A Christian View of the Terrorist Crisis

"’For My thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord."(Isaiah 55:8)

Viewers, glued to their television, were able to see in vivid color the replay of the plane crash into the second tower, the blazing inferno of thousands of gallons of fuel, and the actual disintegration of the towering structures. Instant communication allowed people to see graphic details of the unprecedented tragedy. Scenes of pandemonium were common, as thousands escaped the towers and were joined by others who ran from the destruction in the midst of horrified screams, choking dust and falling debris. Apocalyptic scenes, sometimes found in science fiction, came to life in reality as stunned people observed the devastation, the crushed bodies, and the maimed casualties. Thousands of people from America, India, England, Pakistan, Israel, and dozens of other countries were lost.

At the time of these horrific events, most were shocked, dismayed, and filled with anguish. A mistaken sense of security gave way to a sense of vulnerability. Unfounded trust was replaced with suspicion. Confidence fell in the face of fear. As people learned that the evil men who were responsible for this massive murder were actually trained to fly in America, they had a sense of betrayal. It was as though a hunter taught his friend how to use a shotgun, then the friend murdered his teacher in return.

A surprising number of people immediately thought of God as they observed the carnage and ruin in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. Overcome by such crass evil, they went to the Lord to find solace. Church services were held throughout the week. On Sunday, religious meeting places were crowded with members and visitors. One newspaper (Fort Worth Star Telegram) reported: "Clutching patriotic flags and prayer books, Americans filled churches Sunday struggling to comprehend the terror of the week before. God Bless America mixed with gospel music. Images of the destruction in New York and Washington flashed on some sanctuary walls. Ushers in one church distributed tissues to weeping parishioners."

Another article in this newspaper expressed it this way: "North Texans packed houses of worship across the Metroplex on Sunday to reflect on a week of horror, pray for strength and declare a righteous war against evil. Sunday services mixed patriotism with religious fervor as some congregations sang songs such as America the Beautiful and God Bless America along with traditional hymns. Ministers spoke of how the terrorist attacks had brought people back to God and united the nation." A further newspaper report stated, "God has brought this country to its knees. This is not the posture of defeat. I dare say this is the posture of warfare."

Ecumenical services were also held. The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., hosted a service attended by President Bush, former presidents, and members of congress. A Muslim cleric, a Jewish leader, a Catholic bishop, and a Protestant clergyman took part in the diverse gathering. Other services in other places included Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, and others. Irrespective of their relationship with God, all took part in the face of this grim tragedy.

In view of such a national destruction, what should the Christian think? Someone has remarked that if we discern how most people in the world view a given event, the Christian should probably view it in exactly opposite terms! This is said in light of the fact that the vast majority of people fail to view life, history, and reality in light of Scripture (cf. Isaiah 55:8-9). The reason is that nearly all are yet in the flesh and not subject to the will of God (Romans 8:7-8); nearly all are captivated by Satan, the "god" of this age (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; John 8:44); and nearly all have not been transformed by the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). According to this reasoning, we should view everything in life differently than society around us.

This is true—but it is only partially true. Even unsaved men are made in the image of God, although that image is largely defaced (James 3:9; Eph. 4:23-24). There is still a sense of justice in the unsaved, although that justice is often perverted (cf. Romans 13:1-5). There is still a sense of compassion among some in the face of human suffering, although the example of Christ’s compassion may be overlooked (Luke 10:30-37). We have seen these responses revealed since this tragic destruction. Even unregenerate people have sacrificed their time, money, and possessions to help the victims of the disaster. They have expressed more love and concern for their family and even strangers. They have called for justice and punishment of those responsible for this mass murder. They have been filled with anger over this act of aggression. While anger can be right and good and even essential, if directed against such cruelty and murder (cf. Mark 3:5), it can also degenerate to blind hatred, racial bigotry, hypocritical nationalism, violent retaliation, and other sins.

In spite of the rightful responses associated with this blatant act of hostility, we must admit that people of the world (including most religious people) simply do not view things with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; cf. Philippians 2:5). We need to ask ourselves, therefore, how we should view this tragedy. What does Scripture say to us? We offer the following points for your thought at this time of crisis and reflection.

First, God wants us to reflect on and learn from dramatic events of destruction. It is good that people in the United States and the world are thinking more deeply about life since the tragedy of September 11. God destroyed the world with a great worldwide flood and later both Jesus and Peter refer to the event and make application of it (Matthew 24:37-39; 2 Peter 3:5ff). The destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was mean to teach Israel a lesson they would never forget. Likewise, although this tragedy is painful and the epitome of evil, yet we can learn from it. We can receive lessons that will make our own life more meaningful and will glorify God. Let us learn such lessons well!

Second, the human heart is filled with sin. God says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). Only a heart of sin and perversion could have committed such a dreadful atrocity as the murder of thousands of innocent people. U.S. News and World Report offers this concise quotation: "This is pure, unadulterated evil." According to Newsweek, Bin Laden, the charismatic Muslim leader responsible for so much violence and apparently the perpetrator of the present destruction, expresses in poetry form the wickedness of his heart regarding the suicide bombing of the USS Cole and the murder of 17 Americans earlier this year: "The pieces of the bodies of infidels were flying like dust particles/If you would have seen it with your own eyes,/You would have been very pleased/And your heart would have been filled with joy." This same perverse attitude was manifested in an even greater scale during the events of this day of infamy.

But in addition to this outright sinful perversion, we must honestly admit that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, therefore all are guilty before God and worthy of death (Romans 1:32; 3:23; 6:23). While only a few committed the gross sin of destruction on September 11, all unsaved people are under sin and must face the God of judgment one day (Romans 2:4-6). In the sight of God, we are all guilty of sin—whether it be hatred and bigotry, lust and envy, corrupt speech and materialism, anger and bitterness, or lack of mercy and love. While we may want to distance ourselves from the unmitigated sin of the suicide terrorists, we must admit that all of us deserve to be punished by a holy God for our own sins (Revelation 21:8).

Third, the heart may be dreadfully deceived. Again and again in Scripture we are warned, "Do not be deceived" (Galatians 6:7). "Let no man deceive himself" (1 Corinthians 3:18). Satan "deceives the whole world" (Revelation 12:9), thus all unbelievers are deceived about their spiritual condition. However, this incident reveals how massive deception can so cloud someone’s judgment that he is willing to commit such an atrocious act of destruction. Scripture says, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12). It may have seemed "right" for these criminals to commit suicide and murder, but it was "the way of death"—death that is physical, spiritual, and eternal.

Fourth, this event reveals extensive hypocrisy in our lives. It is right to condemn the barbarous slaughter of 7,000 innocent people, but are we consistent in such condemnation? While hundreds of millions of people from around the world have unitedly condemned this mass destruction (and rightfully so), we also see mass hypocrisy at the same time.

While perhaps 7,000 people have tragically been slain by the terrorists, how many have openly condemned the murder of more than 1,000,000 babies each year in the United States, killed by cruel mothers, doctors, and nurses? (Many more millions are killed in other countries.) How many have spoken out against the hundreds of thousands of people killed through tobacco use in America alone? How many have condemned the homosexuality and fornication responsible for the AIDS crisis that is destroying tens of millions of lives in the world? While condemning the wicked terrorist attacks, some countries hold their citizens in bondage and make it a crime for them to be forgiven through Christ. The heart definitely is deceived by such gross hypocrisy!

When tragedy like this strikes "close to home," we tend to lose all objectivity. We rightly condemn those who were the perpetrators or this destruction and those who sent them, but do we also condemn wickedness around the world? Would Americans be as incensed if 7,000 Germans, Panamanians, Indians, or Egyptians had been slain? We tend to allow personal offense and nationalistic loyalty to cloud our objectivity. Are we concerned about the several million Congolese killed in the bloody war in the Congo? Are we concerned about millions imprisoned and killed in Communist China? Are we concerned about the prohibition of preaching and conversion to Christ in many Islamic lands (even Israel is extremely restrictive in this regard)? Are we concerned about those who suffer from earthquakes in various parts of the world? Are Americans more important and valuable than others? It is time that we objectively see moral and religious evil wherever it may be found and condemn it as sin against God.

Fifth, certain religions hold people through the power of deception. Much of the terrorism of the world is committed by those in the Islamic religion. It is true that vast numbers of more liberal Muslims would not commit this kind of atrocity (we must keep this distinction in mind). Probably many of the five million Islamic adherents in the United States are of this persuasion. However, there are radical fundamentalist Muslims who take the Koran seriously and believe that they will be immediately ushered into Paradise and enjoy eternal bliss with multiple wives if they commit murder in the name of Allah and Mohammed. Since they follow a false prophet (Mohammed) and his writings (the Koran), they are deceived into thinking that they will be rewarded for killing their enemies who oppose them. This warped thinking comes as part of their religion.

We must also remember that at the time of Mohammed (seventh century) and in the centuries that followed, Muslims practiced a system of "expansion by conquest." This resulted in the overthrow of whole countries—from Persia on the east, across North Africa to the Atlantic, and as far as Spain. In the Hadith (or oral teaching), Jihad is said to be "the best method of earning [blessings] both spiritual and temporal. If victory is won, there is enormous booty of a country, which cannot be equalled [sic] to any other source of income. If there is defeat or death, there is everything paradise" (quoted by G.J.O. Moshay, Who is this Allah?, p. 23). These early followers of Mohammed were deceived into thinking that this procedure was pleasing to Allah, the god whom they followed.

We must also remember that some Muslims are yet resentful over the wicked atrocities committed by the so-called "Christian" crusaders during the middle ages. At that time, hordes of European Roman Catholics wiped out whole Muslim settlements, raping their women and causing devastation in the Near East. While hypocritically claming the name of Jesus Christ, they violated nearly all His teachings during the plunder. While these were not true Christians but misguided Catholics, Muslims seem to not recognize the distinction. (In a similar way, many Jews even today do not see the radical distinction between the so-called "Christian" Nazi regime and true Christianity.) Thus radical Muslims see themselves as instruments of vengeance against "infidel Christians"!

The power of religious deception may be seen in the handwritten Arabic document found in Mohammed Atta's luggage (he was a prime organizer of the attack). Notice these excerpts (according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram): "Everybody hates death, fears death. But only those, the believers who know the life after death and the reward after death, would be the ones who will be seeking death." The paper continues: "Obey God, his messenger, and don't fight among yourself where you become weak, and stand fast, God will stand with those who stood fast." It then states: "You should pray, you should fast. You should ask God for guidance, you should ask God for help. . . . Continue to pray throughout this night. Continue to recite the Koran. Purify your heart and clean it from all earthly matters. The time of fun and waste has gone. The time of judgment has arrived. Hence we need to utilize those few hours to ask God for forgiveness. You have to be convinced that those few hours that are left you in your life are very few. From there you will begin to live the happy life, the infinite paradise. Be optimistic. The prophet was always optimistic."

We see massive deception in these words. Instead of obeying Allah, he was disobeying God. Instead of gaining forgiveness, he was heaping up more sin. Instead of going to paradise, he would go to hell. Instead of following a prophet of God, he was following a false prophet. Instead of planning on murder, he should have been repenting and pleading for mercy. Such is the way of false religion--whether it be radical Islam, or the Watchtower Witnesses organization, the Mormon religion, or any other false and deceptive way.

Before others self-righteously condemn Islamic fundamentalism because of its misguided perspective, we must realize that all of the world religions (as well as false Christendom) are likewise under the power of deception since they do not follow the true God, believe in the true Savior from sin, and honor the Word of the Living God. John writes, "The whole world lies in the power of the evil one [Satan]" (1 John 5:19).

Sixth, we live in a fallen world where tragedy is a part of living. Since the first sin in the Garden (Genesis 3), this world has been enslaved to corruption (Romans 8:19-25). Natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes, etc.) and moral evil of all kinds are part of this world of corruption. Those killed in the World Trade Center were not necessarily more sinful than others who were in the Empire State Building or any other building and who were unharmed by the terrorist’s designs! Yet disaster befell them and many were killed. Jesus spoke of the collapse of the Tower of Siloam and said that this kind of tragedy does not mean that the victims were more sinful than others. Rather, such events should call us to repentance for our own sin (Luke 13:1-5). Grievous deaths like this are part of living in a sinful and fallen world. God will usher in eternal peace only when the Kingdom of God is manifested.

Seventh, we can see the evils of suicide. The perpetrators of this horrendous evil mistakenly assumed that if they committed suicide they would be rewarded eternally. One news article in Newsweek explains: "One who dies a martyr for the [Muslim] faith goes directly to heaven and enjoys its choicest rewards. But in its modern Islamist version, martyrdom has been explained to include volunteer suicide in battle." The article goes on to cite the example of thousands of Iranian soldiers who "blew themselves up in Iraqi minefields" so Iranian Muslims could reach enemy lines.

While Islam theoretically sees the sin of suicide as a chief sin, radical Islam chooses to call this form of suicide by a different name. Terrorist suicide or self-killing is thought to be in keeping with what some have called a sixth pillar of Islam—Jihad. This term is Arabic, meaning "fight" or "battle." According to The Encyclopedia Britannica, the Jihad is "a religious duty imposed on Muslims to spread Islam by waging war." This duty may be fulfilled by waging "war physically against unbelievers and enemies of the Islamic faith." Mohammed said, "Fight in the cause of God!" and, "Fight and slay The Pagans wherever ye find them" (Koran, 2:244; 9:5). Further, "When ye meet The Unbelievers [in fight] Smite at their necks" (47:4). Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran declared, "The purist joy in Islam is to kill and be killed for Allah" (David Lamb, The Arabs, p. 287).

The belief prevails that if a devoted Muslim kills himself in order to defeat Islamic foes, defend Muhammed, and promote the Muslim faith, he will be received into Allah’s Paradise and be specially blessed in the age to come. "Those who have left their homes . . . Or fought or been slain,--Verily, I will blot out From them their iniquities, And admit them into Gardens With rivers flowing beneath;--A reward from the Presence of God, and from His Presence Is the best of rewards" (3:195; cf. 2:244; 4:95; quoted by Norman L. Geisler and Abdul Saleeb, Answering Islam, p. 174; punctuation in the original). One Hadith (an oral tradition of the Prophet) says: "The lowliest of the inhabitants of paradise will be he who has eighty thousand servants, seventy-two wives. . ." (G.J.O.Moshay, Who is This Allah?, p. 84). Even if this is figurative, it does show, in symbolic terms, what awaits a Muslim who dies in a so-called Jihad (a "holy war" that is actually a very unholy war!).

Scripture, however, says, "No murderer has eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15). The Word of God makes no distinction between self-murder (suicide) and murder of others. Murderers—all unrepentant murderers of whatever sort—will be condemned to the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). These terrorists were guilty of both suicide (self-murder) and outright murder of thousands of people. This proves that they did not have eternal life and would not enter eternal life at death. Sadly, those who kill themselves will not escape their earthly problems but will enter an eternity of inexpressible horror! This speaks also to over 30,000 Americans who yearly take their life.

Eighth, there is need for justice in this fallen world. One extreme version of a Political Pacifism says that governments should lay down their arms and live in peace with their neighbors. If this were done unilaterally, this is totally unrealistic in this sinful world. The only nation that abides by the principles of peace is the "holy nation" of true Christians (1 Peter 2:9) who follow the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6).

Paul the apostle shows that civil government has been established by God to carry out the works of justice. The civil power "does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil" (Romans 13:4; cf. vv. 1-3; 1 Peter 2:13-14). While many earthly governments reward the wicked and persecute the righteous, ideally they should execute justice on evildoers. If the United States government finds those who are responsible for this mass slaying, Scripture says that it may work as God’s avenger to bring wrath and punishment. This becomes problematic when the government must go beyond its borders into another country to locate those who are guilty, and especially if innocent bystanders are involved, but the principle at least stands for evildoers within the borders of a given country.

Ninth, the Christian must live according to different principles. While the civil powers bear the sword (Romans 13:4), the Christian does not use the sword (Matthew 26:52). While the civil power is an "avenger" and "brings wrath" on the evildoer (Romans 13:4), the Christian is commanded not to take vengeance but to "leave room for the wrath of God" (12:19). The Christian is commanded, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (12:21; cf. vv. 14-20). The civil authority is basically concerned with "the punishment of evil-doers" (1 Peter 2:13-14), but the Christian is concerned with the salvation and transformation of evil-doers and all sinners (2 Corinthians 5:19-20). The Scriptures acknowledge the right of the civil government (national, state, and local) to bring sinners or criminals to justice (cf. Genesis 9:5-6; Acts 25:8-11), but it also teaches that the Christian will follow the Lord in the way of love, peace and goodwill (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:15).

The backlash of this atrocity has been seen in various places. Some hate-filled Americans have lashed out against any who are of Near-Eastern descent or who follow Islam. A news article noted, "In Washington, D.C., Muslim women have had hijab scarves snatched from their heads. A mosque in San Francisco was splattered with pig’s blood. A bomb threat at a mostly Arab school in Dearborn, Mich., sent frightened teens running into the streets" (Fort Worth Star Telegram). Someone attempted to murder Yemen native, Hasson Awadh, and someone succeeded in killing another Muslim in Arizona. American Muslim Mosques have been desecrated and fire bombed. Only a few miles from here (in Fort Worth, Texas), a white man stabbed two young men from Ethiopia.

True followers of Christ Jesus must live according to different standards. While they decry the wickedness of the mass murder in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., they allow God to exercise His own vengeance in His own time and according to His own means. True Christians choose to follow the "higher path" of love, mercy, justice, and kindness (cf. Luke 6:35-36) while acknowledging the right of proper civil authority in exercising justice and capital punishment on the guilty.

Tenth, God will bring absolute justice on the Last Day. All of those who were responsible for this tragedy may not be apprehended and executed in this life. We must realistically admit this. However, all of those guilty of this sin will one day be brought to justice—in God’s own time. Scripture assures us that God "will render to each person according to his deeds" (Romans 2:6). It speaks of "the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (v. 5). It also refers to "the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:7). No one will escape God’s righteous judgment on that Great Day of Judgment!

Let us not overlook the fact that not only will these Muslim murderers face God in judgment, but every single person who has ever lived on earth, "so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). Let us not self-righteously condemn others while absolving ourselves if we are still guilty of sin and have no saving relationship with Christ. Anyone who does not believe in Christ and obey Him will suffer the same eternal punishment as these heartless terrorists.

Eleventh, our life is very brief and utterly uncertain. Thousands of people arose Tuesday morning and departed for work at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center thinking that they would carry on their daily tasks and return home for the night. They kissed their spouse good-bye, made arrangements for an evening movie, planned to watch a ball game, or took their children to school. They planned for the future—but there was no earthly future. They were mistaken, tragically mistaken. Within a second’s time, some of them were crushed and burned to death. Others died within minutes. How wise is the instruction of Solomon: "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1). James adds this counsel: "You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away" (James 4:14).

These victims were alive one moment and dead a moment later. They were making telephone calls, gathering in meetings, taking a coffee break, talking about baseball scores, working on the computer, delivering memos, and flirting with other office workers. But they are now dead. How vital it is that we take warning from this tragic incident! We may not be killed by an exploding airplane, but we may be killed by an automobile wreck, a massive stroke, a coronary, or some other calamity. Are we ready to meet the Lord?

Christ’s return will not be expected either. Jesus warned, "The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27). Paul adds, "The day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly" (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3). Jesus said, "You also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will" (Matthew 24:44). Would you be ready to die if a terrorist bombed a building you were visiting that very moment? Would you be prepared to meet the glorious Lord if He appeared in the sky with all His angels in flaming fire (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Now is the time to prepare!

Twelfth, there is value in the present time. Since we are not assured of another day, we should use this day, this moment, in a way that is good and right. This may be the only moment we have. Let us never do anything that we would not want to be doing at the moment of our death or at the moment of Christ’s return! We are not to be overly-concerned about tomorrow (Matthew 6:33) but we are to be concerned with how we live today. Paul writes, "Be careful how you walk [live], not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16).

How are you and I carrying out our responsibilities today? Are we living as loving, kind, patient and righteous husbands, wives, sons and daughters? Are we living as responsible employees and employers? Are we kind and considerate neighbors and friends? As Christians, do we remember that we are "ambassadors for Christ" to take the message of reconciliation to a lost world (2 Corinthians 5:20)? Do we realize that God uses us to manifest "the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place" (2:14)? We must use each day as though it could be our last!

Thirteenth, we must value that which is eternal and not temporal. In light of the current disaster, many have recalled the symbolic account of Babylon’s overthrow in Revelation 18. (Babylon was apparently a symbol of pagan Rome). John uses figurative language to make his point—a point apparently much clearer to his original readers than to us. But notice this description: "The kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come’" (Revelation 18:9-10). While surely New York is not the Babylon in this description, we can say that the "great city" of New York does represent American splendor, luxury, material wealth, sensuality, and pride.

Earlier we spoke of the hypocrisy of condemning terrorism while at the same time condoning such sins as the murder of babies (abortion); the practice of sodomy (homosexuality), fornication, and adultery; the teaching of Godless evolution; the gross materialism and pleasure-seeking. Some have suggested that God is bringing judgment to bear on the United States for such sins and for departing from an earlier belief in the Lord God. God did not cause such sinful action (He is not the Author of sin), but He may be using the action to wake up America to its sin. While we may not know the complete answer to this, we can say that everything temporal and material will be burned up and destroyed (cf. 2 Peter 3:7-14). We need to remember Paul’s perspective: "We look, not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Fourteenth, the solution to all of this evil is God’s answer. Even at this time, people of the world are seeking for solutions to the terrorist crisis. They are attempting to find ways to protect themselves from harm and to punish those who perpetrated this inhuman series of acts. One article stated, "President Bush and his senior advisors told the nation Sunday to prepare for a new kind of global war that could last for years, require unconventional means and test the patience and courage of Americans and their leaders" (Fort Worth Star Telegram). Other nations are also discussing their own place in a coming war "against terrorism."

But the underlying problem that we should be seeing is the age-old problem of sin and human alienation from a holy God (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:2). Only Christ Jesus can solve this problem. The fundamental predicament is not political and the solution is not military. The problem and its answer are spiritual in nature. Christ came to this world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) and He did this by dying for our sins and rising from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Sin will remain in the human heart and any perverse act is possible as long as people remain alienated from God and subject to their own carnal passions. God can save a person through Christ and make him a new creation with a new character—one of love rather than hatred, mercy rather than judgment, kindness rather than cruelty (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22-23). Christ is the answer—the only answer to this present crisis and the age-long predicament of human sin!

These are some of the points and principles that I would like to share with you at this time of national and global crisis. We are living in perilous and explosive times. This is an atrocious and evil event that has not only deeply affected Americans but people from many other countries. Similar acts of terrorism are almost sure to happen in the future—not only in America but also around the world. Now is not the time to react with carnal attitudes but to manifest the character of God in Christ Jesus. Now is the time for people who know God to allow their light to shine brightly in a world of darkness—a darkness of terrorism, betrayal, hatred, false religion, perversion, revenge, and cruelty. Jesus declared, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life" (John 8:12).