Dylann Roof, a man who unleashed a shooting rampage on a Charleston AME church, has one comment on his Facebook profile picture.
It’s from a black man, gospel musician Marcus Stanley, who has been shot himself eight times.
“I don’t look at you with the eyes of hatred, or judge you by your appearance or race, but I look at you as a human being that made a horrible decision to take the lives of 9 living & breathing people,” Stanley writes. The Facebook page has since been removed.
Roof’s crimes have been compared to the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, by members of the KKK.
Looking to John 3:16-17, we as Christians believe that Christ came for anyone who believes in Him, and Stanley highlights that Roof is not exempt from this love.
And then Stanley writes out the words millions have said before, hoping Roof can follow in their footsteps:
“I love you Dylann… even in the midst of the darkness and pain you’ve caused, but more importantly HE loves you.
“If you would like to make that confession, then repeat these words.
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.
I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.
You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.
Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.
Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.
Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.”
