Faith in God: The Christian Response to Terrorism

The Christian response to terrorism should always be, "Have Faith in God" (Mark 11:22). Our purpose in life is to trust God. "But without Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). All the commotions in the world should only serve to confirm our confidence in the LORD as our Refuge, Strength, and Present Help in trouble. "1 God is our Refuge and Strength, a very Present Help in trouble.

2 Therefore will NOT we fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah" (Psalm 46:1-3). The Christian life not only begins with trusting Christ for Salvation, but it must manifest the fruit of Salvation in a sanctified walk. "Follow Peace with all men, and Holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD" (Hebrews 12:14). And, all Sanctification amounts to, is trusting the LORD Jesus Christ for all possible circumstances of Life and Eternity-- continually discovering something new about Christ's Character to give a "Present Help in trouble"

(Psalm 46:1). It is necessary for the Living God to allow circumstances in our life, even such as the terrorist attacks on September 11th, to cause us to seek out new, Spirit-taught discoveries of His Character that we may be further sanctified and that He may be further glorified-- unless we are not walking with Him, then it would be for chastening. "He that dwelleth [which is our walk] in the Secret Place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1).

"And we have known and believed the Love that God hath to us. God is Love [the Spirit-taught discovery of His Character]; and he that dwelleth [again, our walk] in Love dwelleth in God, and God in him" (1John 4:16). "27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 that no flesh should glory in His Presence. 30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption: 31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the LORD" (1Corinthians 1:27-31).

Remember, the foremost Christian response to terrorism is to further confide in the Character of Christ as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. "2 From the end of the Earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. 3 For Thou hast been a Shelter for me, and a Strong Tower from the enemy.

4 I will abide in Thy Tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the Covert of Thy Wings. Selah" (Psalm 61:2-4). Responding to terrorism with a macho bravado to persuade the terrorists and ourselves that we are unafraid, is not only unnecessary, but it is unlike Christ. "27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel;

28 and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition [our not being terrified is a sign of our enemies' destruction or perdition], but to you of Salvation, and that of God" (Philippians 1:27-28). Since the purpose of terrorism is primarily to breed a climate of fear-- then to kill and destroy whatever is hated by the terrorists-- to be terrified by terrorism is unacceptable to those who walk rightly with God.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy Rod and Thy Staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). Better yet, it is ALWAYS the manner of God to give His people understanding of what He is doing in the affairs of man, which breeds confidence in God (Faith), that we may cooperate in Faith with His Providence, i.e., "And thine ears shall hear a Word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left"

(Isaiah 30:21), and Scriptural Prophecies, i.e., "Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons, and concerning the work of My hands command ye Me... Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come" (Isaiah 45:11; John 16:13). "And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (1Chronicles 12:32).

It is vital to any kind of right Christian response to terrorism that we can say in Faith that we walk in all the "good, and acceptable, and perfect, Will of God" (Romans 12:2) of which we comprehend; otherwise, we deceive ourselves to say that we are trusting God to protect us or to accomplish His Will through the terrorist act. "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is NOT in him" (1John 2:4). If we walk worthy of the LORD, then we know it was the Spirit of God working in us "both to will and to do of His Good Pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

"But we have this Treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the Power may be of God, and not of us" (2Corinthians 4:7). Though it is difficult to focus upon anything but the tragedy of the terrorism when it takes place, we cannot but know whether or not God is dealing with us for sinful disobedience to Him.

"As many as I Love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19). Or, He is simply attempting to draw us closer to Himself, while He deals with those around us. "The LORD is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:6). As the godly dwell in the midst of a "wicked and adulterous generation" (Matthew 16:4), we must understand that God will deal with the sin around us, chastening our nation in direct proportion to the Light and Truth the nation has rejected, allowing terror to be visited upon our cities as a beginning of God's chastisement, to gain the repentance of those who may still repent.

"As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11). But, He withholds still greater punishment upon the inhabitants of the land because of the presence of His Remnant Saints. "And seek the Peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the Peace thereof shall ye have Peace"

(Jeremiah 29:7). Unknown to the nations wherein the Saints dwell, the presence and prayers of the Saints for their nations, is the Preservation and Peace of their neighbours-- and themselves. "1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1Timothy 2:1-2).

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