Hope In The Darkness of Evil’s Enormity and Suffering’s Tragedy
Hope In The Darkness of Evil’s Enormity and Suffering’s Tragedy
by Bob Tolliver on 2001-09-12 16:23:09
My Dear Friend:
By now you are aware of the massive calloused and evil terrorist attack on
the United States and its citizens. Jo Ann and I were watching live
television when the first tower of the Trade Center was hit; then, as many
others did, we saw the second plane hit the second tower and explode. It
didn’t take long for us to realize this was a concerted terrorist attack.
A short time later we saw the Pentagon building on fire.
My mind has been flooded with thoughts about what it must have been like to
have looked out a window to see a huge commercial jet just about to plunge
into your office, or to have been on one of those planes and watching as you
plummeted into a wall and your eminent death. I have become almost
physically ill in contemplating what might go through a person’s mind when
they made the choice to jump to their death rather than burn to death. It
is almost unthinkable.
Ten per cent of all office space in New York City was in those two towers,
occupied by 155 companies and agencies and 50,000 workers. One major
company occupied fifty one floors of one tower.
I have been stunned not only by the act itself, but also the way it has
affected both this nation and the entire world. As far as I know there has
never been a time in modern aviation history when the complete air
transportation system of both the United States and Canada came to a
grinding stop. Other countries such as Israel and Britain also altered air
traffic. Bus services, train services, and the seaways in the northeastern
U.S. were shut down. The tunnels between the U.S. and Canada border have
been closed. The space shuttle program was halted. The off shore oil
workers were evacuated from their platforms and rigs. The Ford Motor
Company and General Motors closed and sent workers home. The IRS center in
Washington closed. Most tourist attractions from coast to coast closed; all
major museums and any other facilities that might be occupied by large
numbers of citizens also closed.
I began writing this letter yesterday afternoon just a few hours after the
terrorist attack, but could not think clearly enough to articulate what I
was feeling in my heart.
WHAT GOD WAS SAYING TO ME:
Like me, you’ve probably received many e-mails filled with thoughts and high
emotions. For that reason I’ve hesitated to write to you. However, I feel
compelled to do so. Several thoughts have come to my mind —- both
questions and observations. We can ask “why” or we can answer “because” in
many different ways. Some will say that the U.S. has asked for this and
deserves what it got because of what it has done in the Balkans, Iraq, or
some other place. Conversely, some might even arrogantly say that America
deserves more respect than this.
However, that’s far too simplistic and judgmental in both cases. Consider
these observations instead:
- Evil still exists in every form, and it is so strong that it can cloud
the thinking of human beings to such an extent that they want to destroy
each other . . . . . whether it be by terrorists’ bombings, ethnic
cleansing, infanticide, or hateful words. All it needs is an outlet. When
it finds a willing participant, the consequences are devastating, no matter
the media by which it is delivered. While our minds will not allow us to
put hijacking planes and killing thousands in a building in the same
category as abortion or vindictive speech, Jesus does. - The battle between good and evil is increasing, and is moving closer each
day to becoming a religious issue. That reality may have escaped our
attention, especially here in the U.S., but it is evident. Just look at
Northern Ireland and the Balkans. I believe there is a direct
inter-connection between evil and violence on the one hand and one’s
religious belief systems. The more I study scripture, the more convinced I
am of that fact. When we have no god but ourselves, when we worship the god
of materialism, when we follow a perverted view of the true God, or when we
bow to the god of power and/or politics, we are automatically setting
ourselves up for a battle between good and evil . . . . . between our false
god and the One Jehovah God as revealed in Jesus Christ.So, it should never be a surprise to us when we find ethnicity, power
mongering, dictatorship, anarchy, or political motives linked to our concept
of religion . . . . and positioned in direct opposition to the God of the
universe. There is little doubt that what happened in Washington and New
York City is the same as what happened in the Balkans, northern Ireland and
other places . . . . . a perverted view of God causes man to act in evil
ways. When there are other gods put before the true God, only evil will
result. It can be no other way.Why? Simply because the god of this world, Satan himself, is still bent on
stealing, destroying, and killing (John 10:10a) while the Lord Jesus Christ
is still offering “life, and more abundantly” (John 10:10b). Anything and
everything that opposes the One True God can generate only evil.3. The United States deserved but didn’t deserve this tragedy. Just because
our earliest origins can clearly be traced back to the desire to carry out
the Great Commission by establishing a country of religious freedom, human
freedom, and prosperity, that does not mean we don’t have to pay for our own
sins of abandoning godly principles, becoming arrogant in our power and
prosperity, and squandering much of our resources on selfish fulfillment
while millions around the world go without. While I certainly do not
believe God initiated this heinous act, I do believe He is using it to again
try to get our attention and draw us back to that from whence we have
strayed. Like any other country, we are to have no other gods before Him.
And, also because we have been blessed and given so much, we have much more
for which we are to be responsible.Having said that, I must say that neither did we deserve that act, simply
because no human being or society of people does. In New York City, for
example, there are over 150 different ethnic groups and countries
represented. It is almost a miniature “world”. Those terrorists, whoever
they are, most likely killed some of their own. But, of course, that didn’t
really matter to them.And, for those of my friends in other countries, in spite of our many
weaknesses and our many occasions to often operate on the basis of what
benefits the U.S. the most (at least politically speaking), the United
States still remains the most free, democratic, powerful, diverse and
prosperous nation in the world. That in itself makes some people very
jealous and resentful. What will make them even more angry is to discover
the resilience and the will to overcome that will see us through this
tragedy . . . . hopefully a better nation, a more determined nation, and . .
. . . above all else, a more godly and compassionate nation. That
characteristic is being seen at the moment; it is my prayer it will become a
life style.Interestingly, the United States in one way is exactly like every other
nation and country on this globe. We’re made up of human beings —- people- people of diversity, ethnicity, education, and religion. And, believe
it or not, we all have feet of clay. Sometimes we forget that man made
nations is not the answer, and it is not going to be the subject of the
final chapter of human history. It’s bigger than people; it’s bigger than
nations; it’s bigger than a world system. The final chapter is going to be
about one subject —- God. God, and His plan of redemption fulfilled.As a folk song on the 1960’s and 70’s says, “Freedom isn’t free.” The
greater the freedom, the greater the responsibility, . . . . and the greater
the danger of attack, both from within and without.4. Then my heart goes out to the families of the perpetrators of this
horrible deed. Their religion tells them such acts are the way to heaven.
When you don’t know the truth that Jesus is the only way, and that His
message is one of forgiveness, hope, and love, then I suppose you must
resort to such acts. But, can you imagine what these men, apparently five
of them, must be thinking now? They didn’t end up where they thought.
They’re not in the presence of God, but now in the presence of the god who
deceived them —- suffering eternally for not only what they did, but for
Whom they rejected as the answer to life. What a horrible thought! I would
suspect that, if they could, they’d love to return not only to repent and
turn to Christ, but also to rebuke their religious leaders, reject their
religious heritage, and announce to all who follow that false god that they
have all been deceived. Jesus is the Only way.Hopefully we’ll remember, too, that all men and women and children without
Christ face the same future. That includes those who live in your
neighborhood and mine.5. In tragedies around the world, the Phoenix Bird has often risen out of
the ashes. It will happen again. My only question is whether, after it
rises, it will return as an eagle or as a vulture. Let’s pray that the
eagle rises, soars, and leads righteously.6. Finally, each of us needs to remember that we are not of this world.
With all its clamoring and enticing, it’s easy to forget that.Ironically, I preached this last Sunday morning from I Peter 2 …. “Here On
Purpose”. Peter takes the first several verses to remind us of our
identity. He uses seven phrases in verses 9-11 —- a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people after God’s own possession (i.e. Who
owns, holds, and cherishes us), aliens, and strangers. After describing our
relationship with God in the first five, he then describes our relationship
with this world . . . . aliens and strangers. Aliens are people who don’t
belong; strangers are people nobody knows. That’s who we are, and sometime
we forget how we should act and live as people who don’t belong and nobody
really knows or understands.Then, he reminds us in 2:1-5 and 2:12-3:27 of how we should live: set aside
revenge, deceit and duplicity, pretending, wishing you were like someone
else, and talk that hurts others. Instead we are to be hungry for God’s
word, allow ourselves to be built into a spiritual temple inhabited by our
great high priest Jesus Christ, submit properly to authority, use our
freedom wisely, live in right relationships, and keep our behavior
excellent.Finally, he identifies our real purpose . . . . and it’s Not to be wealthy or
successful, strong and powerful, or arrogant and superior. It’s quite
simple, actually . . . . we’re here for proclamation and demonstration. In
verse 9 we see we are to proclaim God’s excellencies in light of how He
called us out of spiritual darkness into His marvelous light. Then in
verses 21-25 he says, “For you have been called for this purpose”, as
demonstrated to us by Jesus Himself. Don’t be led into willful sin. Never
deceive. Don’t abuse, vilify, criticize, or scold. Don’t threaten and
strike back when suffering.So . . . . in this situation, and in all others, we are here for one simple
purpose . . . . . . to exalt, lift up, worship, and declare the Lord Jesus
Christ as the answer to all human needs, both by proclamation and by
demonstration.Isn’t it tragic that this road, seldom taken, was rejected.
A BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUDS:
Another ironic experience Jo Ann and I have had this week is to, while all
this satanic hatred was unleashed upon our country, far away from the
targeted buildings in a small Midwestern town near us, participate with a
small Christian university as they conducted their annual Missions Week,
trying to recruit young men and women to go across the United States and
into other countries with the love, compassion, and good news of Jesus
Christ . . . . . a far cry from the religion that drove these suicidal men.This ministries leadership of this small university will send students to the
Balkans in eastern Europe to minister to refugees, orphans, and believers in
a region predominantly Muslim. Teams will go to the inner cities of
Chicago, Philadelphia, and Houston while another goes to northwestern
Oklahoma to work with Native Americans through children and youth programs,
community survey work, and service projects. Another team will go to an
undisclosed country in east Asia and minister through language and cultural
exchange.A team will go to Guatemala to work in an orphanage and help rebuild the
lives of abandoned and abused children. Still another will go to the
Himilayas, a very dangerous and risky trip, to lead mapping research and
literature distribution in remote mountain villages, using mountain bikes as
their means of transportation. Along with the eastern Europe team, Jo Ann
and I will lead another to Kiev in Ukraine to work with village churches,
orphanages, and the St. James Bible College training young people from
former CIS states to prepare for the Gospel ministry. Both of us will be
teaching classes five hours a day, five days a week, for two weeks.Then there a team is going to Kyrgyzstan where they will build relationships,
assist in community service projects, help manage an internet cafe’, and
disciple new believers. Another will go to London to minister to “10/40
Window” people groups from Turkey, Israel, Kosovo, and south Asia who are
living in the area. Another team will go to Nepal to evangelize and
disciple people there while yet another will travel to Peru to minister to
the marginal urban population of a major city. Finally, a team will
minister to the Warao tribe, an indigenous people group of northeastern
Venezuela.Did you count the number of teams? Fourteen teams scattering across the
globe . . . . . not to bomb buildings and take human lives, but simply to
share the love of God as found in Jesus Christ. This small university with
fewer than 2,000 resident students, though not a perfect school, would like
to send 500 young men and women around the world with the message that God
loves, God saves, God restores, God heals. Pray with me that they will be
able to do that.So last night, after watching a brief televised speech by President Bush,
many of these young people met together crying out to God for healing and
hope, and for harvesters to go. The theme of this Missions Week thrust is
simple —- “Until He Comes, . . . . Go!”Following a time of praise and worship, the university’s ministries director,
at a loss for words over the day’s events, read from Psalm 46.“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore,
we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains
slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the
mountains quake at its swelling pride.“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling
places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the
kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts
is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.“Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations in the
earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow
and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. ‘Be still
(cease striving) and know that I am God; I will be exalted among than
nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord of hosts is with us; the
God of Jacob is our stronghold.”Following that came more times of praise and worship and several intense
times of intercession . . . . for those who have suffered in New York and
Washington, for all their friends and family, for the families of the
terrorists, for the school, for the lost world, and finally for the young
men and women who would be responding today to the call to join one of these
mission teams.Then, after every planned part of the service had concluded, a young man was
called to the front of the group where he picked up a guitar and began
leading the students in song:“When peace, like a river, attends my soul; or sorrow like sea billows roll.
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my
soul’.“Tho’ Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come, let this blest assurance
control, that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own
blood for my soul.“My sin —- O the bliss of this glorious tho’t —- my sin, not in part, but
the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more; Praise the Lord,
praise the Lord, O my soul!“And, Lord, hast the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled
back as a scroll: the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, ‘Even
so’ —- it is well with my soul.“It Is Well . . . . with my soul. It is well, —- it is well with my soul!”
FINALLY:
So, friend, in the wake of the most horrific terrorist act on American soil
since Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, I just had to write these words of
encouragement. Let’s be reminded that . . . .- It will get worse before it gets better,
- Evil will ultimately fail in its attempt to rule,
- While all human efforts and agencies will be insufficient, Jesus will
prevail, - God will have the final word, and
- Jesus will conquer it all and reign victorious.
For that reason, we can say, “It is well with my soul”, and, . . . . if we
will, . . . . we can answer the call to radical global ministry and
evangelism . . . . . from home to the uttermost.In His Bond and for His Namesake,
Bob Tolliver — Rom 1:11-12
Copyright September, 2001
Life Unlimited Ministries
Do You Get “Shoulder To Shoulder”?
- It will get worse before it gets better,
- people of diversity, ethnicity, education, and religion. And, believe