How Should Christians Respond to Tragedy?

National tragedies always leave in their wake a fog of questions: “Who is responsible? What do we do? How can we pray?” As in all things, Christians must first ask themselves, “What does God’s Word say? What does Christ’s example teach us?”

How Did Jesus Respond to Tragedy?

In Luke 13, we find an interesting conversation in which Jesus references a recent tragedy: “Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:4-5).

Previous conversations around the tragedy in Siloam probably sounded familiar: Jesus, why did this to happen? Was this event an act of God’s judgment on their sin? Shouldn’t the builders of the collapsed tower be punished for their shoddy workmanship?

In times of tragedy, Jesus reminded others of the bigger picture and responded with the Gospel. Here He focused on the greater point beyond the why did this happen and the who is to blame of the tragedy in Siloam: All are in need of salvation. Therefore our message in tragedy should be the same as on every other day: Come to Jesus Christ! Only in Him is there hope. Only in Him is there forgiveness of sins.