The cover of People Magazine on September 24, 2001 showed the skyline of New York City. The south tower of the World Trade Center was spewing smoke and at first glance the photo looks like and industrial smoke stack. The second plane is in view as it begins to turn on its way to flying into the north tower. The special issue was 136 pages of pain and tears, shock, destruction and blood.
Why did they plan for years to inflict such monstrous horror on us? Was it, like some have said, because we are "good?" I don't believe that for a second. Was it because we have supported Israel? I'm sure that there is some truth there. It's more likely the result of two very powerful forces, one irresistible unless God intervenes and the other irresistible when God intervenes. One begins to die when law departs, the other begins to live when law departs. When freedom discards law anything goes. People begin to, as scripture tells us, "call evil good and good evil." Thus, same-sex marriage is good and...say...homeschooling is bad.
As the concept of law is deemed less and less important, we now reach for everything within our grasp. Capitalism picks up on this like Newsweek Magazine on an unflattering picture of Sarah Palin...if there is one. Before you know it, Madonna videos are selling in Tehran. Our enemies don't like this because their sales of beheadings on video fall off. The other force is unleashed when man finds out that he cannot keep laws to find redemption with God.
When Christianity enters the lands of our enemies, they may not know how but they know that it will change people, it will grow in numbers and will eventually release people from their bondage. President Obama's overtures of friendship with the Iranian people will have some effect on some people but it will have no effect on terrorists. It is worth trying, but only if we do not forget what the group that it will not effect is capable of, and by no means letting up on them or letting our guard down. Unfortunately, this is what the President is doing. Remembering what happened on that dreadful day, September 11, 2001, keeps us from forgetting what can happen again, and worse. To the Christian, God has lifted the burden of our past sin enough that we can function, more than function, we can live joyfully in the grace extended, but as long as we live in this world, we are capable of returning. I don't want to wear that burden, but I don't want to forget it either.
Why did they plan for years to inflict such monstrous horror on us? Was it, like some have said, because we are "good?" I don't believe that for a second. Was it because we have supported Israel? I'm sure that there is some truth there. It's more likely the result of two very powerful forces, one irresistible unless God intervenes and the other irresistible when God intervenes. One begins to die when law departs, the other begins to live when law departs. When freedom discards law anything goes. People begin to, as scripture tells us, "call evil good and good evil." Thus, same-sex marriage is good and...say...homeschooling is bad.
As the concept of law is deemed less and less important, we now reach for everything within our grasp. Capitalism picks up on this like Newsweek Magazine on an unflattering picture of Sarah Palin...if there is one. Before you know it, Madonna videos are selling in Tehran. Our enemies don't like this because their sales of beheadings on video fall off. The other force is unleashed when man finds out that he cannot keep laws to find redemption with God.
When Christianity enters the lands of our enemies, they may not know how but they know that it will change people, it will grow in numbers and will eventually release people from their bondage. President Obama's overtures of friendship with the Iranian people will have some effect on some people but it will have no effect on terrorists. It is worth trying, but only if we do not forget what the group that it will not effect is capable of, and by no means letting up on them or letting our guard down. Unfortunately, this is what the President is doing. Remembering what happened on that dreadful day, September 11, 2001, keeps us from forgetting what can happen again, and worse. To the Christian, God has lifted the burden of our past sin enough that we can function, more than function, we can live joyfully in the grace extended, but as long as we live in this world, we are capable of returning. I don't want to wear that burden, but I don't want to forget it either.
