On June 17, 2015, a young white male, 21 year old Dylann Roof, walked into the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. He sat down and participated in a Bible study at this historical church. Once the members of the Bible study closed their eyes to pray, Roof took a hand gun out of his fanny pack and shot ten people, killing nine. It was the worst attack on an American place of worship.
The news of this attack hit home for a lot of us who go to church on a regular basis. It made us realize that something like this could happen at any church gathering. Roof said that he committed this attack because he wanted to start a race war, but the members of that church did something amazing—they responded with forgiveness.
If Roof wanted to cause discord and violence between races, he chose the wrong church. Two days after the shooting, at Roof’s bond hearing, survivors and relatives of the victims told Roof that they were “praying for his soul” and that they “forgave him.”
While the country was debating whether the Confederate flag should be flown on government buildings, these church members were responding in exactly the way the Bible says to respond. With forgiveness and love. Even through their mourning, they were overcoming the shooter’s hate by drawing closer together, even having a unity rally, not causing division.
The unbelievable forgiveness shown by AME’s church members was not especially highlighted in the media. It was reported, but then other conversations about racism and violence and gun control were discussed much more exhaustively, leaving the story of Christ-like forgiveness in the dark. While these are important conversations, they’re treating the symptoms and not the problem. When I heard about the reactions of the survivors’ and victim’s families, I was astounded. And I’ll admit, a little bit ashamed. I was ashamed because I knew if it were my father or grandmother shot in a Bible study, I doubt I would have been so forgiving. In fact, I would probably would have felt hatred toward the shooter. It made me want to tell everyone I know, “LOOK! These people are living out the Bible! This is exactly what Jesus meant when He said to love our enemies!”
Although nine precious lives were taken that day, it put the church on a national stage, giving them nonstop coverage by every major news outlet. And they used this platform to show God’s love! They didn’t get on television and give extended explanations as to why they should forgive the shooter, they just DID IT. They didn’t reprimand the country for focusing on other things, but they quietly and humbly forgave the shooter and his family, just as Jesus would have. Just as Jesus did when He prayed for the souls of those who put him on the Cross.
“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’”-Luke 23:34
Every Christian, including myself, should look to the members of the AME Church as an example. The shooter said that he almost did not commit the attack because the church members had been so nice to him. It is apparent that the members of AME Church have the Holy Spirit inside them, because the fruits of the Spirit are overflowing out of them. I have never seen a group of people respond in such a Godlike manner to an attack. Although I would never say that it was “God’s will” for a tragedy like this to happen, I do believe that God uses all things for good. I know that just as the AME Church and the victims’ families still mourn the loss of their loved ones, so does God. But they know that they will see their loved ones again in Heaven. Even events that individuals mean for evil and to spread hate, God redeems. In this situation, God allows the members of AME Church to stand on the national stage and proclaim Jesus and His love and forgiveness. A few days ago I saw the new pastor of AME Church on CNN, talking about the anniversary of this tragic day, and their message hasn’t changed a bit. She was still talking all about forgiveness and love. And that’s something we can all learn from.
