Where was God?

Nine people were shot at the historic Emanuel African
Methodist Episcopal Church on June 22, 2015, in
Charleston, South Carolina by a 21-year-old man. 

We mourn for the city of Charleston, South Carolina, and the families that lost their loved ones in the senseless shooting that took nine lives in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Our prayers go up for that community and that congregation as they seek to find healing and solace in yet another shooting tragedy in our country. 

To hear how this event transpired is saddening as well as frightening. One can come up with all types of explanations as to why a tragic event like this would transpire and take the lives of, once again, innocent victims. However, what intrigues me (if you will) about this event is the location in which it happened. This shooting did not take place in the streets of a major city while an annual marathon was taking place. This shooting didn't take place in a school, where children and students were victimized. This shooting didn't take place in a mall or a movie theater; it took place in a church! 

So, the question I want to raise today is, "Where was God?" If the church is the House of God, and it is, and the members are the people of God, which they are, then why would God allow such a dastardly deed to take place in His House and amongst His people?

Saints, this is the question that needs to be raised, for such a time as this. Remember that nothing takes place in the earth realm without the divine permission of God (Job 1). Therefore, even though He may not have sponsored it, He definitely allowed it. 

So why would God allow nine innocent church members to get murdered in the House of God? Of course I can't answer that question definitively, but I would like to look at a few dynamics to which could help sponsor and facilitate such a tragic event in the House of God:

One of the things that we have to begin to realize on a more conscious level is that Satan does reside in the church. He, of course, is not the head of the church, that's the role of Christ (Colossians 1). Nor is he the leader of the church, that is the role of the Holy Spirit (John 16). Yet Satan's presence does exist in the church. With this being the case, whether we want to admit it or not, there is demonic activity transpiring in a lot of our congregations. When you have unchecked and unrestrained Satanic activity transpiring in the church, tragic events like these are able to happen.

The next thing I want to examine, and please hear me with an open mind and an open heart, is the type of church in which the shooting occured. Emanuel A.M.E Church was one of the oldest African-American churches in the country. Having served as the pastor of a historic African-American congregation, I'm well acquainted with the amount of "tradition" that is present in a congregation with that type of historic status. Sometimes, a historic congregation can take more pride in their status and prestige than they do the movement of the Spirit. When this happens, the presence of God is actually forced out of the church. Let me say this again: when a historic congregation takes more pride in its status and prestige than it does the movement of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God is actually forced out of the church. I'm not saying this is what necessarily happened in this instance; but I am saying it is a possibility. 

When historic congregations get intoxicated by their status and prestige, tradition and protocol take over, not the will of God. Saints, this is demonic! Yes, I said it. Churches that are more pressed about their status and tradition and protocol more so than the Divine will of God and the movement of His Holy Spirit are being demonically influenced. We have to get out of the mind set that only people who vomit, roll on the floor and turn their necks 360 degrees are the only people being demonically influenced. What type of spirit do you think was ruling the Pharisees, the ones that crucified Christ?

Lastly saints, when the demonic spirit of tradition and status takes over a church, and the Movement of the Holy Spirit is suppressed and quenched, the ultimate result is the Judgment of God. The Bible clearly states that judgment starts in the House of God (1Peter 4). If this country doesn't repent, America will experience one of the greatest signs of judgment this nation has ever experienced. 

But what we're missing is that before God judges this nation, He's going to judge His church. I'm not saying this is what exactly transpired in this tragedy in South Carolina. But what I will say definitely is that, if nothing else, this tragedy should serve as a wake-up call to the Body of Christ. Not to be on watch for estranged Caucasian men that sit in the back of your church. Not to be scared to go to "Wednesday night Bible study." No. To wake up and understand that the God we claim to serve is not playing! Remember, HE ALLOWED THIS TRAGEDY. None of what I'm saying is an indictment on the Emanuel A.M.E Church of Charleston, South Carolina, nor the members thereof. But when we ask the question, "Where was God?," maybe His Presence was no longer allowed there.