A Biblical Response to the Terrorist Attacks on America
(for the purpose of Prayer and Evangelism)
by Dutch Sheets

As we all observe and mourn the results of the recent terrorist attacks on
America, the response of the Body of Christ and the way in which we pray
could very well determine whether our nation turns toward God or away from
God. Sorrow can lead either to bitterness, which perpetuates greater
defilement (see Heb. 12:15), or to repentance resulting in salvation (see 2
Cor. 7:10). Measured, accurate and biblical responses from those of us
representing God are critical.

How Should We Define the Events?
Great caution should be exercised in using the word "judgment" to define
these events. Many Christians understand that America has been experiencing
a degree of judgment for some time - sin has wages (see Rom. 6:23). But
most biblical judgment is the inevitable, built-in consequence of sin, not
the direct hand of God. He didn't pronounce curses after Adam and Eve's
fall because He was an angry God who loves to curse sinners. He did so
because of the inherent results of their actions. And He did it while
covering their nakedness and promising redemption, a redemption involving
great sacrificial love on His part - the incarnation and death of His Son
(see Gen. 3:15).

Also, rather than the direct hand of God, judgments are often simply the
result of forfeiting God's favor and protection. Jonah 2:8 tells us:
"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

A careful and compassionate explanation of reaping, or the consequences of
sin and of turning from God, should be our definition of the events. I
would advise not even using the term "judgment" because the world will
probably not hear anything else we say. Other pertinent Scriptures that
could be used to explain the fruit of sin and the forfeiting of God's
protection are:

Psalm 127:1-2: "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who
build it. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in
vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread
of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep." 

Proverbs 14:34: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to
any people."

Proverbs 28:13: "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but
he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."

Isaiah 59:1-2: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot
save; neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities
have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden
His face from you, so that He does not hear."

Luke 13:34-35: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets
and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children
together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not
have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you
shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is He who comes
in the name of the Lord!'" 


Luke 19:41-44: "And when He approached, He saw the city and wept over it,
saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for
peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days shall
come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and
surround you, and hem you in on every side, and will level you to the ground
and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon
another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation. " 

What Should Be Our Message?
Our message, therefore, must be one of carefully balanced grace and truth
(see John 1:17). God's desire is always to forgive and redeem, not to
destroy. Our gospel includes - in addition to the incarnation, death and
resurrection of Jesus - two other very important messages: repentance from
sin and grace to the repentant. Christ came for the sick, not the healthy;
to seek and save the lost, not the found. "For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son...For God did not send the Son into the world
to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him" (John
3:16-17).

This message of grace need not leave out the consequences of sin, but as it
is shared it must be laced with hope and with God's merciful heart. His
desire is to turn us from our sin, not destroy us for it (see 2 Chron.
7:14). He is "slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness" (Ps. 86:15).
At times He actually announced judgments through tears (see Luke 19:41-44),
and the Scriptures are clear that He takes no pleasure in the judgment of
the wicked (see Ezek. 18:23-32).

God forgave a harlot named Rahab, then gave her a prominent plan in Israel's
history as the great-great-grandmother of King David and a part of the
lineage leading to Christ. He was willing to spare Sodom; He did spare
Nineveh when she repented. And on another occasion He unsuccessfully sought
for an intercessor so He could spare Israel (see Ezek. 22:30-31).

So, yes, our message must call sinners to repentance - we cannot compromise
truth - but God's heart of compassion, mercy and grace must fill the message
with hope. "Return to Me and I will return to you" (Mal. 3:7) should be the
heart of our message. The result of the returning will be healing and
restoration.

What Should Our Attitude Be?
Rather than one of harshly announcing judgment, our attitude must be one of
compassion and mourning. Like Jeremiah and Christ Himself, we must be able
to explain the results of sin through heartfelt tears (see Lam. 1:16; 2:11;
3:48-49; Luke 19:41-44). Too often the world perceives our attitude toward
the consequences of others' sins - whether the death of an abortionist or
AIDS in a homosexual - as callous or even smug gladness. Satan is an expert
at distorting the perception of Christ and the Church in the eyes of the
world. We must be wiser than he and make certain the Christ we reveal - the
One who loves sinners - is accurate.

We must also be quick to acknowledge our responsibility in the condition of
America:
* Some immature leaders, including prophets immature in their
calling, have brought forth only harshness and condemnation in their
attempts to call the nation to repentance. This turns the hearts of
unbelievers away from God.
* On the other hand, many pastors and caregivers have
overemphasized mercy and grace, refusing to call individuals to biblical
accountability.
* The Church in America as a whole has preached a "what's in
it for me" humanistic gospel, leaving out the message of taking up our cross
and laying down our lives. This has produced great compromise and
lukewarmness in the Body of Christ.
* Many of us have failed to truly care for and minister to the
poor and hurting, and in general have lacked genuine compassion.
* We in the Church have decried materialism, greed and the
love of money as a great part of the problem in America, while fewer than
20% of us even tithe, let alone give sacrificial offerings. Our hypocrisy
contributes to the problem.
* We have failed to pray as we should for government leaders
and the lost.

We must acknowledge that judgment begins at our house (see 1 Pet. 4:17) and
do our share of the repenting.

How Should We Pray?
How can we pray effectively for the nation at this time?
1. Repent for our (the Church's) role per the previous points.
Pray that many in the Church see this need for humility and repentance.
2. Pray that the Church is able to respond to this crisis with
great wisdom - a proper blend of grace and truth - and that neither unwise
messengers nor the enemy can distort God's heart.
3. Ask for a turning of our nation back to God; that a
revelation of our great need would penetrate the heart of our nation.
Believe that God can do this.
4. Ask for God's mercy to triumph over judgment (see James
2:13).
5. Pray that President Bush and other government leaders move
with great wisdom and make sound decisions. Pray that the President would
be so visited by God that he would unashamedly and publicly repent, pray and
call the nation back to God.
6. Pray for comfort in our nation, but that it would be
accompanied with a true recognition of our great spiritual need.
7. Forgive those who have wronged us, yet pray for justice (not
revenge) to evildoers. These two things - forgiveness and justice - are not
contradictory (see Matt. 7:1; Luke 6:37; Rom. 13:4).
8. Continue to pray for salvation to come to the Muslim world.