I was shocked to hear the report of the London transit bombings as I drove to work this morning. From the safety of my car, I listened to the sketchy details the press had to offer as I drove thru suburbia to my office. As the radio news played sound clip after sound clip of eyewitness testimony, I was struck by the tone of those who spoke into the reporters’ microphones. I heard sorrow. I heard sympathy. I heard strength and resolve. I heard solidarity. I did not hear bitterness, or anger, or vengeance. Maybe it’s just too soon. Maybe these are the voices of people who are coping and in-the-moment, and bitterness has not yet taken root because there’s just no time yet. But I hope that’s not true.
All day today, I considered Jesus’ command to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us, and in the wake of such terrible news it makes more sense to me now than it ever has. Obviously, it is important that we pray for the victims and their families and friends, for the emergency response teams, for the hospital personnel, the clergy, and anyone who had to witness the horror of death and injury. And we must pray for the politicians, government officials and world leaders who are left to dig deep into their souls to find the appropriate official responses - responses that must reflect the well-being of the international community.
I am sad for the people of Great Britain for I know that sinking feeling you get when your country suffers such a terrible wound. Indeed, I am sad for the world, for London is merely a city in a global community. We were all attacked. But my deepest sorrow is for those that are so separate from Christ that they could not only conceive such an act, but carefully orchestrate it. I am unspeakably sad for those that have so completely turned from God that they would look on today’s events and see a successful mission. When I consider Jesus’ words I realize that our enemies are the people most desperately in need of our prayers. In spite of the atrocities they endeavor to commit, they are God’s children - they were made in His image - and they are utterly lost. Only Christ can turn enemies into allies, and for this to happen, we must appeal to our Lord and Savior. May our response to these attacks reflect the glory of Christ.
"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on {the} evil and {the} good, and sends rain on {the} righteous and {the} unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing {than others?} Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:44-48 [NASB]
It is so hard to love people who do such terrible thing like 9-11, the suicide bombing in Iraq and the attacks on London yesterday. I feel sorry for the muslim people who weren't involved. Today on the news they were being told not to leave their houses today. It's sad that they have to seek protection when they weren't involved in this. I also am saddened for the people who died. I know it is not likely that many were Christians and had their lives straight with God. It reminds me that we are not given tomarrow. We need to live for today and be living for Jesus.
Posted by: Nicole | July 08, 2005 at 08:14 AM
Good words Chris. Jesus' words demonstrate that following him is truly counter-cultural in any culture, revolutionary regardless of governmental control. Who could pray for their enemies? Why would they? How could we hope for God's grace to come to the terrorists?
Posted by: Joe Thorn | July 09, 2005 at 02:16 PM