As I type this, Tampa police officers are searching an apartment complex in hopes of capturing the two suspects accused of gunning down two officiers early this morning. During a routine traffic stop the officers were shot, and both have now passed away.

I know this is tragic, but it’s hitting me harder than normal. Maybe it’s the fact they’re my age. Maybe it’s the fact one has four young children. It’s certainly the fact that one’s wife is nine months pregnant and just went into labor with their first child. My stomach is sick. I want to throw up. As a friend of mine asked on Twitter, “WTF is wrong with people?”

But now we get to the problem. I know what’s wrong with people. Sin. Sin causes them to shoot the cops. Sin caused their previous crime. Sin caused this whole situation. Sin broke our hearts, our relationship with God, even creation itself. Sin is at the root of this whole massively tragic tale. Sin.

They were white cops and they are black suspects, but this is not a race issue. This is a sin issue. This is an eternity issue. I can only hope these two men knew Jesus, that they loved their God and are now seated with him. I pray this man’s wife feels God, and her husband’s, tangible presence as she delivers their first child. I don’t even know if that’s theologically right, but I want it to be.

But what of the suspects? Many are already calling for them to be gunned down in the same manner, but we must pray justice to be done. I am thankful this takes place in a state with the death penalty . I don’t think it’s a deterrent, but I do think it’s a means of justice. I know not all will share this thought. I don’t know if I will share it hours from now.

Yet what of their sin? I wonder, have they ever heard the call to repent and put faith in Christ? Did anyone reach through their circumstance to share the hope and power of Christ? They are 100% responsible for their sin and its consequences, as we all are, but what if they’d repented, been discipled?

We are not planting a church to play nice. We are not planting a church because I like the sound of my own voice, or because you needed something new and different and cool. We are planting a church because sin is rampant and there is only one solution. Education, law, government, Republicans and Democrats couldn’t have prevented this situation, nor will they prevent it in the future. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ will transform and renew someone down to their core nature. We must be compelled in every fiber of our being to take this Gospel to those who need it.

Because we never know which side of the gun we may find those we didn’t share the Gospel with.