What the AME Shooting Has Taught Me About Believers

When evil attacks, like last week at Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church, I doubt a victory for Christ is on the mind of anyone.

Instead, we hurt … as we should, for there’s a time for everything under the sun, including mourning. But in addition to the heartache, I’ve been struck by something else, something beautiful and organic and true.

Just as He did when the Islamic State martyred Coptic Christians earlier this year, the Prince of Peace is gathering around His beloved, and we are lifting our voices in prayer for the families, for the church, for our brethren.

There’s something so beautiful and pure about being one body of Christ, and it comes to the forefront when tragedy strikes. Not only does it remind us to hug and kiss our loved ones, but it allows us to rearrange our priorities to give love to the broken, to minister to wounds both heartfelt and physical and to show the world we are Christ on Earth. 

When not under pressure, we slip. We get caught up in quibbles that do more to divide the kingdom than to unite it. We focus more on our differences than commonalities, and as we are divided, we fall prey to the world.

But when people like Dylann Roof decide to take matters into their own hands, we flood back to church halls. 

It is absolutely astounding to see people—even atheists and agnostics—seeking prayer in a time of need. Not one person is saying the men and women who died at the hands of evil deserved it. Instead, the world is opening their hearts to the Father’s love. Beyond that, the men and women who have been most affected by the church massacre, have reached out and forgiven the murderer. They have proven that Christ’s love knows no bounds. 

There’s one way to God, and a time of sadness can actually be a spiritual victory as we allow the Holy Spirit to come in and heal the hurt. As we put aside our theological differences within the church, we see the members of Emanuel as our brothers and sisters.

I am so grateful right now, not for the tragedy, but the response, for how everyone from pastors to politicians are uniting to pursue God and allow Him to do His thing. Christians are honoring the Father by their love, and that is the best thing that could come out of such horror. 

Jessilyn Justice is the assistant news editor for Charisma. Born and raised in a pastor’s family in Alabama, she went to Lee University and the Washington Journalism Center. Tell her what you think of this story on Twitter @jessilynjustice.