In the wake of the shooting in Orlando that killed 50 on Sunday morning, church leaders expressed grief over one of the worst massacres that occurred in the U.S.
The shooting began approximately at 2 AM on Sunday at a gay nightclub called Pulse, and resulted in a three-hour standoff. The gunman, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State, was also killed in the standoff.
Several prominent Christian leaders across the nation took to the Internet to express grief, as well as how they interpret the meaning of the gospel to apply in such circumstances.
"Praying. Mourning. Grieving," wrote Eugene Cho, pastor of Quest Church, on Facebook. "The deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history. Each person created in the image of God. Lord, in your mercy..."
Cho posted again on Monday afternoon, with a link to a Wall Street Journal article detailing the stories of 49 victims who were identified.
"49 names. 49 victims. Real people. Real stories. All and each created in the image of God. May we learn a glimpse of their stories. May our hearts not grow numb and desensitized to the real violence in our world - including to the LGBTQ community," he wrote.
"Let it be said again. Through tears. Followers of Jesus lay down their lives to save others, not to slaughter," wrote John Piper, founder of Desiring God, on Facebook on Sunday afternoon.
"While politicians debate guns and terror, the church can be clear on this: there is a Savior, and he calls us to love our neighbors," tweeted Kevin DeYoung, author and pastor of University Reformed Church.
"My prayers are with the many victims and family members who lost loved ones in the senseless shooting -- now being called an act of terrorism -- at a gay nightclub in Orlando early this morning," said Franklin Graham, the CEO and president of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. "Life is precious, and we only have one chance to live our lives here on this earth."
"It is with deep sadness I read of the heartless and cold-blooded killings planned and implemented in Orlando, Florida by a cruel mind. How can any rationalizing justify that in any mind? How tragic for the parents, how ruthless of the killer," Ravi Zacharias, founder and president of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, wrote in a blog. "As a nation we mourn this loss. All of them are in our prayers at RZIM. We stand with the families in this time of grief. 'Lord please help us to be wise on how we speak of or treat our fellow human beings! We need You more than ever.'"
"What a terrible tragedy. Orlando, our hearts and prayers are with you. #prayfororlando," wrote Joyce Meyer, author and speaker, on Facebook.
"Our hearts grieve with all the family and friends of those affected by today's tragedy in Orlando," said Miles McPherson, pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego. "May America's most deadly shooting be matched by America's most focused prayers for peace and unity."
"When we're accustomed to seeing news in real time on our television screens and on our phones, it is sometimes easy to forget the news we are viewing is real. At least fifty people -- created in the image of God -- were slaughtered in cold blood," wrote Russell Moore, the president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, on his blog. "Families who were waiting to see their loved ones are finding out today that they will never see them again in this life. That ought to drive us to mourn."
