Mockery of the Big Church tragedy shows we’re still in a spiritual battle

I was travelling home from holiday when news reached us of the tragedy at Big Church Festival. Like thousands around the world, I was deeply saddened by the events that unfolded. My prayers joined the multitudes as we lifted those injured, the family and friends of Robert Guanco, and all those dealing with the aftermath of the incident to the Lord.

In the following days, I watched and read so many responses. There have been some deeply thoughtful and compassionate theological responses from leaders including Amy Orr-Ewing, Gemma Hunt and Andrew Ollerton, addressing the question many people will have asked: how could God let this happen when the crowds had gathered to worship Him?

The response to Big Church Festival doesn’t disprove revival

But among all the commentary in mainstream, Christian and social media, there was another type of response that caught my eye and concerned me to my core. Comments like: “He asked for a sign. He got a sign” appeared on a Facebook post by The Mirror newspaper, with versions of the same comment appearing repeatedly across media comment sections.

Even on Big Church Festival’s announcement post, comments included: “Presumably god doesn’t approve of the festival” and: “Should’ve prayed harder 🤣”

Below these comments there were often a number of angry reactions, but just as often, an equal number of mocking ones. Some people even remarked on how entertaining the comment sections surrounding the announcement of the tragedy were.

Thankfully, some mainstream outlets, including the BBC, have now removed the most offensive comments. But many are still in place. It left me with deep questions.

All faiths are equal?

I found myself wondering whether the same response would have been tolerated had the festival belonged to another faith. Christianity seems to occupy an unusual place in our culture: a faith that is embedded in our history, values and traditions, but one that many feel entirely comfortable mocking, even in the immediate aftermath of tragedy.

There were certainly Christian individuals in those comment sections who denounced the heartless and deeply ignorant opinions being expressed. But the fact remains that those comments were there, and many agreed, or tactily accepted, them. And, from what I saw, there was little mainstream challenge to it.

Which brings me to a wider question: What do these comments tell us about the spiritual openness in our country that so many have been discussing in recent years?

There has been much talk since Bible’s Society’s (now withdrawn) Quiet Revival report about a spiritual awakening in this country. Even when the research process was found to be flawed, many leaders and theologians stepped into the void to confirm that what it described nonetheless matched what they were seeing.

But these comments offer a different perspective. Social media can reveal something uncomfortable about the human heart. Behind the anonymity and distance of a comment section, people often say things they might never say in person. It can be incredibly revealing: “For his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart” (Luke 6:45).

Discerning revival

These comments don’t disprove the signs of spiritual hunger that many Christians have observed. But they should make us pause before assuming that spiritual openness and spiritual hostility cannot exist side by side.

I am so encouraged by the response of the Big Church team, and the thousands around the globe who have prayed to our always-loving, always-faithful God in the midst of this tragedy. I am grateful to those wise individuals who spoke directly to the ‘why?’ question with authority and humility.

Social media can reveal something uncomfortable about the human heart

But I am also cautious about the narrative that Britain is experiencing spiritual awakening. The response to Big Church Festival doesn’t disprove revival. Rather, it reminds us that despite signs of spiritual hunger, there remains significant hostility, ignorance and even mockery towards Christianity.

We should hold on to the hope that renewed spiritual hunger is returning to our country, while remaining sober about the spiritual battle in which we are living. We need neither cynicism nor triumphalism, but the discernment to recognise both the hunger for God and the hostility towards Him.

That is the kind of woman of faith I want to be: one with my eyes wide open to the broken world we live in, not getting caught up in a narrative but staying focused on what is actually before me and where the Lord has called me. We are in a spiritual battle that will not cease until the day comes when we all join Pastor Guanco in glory.

May he rest in peace and may the Lord of all comfort grant his family and loved ones His all-encompassing shalom.