May 3, 2004 - Jesus on Terrorism

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Jesus on Terrorism
By Robert W. Martin
May 3, 2004

In light of the recent terrorist attacks throughout the world, it is enlightening to consider what Jesus had to say about terrorism. Jesus lived His life struggling with terrorist attempts on His life; attempts which finally succeeded at Calvary, as the ultimate innocence was nailed to a tree. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter—inhumanely murdered by a mob in full fury. Jesus was not ignorant of terrorism. It shaped His life and caused His death.

Jesus was born into a terror-filled arena of life. Herod, fearing a potential loss of kingdom and political clout, requested an audience with the wise men that would visit Jesus. The wise men, following the heavenly star, had found the young child Jesus. (They did not, as popular Christmas Nativity scenes portray, travel to the stable where Jesus was born as Jesus was now a young child of approximately two years and was residing in a house according to Matthew 2:11.)

Nonetheless, Herod, in a misguided effort to rid the world of a young king candidate, resorted to terrorism. Herod “was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men” (Matthew 2:16). Child after child was forcibly ripped from the clutches of weeping mothers and fathers and the blood of innocents was shed. Tears flowed and mingled with the blood of useless slaughter. A sad testimony to the warped state of a madman. A spectacle of violence that has been too often repeated.

Some things do not change. The death of the innocents continues. Of all the tragic and terrible sights associated with the recent terrorist attacks (in Spain, in Iraq, and other places), perhaps the most grievous and anger-provoking pictures are those of murdered children mercilessly snatched from the land of the living at the hands of faceless cowards. All human loss is tragic, but no loss moves the spirit more than the waste of young, exuberant, joyous, and tender lives. Perhaps this is because children represent a nation’s link with the future. Children, indeed, are a nation’s, as well as a church’s, greatest asset. How dare evil rob the innocence and the promise of children?

Oklahoma, 9/11, and Ancient Jerusalem
With this thought in mind, I had the sobering privilege of visiting the Oklahoma City Memorial at the site of the former Alfred Murrah building. I was moved to tears as I looked upon the rows of chairs representing the 168 who died in what was, until 9/11, the seminal terrorist event on American soil. The chairs, eerily resembling tombstones, made one consider, “Someone should be sitting there.” But no, misguided men, with selfish and vindictive visions, snuffed life forever from the unsuspecting. I could not help but stare at length at the smaller chairs with stuffed bears and other children’s playthings set on the seats waiting for the tender hands that will never hold or play with them again. Then I filed past the pictures of the 168 victims in a seeming funeral dirge, sadly witnessing the smiling faces of children at day care or at play. Smiles forever erased.

Jesus, dealing with terrorism from birth to death, had a unique perspective on terrorism. Interestingly, Jesus addressed the subject directly: “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?” (Luke 13:1-2). Jesus was referencing the heinous and blasphemous act of Pilate in which he sent Roman soldiers into the temple to terrorize and murder worshipers. Through Pilate’s vicious attack, the blood of the worshipers mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Truly, this was a savage and wicked blow by a man possessed and captivated by power and prestige.

It is interesting to note Jesus’ response to a contemporary terrorist activity. Jesus asked if the victims, the Galileans, met their untimely deaths because they were great sinners—did they get what was coming to them? Jesus said, “Nay,” an answer that sternly rebukes the theory espoused by certain religious leaders who contend that those violated by terrorists were because of society’s sins, namely homosexuality, promiscuity, and moral degradation. “Nay!” Jesus shouts. These did not die because of their sins, but rather because of the sins of the terrorists. The double-edged sword of self-will, in this case evil self-will, resulted in the deaths of the Galileans. The carnage in the temple was the result of the pervasive and pernicious effects of Adamic sin passed from generation to generation; it was not the result of specific sins and iniquities.

In a revealing side note, Jesus went on to include tragedy in His analysis. In Luke 13: 4 He continues, “Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?” The murder of the Galileans was an act of terrorism, but the death of 18 under the collapse of a tower was a tragedy. One was caused by men, the other by fate. The 18 did not die because of their sins, Jesus argues, but because of the sinful condition of the world. A world in which towers, like every thing else in the world, fall due to the debilitating consequences of age-old sin.

How Could a Merciful God Allow Tragedy?
But how could a merciful God allow terrorism and tragedy? Jesus’ response is often surprising to Christians and theologians. Perhaps this is because people tend to expect Jesus to be merciful. In fact, it is demanded. When it is not forthcoming, in anger people protest, “It isn’t fair!” Frail and sinful humans forget that when one’s first sin is committed, all rights to the gift of life have been forfeited. Forgotten is the fact that the act of breathing is an offering of divine mercy. God owes humankind nothing; everything is owed to God. R.C. Sproul writes in The Holiness of God,

In effect what Jesus was saying was this: “You people are asking the wrong question. You should be asking me, ‘Why didn’t that tower fall on my head?’” Jesus rebuked the people for putting their amazement in the wrong place. In two decades of teaching theology I have had countless students ask me why God doesn’t save everybody. Only once did a student come to me and say, “There is something I just can’t figure out. Why did God redeem me?”

Instead of interrogating God, perhaps the questions should be internalized—Why is life granted? Why is everyone not terrorized? Why does God redeem anyone? People tend to think they have many redeeming qualities, when in actuality all human righteousness is as filthy rags to God. To those who feel God owes them, grace does not amaze as much as justice does.

One Solution Remains
Sin continues to flood the landscape of society, culture, and life. No institution and no person have completely escaped its pervasive, corrupting nature. Into this volatile mix terrorism is hatched, regressing in its violent throes. Some things, obviously, do not get better with age, but rather degenerate at a frightening pace.

As some debate terrorism’s cause and effect (and tragedies, i.e., Job), Jesus, interestingly, did not focus His attention on the victims, but on the survivors. After saying the Galileans did not die because of their sins, Jesus then speaks to the living as He preaches, “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). The Lord, from the platform of terrorism, again preached repentance.

Jesus’ reply should strengthen the Church’s resolve for revival today. National unity is great. Americans aiding Americans is wonderful. International coalitions against terrorism are desirable. But repentance is needed. Repentance is a must.

The world is being called to repentance. This call is not because the citizens of Spain (or Iraq or New York) are more vile than the rest, but rather because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. As a matter of fact, the call for repentance is not new. It is a call that has echoed through the millennia from Adam until now. The problem is that many do not heed its steady call until faced with dilemmas such as terrorism. Until provoked, the summons to God is suffocated with the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and other things. The voice of repentance is merely a whisper—an unheeded unpleasantry and a worrisome nuisance. Then something out of the routine happens and the ears are forcibly reopened. In flows the vibrant call to come to or return to God. The world’s ears, howbeit in an uncomfortable manner, have been pierced and are open to suggestion. The Church must not let the opportunity to preach repentance die with a whimper. The Church must not settle for a patriotic feeling, the salve of retribution, or the opium of good will. “Repent!”—the Church must shout it from the rooftop, to the religious and to the infidel.

Terrorism will happen. It always has. Repentance, however, is often avoided. It is circumvented at great peril. Today, even as yesterday was, remains the day of salvation. Now is the time for the Church to fervently pray and consistently fast for revival and harvest. Terrorism shakes people. Repentance wakes people. May America awaken to great spiritual revival in the midst of great sorrow and uncertainty.

Jesus’ response to terrorism was to preach repentance to those who survive and remain. The response of the Church should be nothing less.

(A version of this article originally appeared in The Apostolic Witness.)

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Robert W. Martin pastors the Voice of Pentecost in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He also serves as the Assistant General Superintendent for the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ, having previously served for 14 years as the organization’s General Youth President. Brother Martin enjoys playing tackle football in his living room with his six year-old son, Alec, and googoo and gaagaaing with his one year-old son, Noah.