When violence broke out in not one, but two, locations in the United States recently, prominent Christian leaders called for believers to get on their knees.
“I’m in California today, not far from San Bernardino where the mass shooting took place. Many people have been injured and there are multiple fatalities,” evangelist Franklin Graham posted on Facebook. “One person sent a text message from inside the building during the shooting saying, ‘Pray for us. I’m locked inside an office.’ Please join me in praying right now for each one of the injured, the victims’ families, and the first responders in this ongoing crisis.”
Author and speaker Joyce Meyer echoed Graham’s sentiments, as well.
“Our hearts are heavy as we’ve learned about another shooting today in San Bernardino, California,” Meyer posted on her Facebook page. “A gentleman on the news shared a text from his daughter who was inside the building. She said, ‘Pray for us.’ That’s exactly what we are going to do, and we ask you to do the same! ‘…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33.”
Politicians jumped on the prayer band wagon, too.
Ted Cruz tweeted: “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the first responders in San Bernardino who willingly go into harm’s way to save others.”
Ben Carson tweeted: “My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino.”
However, other names in ministry were more disturbed by the lack of surprise over the shootings, which left a total of 15 dead and dozens injured.
“The fact that I am watching a live police response to a mass shooting, and it’s almost normal, shows how messed up the world is,” LifeWay Research’s Ed Stetzer wrote on Facebook.
Despite their responses, the world is questioning if the power of prayer is enough to battle terrorism.
The cover of the New York Daily News Thursday morning boldly claimed “God Isn’t Fixing This.”
Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy took to twitter to condemn those who only offer thoughts and prayers.
“Your ‘thoughts’ should be about steps to take to stop this carnage. Your ‘prayers’ should be for forgiveness if you do nothing – again,” he tweeted.
Now, the offering of thoughts and prayers was dubbed “prayer-shaming,” according to BBC.
The Atlantic reports the ideas behind prayer-shaming could be an attack on Republicans.
“There’s a clear claim being made here, and one with an edge: Democrats care about doing something and taking action while Republicans waste time offering meaningless prayers. These two reactions, policy-making and praying, are portrayed as mutually exclusive, coming from totally contrasting worldviews,” The Atlantic’s Emma Green writes.
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