This essay was first published as a CGG Weekly essay on July 22, 2016.
The online free encyclopedia, Wikipedia, keeps a “List of terror incidents” by month and by year. (For instance, here is the page for 2016.) The list for July 2016, which at this writing covers only July 1-20, contains more than 120 incidents, from a bombing in Bahrain to an execution in Iraq. The worst acts of terrorism, it seems, happen in the Middle East, Iraq and Syria in particular, as the civil wars there continue to rage. The worst terrorist act so far this month occurred on July 3 in Baghdad, where 308 died when a large car bomb exploded in a busy market.
The world’s attention, however, has been focused on Nice, France, since the Bastille Day (July 14) truck attack. In that ISIS-inspired act of terror, 84 people died and 303 were injured when a twenty-ton cargo truck plowed through the crowds walking along the Promenade des Anglais on France’s Côte d’Azur. The Tunisian driver of the truck, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, 31, swerved the vehicle to hit celebrating pedestrians along more than a mile of the Promenade. He was stopped only when police surrounded the truck and peppered it with bullets, killing him.
While most of the recent terrorist acts have happened far away, a handful have struck the U.S. The July Wikipedia list records two police shootings (in Dallas and Baton Rouge; eight dead, twelve wounded) and a house bombing (in Panaca, Nevada; bomber died, one injured) as homegrown terrorist acts. While police are especially at risk due to heightened racial tensions in America’s urban areas, Islamic terrorism remains a constant threat. “Lone-wolf” terrorists, inspired by the “success” of those like the Orlando, Florida, nightclub shooter, Omar Mateen (49 killed, 53 wounded), and the Nice killer, will likely be emboldened to attempt attacks on similar soft targets among the general public.
With terrorism taking place every day somewhere in the world, how should we as Christians respond? Some acts of terror have happened startlingly near to where we live. Should we be terrified—or is that giving in to the terrorists? Should we be extra-vigilant—or is that over-reacting? Should we not be concerned at all—or is that burying our heads in the sand? Most of all, what is a faithful reaction to terrorism?
On a physical level, can we do anything to prepare for an attack? For its part, the federal government has done precious little to prepare the general public for a local act of terror. The extent of its advice seems to be “follow the instructions of state and local authorities,” “remain vigilant,” and “report suspicious activities”—all fine measures but only marginally helpful.
From what the public can see, the government’s activities have tended to follow the model of the Transportation Security Administration, that is, it has focused on interdicting terrorists and their weapons at points of entry and transit and as they are in the act of committing their crimes. To do this, they have imposed restrictions that have mostly served to inconvenience the public rather than the terrorists. Stronger measures—like profiling likely terrorists or denying Muslims entry into the country for a time—have been avoided.
It appears that the government would never advise the public to do certain things that could be truly helpful: avoid large gatherings of people, especially on holidays and significant dates (September 11, the beginning and end of Ramadan, etc.); avoid likely targets (sports stadiums, concerts, clubs, restaurants, movie theaters, etc.); avoid symbolic sites (historical places, government buildings, symbols of American power); avoid public transportation, etc. Government officials consider giving such recommendations to be a guaranteed way to create panic and ruin the economy (and to lose their jobs or the next election). Even so, nothing is stopping us from following such common-sense advice on our own.
Christians, of course, can call on a Power higher than the federal government for help in time of need. We do not need to conduct our lives in fear of men. Share on XThe apostle Paul, for instance, faced frequent persecution, and he implored the brethren to pray for God’s help: “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe . . .” (Romans 15:30-31).
In another place, he asks for a similar prayer to be offered on his behalf:
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. (II Thessalonians 3:1-3)
We can pray for ourselves and for others in the church in a similar way, knowing that God is eager to show Himself strong on behalf of those who are loyal to Him (II Chronicles 16:9). If we are faithful to Him, He will be faithful to us, not allowing us to become victims of a “random act of terror.” And if He does allow church members to die by terrorism—which, sad to say, has already happened—we can be assured that He is aware (Matthew 10:27-31) and that those who die have finished their course to His satisfaction (II Timothy 4:7). We do not need to conduct our lives in fear of men.
As the crisis at the close of this age approaches, we know that increasingly “perilous times will come” (II Timothy 3:1) and “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse” (II Timothy 3:13). In the same chapter, the apostle recalls “persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me” (II Timothy 3:11, emphasis ours). The same Lord is watching out for His people still as they navigate through an ever more turbulent world.The Lord is watching out for His people still as they navigate through an ever more turbulent world. Share on X
Psalm 91 describes a situation in which God’s people are under duress. It immediately assures us that, if we “dwell in the secret place of the Most High” (Psalm 91:1), a reference to living intimately with God, He will be our refuge and fortress (verse 2). The psalm continues:
Surely He shall deliver you. . . . You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. (Psalm 91:3, 5-7)
What a comfort! Rather than dwell on the horror and terror of those threatening destruction, the people of God should focus on living ever more intimately with God and reap the benefit of His protection.
