What Would Jesus
Do?
Jesus and the Terrorist Attack
September 13, 2001
Over and over again the image leaps out at me from
the television set. When I close my eyes I can see the jet
approach the 110 story skyscraper. I see it tilt with the left
wing down and the right wing up. An instant later the jet turned
weapon slices through the south tower of the World Trade Center
leaving behind a massive fireball. Later, both Trade Towers
implode and fall to the ground crushing everything and everyone
beneath them.
My initial response of shock turned quickly to
anger. When the president, and others, mention bring the
perpetrators to justice I don’t want justice. I want whoever did
this, or made it possible, to be crushed. No, I want them to be
tortured.
And then I remember the words of Jesus. He said,
“If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the
other also.” I’m of the opinion that Jesus wasn’t commanding us
to stand still while an opponent beats us to death. Nor do I
think he is commanding us individually, or nationally, to allow
fanatics to terrorize us with horrific attacks. Rather, I think
he was telling us to never allow someone else’s wrath to control
our response. Once that happens, then our enemies are
controlling us, not God.
No matter how you interpret Jesus’ words, they are
undeniably difficult to put into practice. Especially in light
of the current national crisis. Of course, Jesus always wants to
take us deeper—that’s why he said if we want to be like our
Father in heaven we will love our enemies.
For most of us there is a massive gap between what
we feel for the terrorists and “love.” We probably don’t “feel”
love for such men. But we can choose to behave in a loving way.
Does that mean a Christian leader would not seek justice and
punishment against the terrorists? No, it does not mean that.
Jesus did not condemn the use of governmental power for the
purpose of bringing about justice. Indeed, the bible teaches one
purpose of government is to punish wrongdoers (Romans 13:1-5)
But if we’re going to follow Jesus we must take
the next step. Jesus went on to say, “Pray for those who
persecute you.” The only way I can connect with God and love my
enemies is if God infuses me with his love and grace. I become
like a branch that wants to bear fruit—it must rely on the vine
to produce the fruit through it. I feel confident in saying that
the most important thing any of us can do in the face of this
national tragedy is pray. We must pray for our enemies. We must
pray for the victims and their families. We must pray for our
president and his counselors. We must pray for our nation and
for a spiritual revival.
As mighty men we must choose, in the face of such
terror, to fix our hope on God. He alone can give us and our
families’ strength and security. In Psalm 46 we find that God is
our “refuge and strength.” Solomon said that the day of death is
better than the day of birth. He meant, I think, that in the
face of death we pause and evaluate the meaning and purpose of
our lives. I urge you to ask God, in the face of death, to
fervently seek God. And pray God will lift up an army of mighty
men who will fervently pray for our country.
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