were many thoughtful responses, ones you would probably think of yourself.

Dr. Dalrymple then went on to ask us if Christian Indonesians (or Christian Africans, or Christian Chinese, or Christian Indians or Christian Palestinians – my additions) should respond in the same way? He then challenged us with this: If we are all Christians, we should all be responding as Christians. 

It got me thinking. Which was probably his objective.

I went back to the roots of Christian thinking – Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, recorded in the book of Matthew 5:1-7:29.

How should we respond as Christians when tragedy occurs – in our lives, in our nation, in the world?

1) Matt 5:1-16 Refine our own character

Known as the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us about the beauty of God’s blessings as our Christian character matures in him. It’s a process. We acknowledge our need for him and mourn the fact that before Christ, we were different people. Because of that recognition, we are able to be gentle with others who are sinners, too.

We begin our search for the right path and receive God’s mercy; as a result, mercy overflows and we give that overflow to others. As we do that, we expect nothing in return – our motives are pure because God’s motives are pure – He gives out of love. 

It’s only at this point we are able to be peacemakers, and it’s at this pinnacle that we’re subject to the attacks of the enemy. Persecution comes when we follow the will of God. The enemy wants to divide us, wants us to identify with and worship other gods (Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, Tea Party, Americans, name yours!) instead of YHWH, El SHADDAI, GOD (Exodus 20:2-3).

When we remain steadfast against those attacks and overcome that kind of persecution, we can finally become light and salt in the face of tragedy.

2) Matt 5:17-48 Obey the law in our hearts

Jesus fulfills the law of Moses by telling us to take the law from paper into our hearts (Deuteronomy 6:4-6). He spells it out so specifically we can’t ignore it, yet we do every day. We become angry with our friends, wield lustful intent, divorce without honor, take offense and insist on retribution, and turn away from and would never think of praying for those who we define as “our enemies.” 

Acting in this manner and attempting to lasso people to our point of view through laws they do not wish imposed upon them is hypocritical at best and dictatorial (not democratic) at worst. It pushes people away from Christ.

We must commit ourselves to being different than the world around us. We must commit ourselves to wearing our hearts on our sleeves. We must commit ourselves to showing up as compassionate, caring, loving individuals. We must commit to changing society not through laws but through loving actions. 

3) Matt 6:1-34 Spend time alone with God; pray, fast and trust

Jesus teaches us to pray behind closed doors. He tells us to fast, to bring our troubles to God, yet reminds us that God will take care of our day-to-day needs. We don’t have to get the words right, we just have to be honest (James 5:13-16). But we also have to listen.

So many times, we use excuse after excuse for our busyness. “I don’t have time to sit alone with God.” “My work hours are so long.” “I have to get the kids here and there.” “I get up too early.” “I go to bed too late.” Who or what god are we worshipping?

4) Matt 7:1-6 Remember we are all sinners

Jesus reminds us that, even though we are believers, we still sin. If we were perfect, we wouldn’t be Christians. Let’s not cast stones, let’s not reach out to take splinters or shoot flaming arrows. (John 8:7)

He also reminds us to not cram our religious beliefs down other people’s throats. All that does is choke them. When others hurt, let’s reach out to comfort, to love, to bring peace. 

We must be attractive enough as people on the inside and transparent enough as love-filled Jesus followers on the outside so others want to hear us and want to follow Jesus.

5) Matt 7:7-11 Ask for wisdom

God is here, waiting for us to ask him for help. He will never come uninvited, but He has wisdom, peace, discernment and comfort to give us. (James 1:5-6) No, He may not answer all of our “why” questions. 

He will, however, embrace us with an immeasurable love and understanding, with arms wide enough to hold all of our emotions, and when we are ready to accept it, a peace beyond our comprehension.

6) Matt 7:12-14 Follow the Golden Rule

Continue to be yoked to Jesus (Matt 11:29). Continue to walk the path that leads to the narrow gate. It is tempting to step off when tragedy strikes, easy to fall onto the path of anger, resentment, accusation and blame. 

Resist it, because that path is so far from the direction we want to journey as Christians, the way back will be an obstacle course of regret, guilt, shame and self-doubt.

7) Matt 7:15-20 Bear good fruit

“Beware of false prophets,” says Jesus, “who come to you in sheep’s clothing but are really ravenous wolves.” Do you listen to the rants or blogs of “political correspondents” or talking heads either on TV or online, or radio show hosts who incite divisiveness like a fire in dry grass (James 3:5-8)?

Do you pass along political jokes or comments in the guise of, “well, I have a right to my own opinion,” when the result is division rather than coalition or peacemaking?

Reread Galatians 5:22-23. Are you bearing good fruit? In times of tragedy particularly, Christians need to set an example of putting personal agendas behind, putting Jesus first and pulling the country together.

8) Matt 7:21-19 Obey Jesus’ words

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon a rock.”

Hm. Was Jesus just kidding when he said this? Not so much (James 1:22-25). James, the brother of Jesus, told us that when we meet trials, the testing of our faith “produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect, complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).” 

Perfect, not in the sense of “having no flaws,” but in the sense of fitting God’s needs for His purposes, surrendering and allowing Him to sculpt you into who He designed you to be.”

In other words, if, during tragedy, we are willing to

1. refine our own character
2. obey the law in our hearts
3. spend time alone with God –praying, fasting and trusting in Him
4. remember that we’re all sinners
5. ask for wisdom
6. continue to be yoked to Jesus
7. bear good fruit, and
8. obey Jesus’ words 

 it will become an opportunity to shine the warmth of God’s light, build God’s kingdom and mature our own Christian faith and character in Christ.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16