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HOUSMAIL HM080 13
September 2001 TERRORISTS AND
REVENGE Only
a day ago, a great evil was committed against the citizens of the USA. It was
an act of terrorism, on a scale which almost defies the imagination of normal
peace-loving people. It was a sin of murder, committed by evil men, in which many
unsuspecting and innocent people died without warning. Jesus
wept over Jerusalem when He foretold the impending "terrorist" invasion,
and destruction of the city -- and the slaughter of its people. And followers
of Jesus cannot help but feel the same deepest compassion for those citizens
of New York and Washington who have lost family and friends in this great disaster.
But let us keep a few things in perspective. The
number killed by this act of terrorism, may well prove to be many thousands --
but that is far short of the 60 million who suffered and died in World
War 2. In terms
of destructive power, and sheer terror, it does not even begin to approach the
scale of the nightly "Thousand Bomber Raids" against Nazi Germany in
World War 2, or of the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nor
does it begin to match the daily suffering in developing countries like Africa,
Ethiopia, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, etc. Or the destructive forces unleashed
against innocent and powerless victims, by abortionists! Nor,
if we believe Jesus, will it be the last such event! The Bible predicts that we
may expect MANY MORE similar events ALL OVER THE WORLD, in the time which Jesus
said would be like the "Days of Noah" -- when "the earth was
corrupt in God's sight and FILLED with violence" (Genesis 6:11) and
"every
imagination of the hearts of men was ONLY EVIL continually". (Genesis 6:5) With
this act of terrorism against the USA, our Western World has changed irrevocably.
It has changed our expectations. It has the potential to affect our culture, our
lifestyle, and our economy, in ways which we cannot yet even begin to understand
fully. Nevertheless,
great as the potential is for fear of further acts of terrorism on a similar scale,
it can only be very tiny, compared with what is predicted by the Olivet
Prophecy for the final days just prior to the second Coming of Jesus! We have
not yet arrived at the time when "the powers of the heavens will be shaken" and all over the world "men will faint with fear and foreboding of
what is coming on the world"?. (Luke 21:26) When will that be? Indeed
has it now already begun? Only God knows that day and hour -- but to our limited
vision it does not seem that it can be very far away. Let
us prepare our hearts for it. God's people are promised that they do not need
to "fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies
by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes
at noonday". (Psalm 91:5-6) CHRISTIAN
REACTIONS The
Governments of the world have unanimously joined with the USA to express revulsion
for this terrible deed. And it was, of course, predictable, and inevitable, that
the citizens of the USA would cry aloud for justice and revenge
against the perpetrators. In the
face of all those angry cries for revenge, our Christian Faith, and our commitment
to the Gospel of the Kingdom of Peace, is sorely tested. It would be very easy
to be swept along by the emotions of the masses now howling for blood! What is
the correct reaction for those who are disciples of Jesus? And
what of our own safety? In the
current climate of reaction against the evil of Terrorism, it could be very
perilous to proclaim the Sermon on the Mount as the truth, and the way,
revealed by Jesus! Shall
we -- who have already been forgiven so much ourselves -- cast the first stone
against others who do not yet know their need? Could
we carry a cross for those who have done this evil thing? Could we die for them,
rather than put them to death? Could we forgive? Should we forgive? (Matthew 18:35) Must
we turn the other cheek? And preach the Good NEWS -- even to men such as this? Shall
we refuse to avenge, and instead leave it completely to the wrath
of God? Allon "WEEP
WITH THOSE WHO WEEP ...." But: "Repay no one evil for evil but take thought
for what is noble in the sight of all..... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to
the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says
the Lord." No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if
he is thirsty, give him drink. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with
good." (Romans 12:15-21) |