Special Messages and Editorials

Saturday, September 15, 2001

The events of this past week have been very troubling to most Americans and even to many of the nations of the world. Realizing that foreign terrorists can somehow infiltrate this country, highjack some of our airplanes, crash those planes into buildings, and then kill so many individuals in just a matter of seconds has upset and awakened a great many people. During this week, I have watched hours and hours of television news broadcasts, and I have been moved to ask myself two important questions. First, what should I as an American do to deal with the attack on our nation? Second, what should I as a Christian do to deal with this tragedy and further promote the cause of Christ?

Ironically, my answer to both questions is the same, and it is that now is the time for Christians to really be distinctively Christian. What do I mean by this seemingly trite remark? In my opinion, Christians being Christian involves at least three different areas of concern. First, a Christian must deal with the tremendous number of deaths that have occurred as a result of last Tuesday. Second, a Christian must deal with the spiritual ramifications of one group taking revenge on another. Third, a Christian must try to understand what, if anything, God might be trying to communicate to our nation and world. Psychologists have been offering their advice to many concerned, troubled Americans about how to deal with their emotions during this crisis, and now, I would like to offer mine.

I am saddened by the loss of so many innocent lives during this past week. However, without sounding too callous about the death of so many, I am also troubled by the loss of all innocent life. I was upset that innocent people died in the Oklahoma bombing a few years ago. I am upset whenever a drunk driver veers across the highway and wipes out those who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I am upset whenever innocent people die as a result of crime. More than all of these, though, I am horrified that Americans can somehow view themselves as part of a great nation and then be fairly oblivious to the innocent lives that are lost each year by abortion.

To me, unexpected death is always a source of sadness and disappointment, but it has not been made any worse by the events of last Tuesday. Are the deaths of last Tuesday anymore tragic than any of the other types of innocent death? To me, they are not. Christians more than anyone else should realize that death has been pronounced upon all of us because of sin. We know that we will all die, and we know that we all have an appointment with death. However, Christians should also realize more than anyone else that death is not the end. Those who perished last Tuesday had a spirit, and their spirit is still alive. Death means separation, but it does not mean a cessation of existence.

To me, the second concern about the events of this past week deal with the idea of one group taking revenge on another. How reasonable is it for our country to seek revenge against these terrorists? Our nation has been looking for some of these individuals for years but have so far had very little success in finding them. Will they be found now? No one can say, but there is a fairly good chance that they will not. In the matter of revenge, the Bible is very clear about what Christians should do. Romans 12:17-21 says, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." No one in this country is happy about what has happened, but will killing the perpetrators make us any happier? When the individual responsible for the Oklahoma bombing was finally put to death a few months ago, many people who had lost their loved ones during the bombing reported that they still were not completely satisfied.

The third area of interest to me over this past week has been what might God be trying to say to each of us who are experiencing this ordeal. I listened to a person on the news say that now is the time for Americans to unite, have confidence in their leaders, and join together to fight terrorism. I listened to another person talk about their fear and feelings of insecurity over what has happened. Earlier in the week, I listened to a psychologist who was offering advice about how parents should try to talk to their kids about what has happened. In listening to all of these reports, I was struck by a pretty simple thought, and that thought had to do with a person's hope.

In my opinion, many people are looking for hope in a world where there is not very much hope. As a nation, we can unite, get behind our leaders, and do our best to fight worldwide terrorism. But will those actions alone take away the feelings of fear and insecurity, or will they make the world any nicer for parents when they try to deal with their children? My opinion is that they will not. What people need in good times as well as bad is a source of real hope, and the Bible is very clear about the source of that hope.

Psalm 146:5-8 says, "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- the LORD, who remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous." Our hope is in the Lord and only in Him.

As Christians, we can be used by the Holy Spirit to draw others to Christ by letting them see us centered on Him. Those about us who are hurting so badly really need to see Christ in people like us, perhaps like they have never seen Him in anyone else before. Colossians 3:15-16 says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." In the midst of this national tragedy, my opinion is that we would do well to be good Christians first and good Americans second.