The church where the suspect in the Atlanta massacre was worshiped ripped it off Friday for having a “sinful heart and a depraved mind.”
Robert Aaron Long was an active and lifelong member of Crabtree First Baptist Church in Milton, Ga. God’s judgment will be just.
“We believe in a Holy and Righteous God who abhors evil and will judge all sin with perfect justice,” the statement said.
“We have been in full cooperation with law enforcement and we pray for justice to be done. We pray for both earthly justice and divine justice,” the statement said.
“We were absolutely devastated by this senseless loss of life and a disregard for human beings created in the image of God,” said the church, which described the shooting that left eight dead “a total repudiation of our faith and practice. “.
Leaders extended their prayers to the victims of the shooting massage employees, whom Long has told police he blamed for having attended to his “sexual addiction.”
“We mourn the victims and their families and continue to pray for all those affected by this heinous crime as they deal with unimaginable pain and sorrow,” the statement said.
“Aaron’s actions are antithetical to everything we believe and teach as a church,” he said.
“In the strongest possible terms, we condemn Aaron Long’s actions, as well as his stated reasons for carrying out this evil plan. The executions were a total repudiation of our faith and practice, and these actions are completely unacceptable. and contrary to the gospel ”.
The church stressed that “no blame can be placed on the victims.”
In the added statement of 21-year-old Long, “he alone is responsible for his actions and evil desires.
“The women he solicited for sexual acts are not responsible for their perverse sexual desires nor are they guilty of these murders. These actions are the result of a sinful heart and a depraved mind of which Aaron is completely responsible ”.
Six of the victims of the shootings were Asian Americans. Although officials have not yet considered shooting a hate crime, the church pointed to Asian Americans for their prayers.
“We deeply regret the fear and pain that Asian Americans are experiencing as a result of Aaron’s inexcusable actions,” the statement said.
The church also “explicitly denounces[s] any form of hatred or violence against Asians or Asian-Americans. ”