The "We Are All to Blame" Argument

In the wake of the mass murders of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, there were several attempts to lay blame on various causes other than Islamic radicalization.  

At The Islamic Monthly, Hina Tai wrote,

"...blame is relative. We are all to blame.
Blame is on those who say homophobia is solely a Muslim problem, in order to further the cause of Islamophobia rather than recognize America's historic oppression of LGBTQ people... 

Blame is on our political leaders who continue to think gun control is up for debate while Obama gives his 18th presidential address in response to a mass shooting... 

Blame is on us who shamed LGBTQ Muslims and made them unwelcome in their own mosques and communities rather than promoting inclusivity.... 

Blame is also on us who while condemning the violence purposefully erased the identities of LGBTQ from their statements... 

Blame is on those who will use this opportunity for political capital... 

Blame is on us who do not recognize that this shooting comes at an intersection of many different issues: homophobia, Islamophobia, (political-religious) extremism and gun violence — all issues that transcend religious and political lines."

In a letter to the editor of the Naples Daily News, one reader echoed what many are saying,

 "...we are all to blame for our complacence in the face of out-of-control gun violence."

The blame game's goal is to make three of our fingers point back to us. While self-evaluation is important after any disaster, it is more important to examine the external forces at work. In a culture awash with moral relativism and non-judgementalism, to blame anyone or anything other than oneself is to commit a social sin punishable by public denunciation and name calling, and that has the chilling effect of silencing meaningful analysis of the root cause for whatever disaster it was that took place. In addition, as the examples listed demonstrate, the blame game fails to identify anything helpful towards reducing horrific acts of violence such as the one that occurred in Orlando.

It is abundantly clear to this observer that combating homophobia without dealing with the religious component will not stop the problem, and banning guns will not deter those who are bent on the destruction of Western civilization.

Only a change of heart can do that, and there is only one power in the universe that can change hearts. That is the power that changed Saul from a persecutor of the early followers of Jesus into a Christian saint. How can we invoke that power to change the hearts of radical Islamists? By teaching them that there is a better way, a way revealed by God in a story that the Qur'an does not tell.

In the end, I guess I am going to support one "We are all to blame" argument:

We Christians are to blame for our failure to effectively spread the Gospel of Jesus to the Muslim world. 

We can do better, and we must pray for the courage to do so.