A Response to Terrorism

The goal of terrorism is to create fear that disrupts society.  But fear of what?  Violence?  Death?  Of course that’s… Read more A Response to Terrorism

The goal of terrorism is to create fear that disrupts society.  But fear of what?  Violence?  Death?  Of course that’s part of it, but more specifically terrorism hits at the heart of our way of life.  It’s about shrinking our comfort zones so that we can’t even go to a concert or restaurant without being afraid.  Terrorism is always done at random so as to instill the fear that, when you least expect it, something terrible could happen to you.  And it works because it succeeds in taking away the one thing the whole world is running after: peace.

The problem is most of the world is seeking a false sense of peace through financial security, social status, mind-numbing entertainment, and instant gratification.  We should no longer refer to this as the American Dream.  Even child soldiers in Uganda, who have been raised on a steady diet of American rap videos, have been fed the lie that true peace is found when you’ve got more money, women, and success than the next guy.  This lie has been exported all over the globe to the point that it is now a Universal Dream.

And if this is your dream — to have the easiest, most comfortable, most effortlessly happy life — than terrorism is terrifying.  Because it means that at any moment, your dream could be taken away.  Your comfort and ease could vanish and you will be shockingly confronted with a reality that is cruel, merciless, and inconsiderate of your dream.  But Jesus is not shocked by terrorism.  Luke 13 mentions a tragic event in Jesus’ time when the Roman governor Pilate had apparently entered the temple grounds while some Galileans were bringing their animal sacrifices.  Pilate, a Gentile, was profaning the temple just by being there, yet he went on to slaughter these Jews, mixing their blood with the blood of the lambs and goats they came to sacrifice.  People were appalled, and they came to Jesus to see what his response would be.  Jesus was not shocked.  Bottomline, his response was this: life is short, so repent and make your life count.  The loss of comfort, the abrupt removal of temporary pleasures, even bringing an end to this fleeting, earthly life — these things didn’t phase Jesus.  His worldview was not rocked because He wasn’t pursuing some deceptive, shallow Universal Dream.  His life was given over to an Eternal Mission.  Jesus was ready to risk pain, failure, loss, and even death to fulfill His mission.

For followers of Christ who have relinquished the pursuit of the Universal Dream and are giving their lives for Jesus’s Mission, terrorism is not so terrifying.  No amount of despicable cruelty and violence can cause us to shrink back and hope for the return of the good ol’ days.  They can take false peace and comfort away, but they cannot take away the peace that Jesus gives us.  Just before going to the cross, Jesus said, “ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid ” (John 14:27).

In the face of terrorism, we have nothing to fear.  While the dark gets darker, our light must shine brighter.  Our response must be to prepare ourselves to risk more than ever before for the sake of a King, who loved us so much as to lay down His comfort, ease, and popularity and then defeated terror and evil on the cross.  His empty tomb is a reminder that the darkness will not win and the Resurrected King will still have His Day.  So in response to what happened in Paris over the weekend, “ let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart ” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Our hearts and prayers go out on behalf of the families and friends of the victims of the Paris attacks that the God of peace would be very near to them right now.  May we all receive the true peace that only Christ can give and then freely give it away.