Why Terrorism

I

n the wake of the September 11 barbaric terrorist attacks in New York and Washington—and many other acts of terrorism in recent days, not only in America but around the world—one cannot help but wonder about the correlation of these events with the ever-increasing tearing down of the Christian beliefs upon which the U.S.A. was founded, and the Judaeo-Christian ethic upon which much of our Western society has been built.

Consider the banning of prayer and the Bible in U.S. schools, legalizing abortion, murderous partial-birth abortion, the acceptance and popularizing of sexual practices that God's Word calls abominable, banning the display of nativity scenes and the posting of the Ten Commandments in public places—fundamental laws which provide a foundation upon which to build any lasting society—and many of these same or similar practices in Australia, New Zealand, and other Western societies. Let us not forget other recent societies who also ignored God—including those of Hitler and Stalin!

At times like this I am again reminded of the profound response of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the Russian-born Nobel Prize winner for literature (1970). On the same day he was presented with the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion by HRH Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace, he addressed many of Britain's leading political and religious leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury:

"Over half a century ago," stated Solzhenitsyn, "while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: 'Men have forgotten God, that's why all this has happened.'"

"And if I were called upon to identify the principal trait of the entire twentieth century," Solzhenitsyn continued, "I would be unable to find anything more precise and pithy than to repeat: 'Men have forgotten God'."

Have we too, as a nation, forgotten God in our actions—if not in our words? As God said so long ago, "Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord" ... and continued:

'And if I were called upon to identify
the principal trait of the entire
twentieth century,' Solzhenitsyn
continued, 'I would be unable
to find anything more precise
and pithy than to repeat:
'Men have forgotten God.'

"From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear [reverence] him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you."¹

At the same time you and I ask, "What can I do?" I am only one person. How can I make a difference? But there are many things we can do. We can pray earnestly for God's help. We can make sure we are living lives in harmony with God's will. We can support organizations such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and others who are helping the victims of these international disasters.

Think too of the amazing events of recent years and how they were affected by the action of one person.

Continued on Page Two