Should You Fear Terrorism?

In the turbulent and uncertain wake of the events of September 11, 2001, we find ourselves attempting to cope in a visibly different world.

Much to our national chagrin, the United States has discovered that we have intelligent, disciplined, and well-financed enemies – adherents so dedicated to their cause, that they are willing to devote years of planning and effort in preparation for a single act of terrorism, though it may cost them their own lives.

With this jolting realization, we have reacted. Within days of September 11^th , gas masks sold out nationwide. Worried citizens have horded antibiotics, purchased supplies of bottled water, and stocked up on canned goods. Untold thousands of vacations and business trips were delayed or canceled. Our nation’s eating habits have been measurably impacted.

The news media reports growing anxiety among the populace. Hundreds of thousands are afraid to fly. Biological terrorism, once a danger, is now a frightening reality. We receive warning after warning of “credible threats” of additional destruction plotted against our nation.

The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency deems nuclear terrorist assault “’far more likely’ than previously thought.”[1] Leading US officials, including Undersecretary of State John Bolton, have also expressed increasing concerns “that extremists would use weapons of mass destruction – including possibly nuclear weapons – against the United States.”[2] Even the US Mail has been subverted to become a weapon of terrorism, necessitating that every postal address in our country receive an advisement from the Postal Service, explaining how to recognize and respond to potentially lethal mail.

In the midst of this crescendoing swirl of apprehension and uncertainty, should we be fearful? To pose the question more personally, should you fear? Should you be afraid? Should I fear? Should I be afraid?

Is it just “the luck of the draw” for each of us – merely a matter of where we happen to be situated at a crucial moment? Or is a greater protection available?

What if you are a Christian – a member of God’s true Church – can you relax in confidence, “having nothing to fear”? Or might that confidence prove tragically misplaced? What does the Word of God tell us?

The Promise of Protection

The book of Psalms – replete with the prayers and praises of those who lived by faith, whether surrounded by prosperity or by turmoil – provides us with a wonderful prophecy and promise in the words of the Psalmist, which are the words of God Himself. September 11, 2001, and its aftermath, brings this deeply heartening Psalm vividly to life:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!"

As the above verse illustrates, within the shadow of Almighty God exists a trustworthy refuge – a sure fortress in dangerous and uncertain times. The magnificent promise continues:

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;

You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the airplane that flies by day!
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
"Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
"He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
"With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation." (Psalm 91)

What incredible assurances! How fantastic for those to whom these promises are offered – there is protection against terrorists and their various weapons, as well as protections against illness, against dangerous animals, and against accidental injury

Christ extends similar benefits to His disciples:

"And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18)

Even deadly poison will have no ill effect! The Most High God, the Almighty Creator, is the only sure refuge and fortress. He is the only One who can guarantee protection and deliverance. No plan, no device, no weapon of man can stand against the loving omnipotence of the Living God!

WARNING: Being a Church Member Is No Warranty

Doesn’t a Christian – a member of God’s true Church – fall within the Psalmist’s definition of the one “who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,” the one who abides “in the shadow of the Almighty?” Aren’t the members of God’s true Church the very ones to whom Christ promises these protections?

How could this be misplaced confidence?

Let’s examine the Word of God more closely to see what we find.

The apostle Paul, writing to the Christians at Corinth, condemns the irreverence and inconsideration of some for one another. What does he cite as the direct consequence of these sins?

For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:30-31)

Paul says “For this reason”: members of God’s true Church were suffering illnesses – even dying – because aspects of their conduct were less than righteous.

In the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ utters this warning to Christians – those of the Church in Thyatira:

'Behold, I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 'And I will kill her children with pestilence; and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. (Revelation 2:22-23)

So here again, we see as a direct result of sin, both disease and disaster befalling those members of God’s true Church who are not in a proper spiritual state. Other passages of Scripture likewise reinforce this sobering reality.

The mere fact that you are a member of God’s true Church is no absolute warranty of God’s divine protection. Shelter is not guaranteed, simply by virtue of being a part of the Church.

Who Will Be Protected?

Then, who are those who will be protected?

To answer this question, it is essential that we scrutinize the characteristics of these for whom God acts: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High… For you have made the LORD, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place… ’Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name…’”

What behaviors are required in order to dwell in the shelter of God? King David, a man after God’s own heart, addresses this very point:

Lord, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the LORD;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken. (Psalm 15)

Hanani the prophet adds a special and encouraging note, emphasizing the imperative of complete yieldedness to God:

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His… (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Again, who will be protected?

God promises protection for repentant Christians who are yielded and faithful in their service and obedience to Him.

'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

Does this mean that observant Christians will never become ill, will never be martyred, or will never die? Of course not; God says “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones.” (Psalm 116:15). The apostle Paul asserted, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) Hebrews 11, and numerous other passages of Scripture, laud the faithful who have died in God’s service.

Thus, from the context of Scripture taken as a unit, we understand that
God’s protection for repentant Christians is a sure promise – an absolute guarantee of protection from any and all suffering which would be needless.

Reasonable Precautions?

Do God’s promises of protection mean that repentant Christians will disregard potential danger? Will repentant Christians make no preparations at all in uncertain times?

We find the resolution to the first query in the words of Jesus Christ, as He rebuked Satan’s misapplication of a portion of Psalm 91, which we have already read:

Then the devil took Him into the holy city; and he had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING YOU'; and 'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'"

Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'" (Matthew. 4:5-7)

The book of Acts clarifies any doubts in regard to the second query, as we read of the prophecy of Agabus, revealed by God’s Spirit, for the specific benefit of the Church:

And one of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. (Acts 11:28-29)

While we should take reasonable physical precautions, and we should make reasonable physical preparations, at the same time, we must be very careful to be certain that we are placing our emphasis upon the necessary spiritual precautions and spiritual preparations. Even the most elaborate physical preparations and precautions, alone, can never guarantee our safety or health, even in times of peace and prosperity.

Our Attitude Toward the Victims

In the Bible, we read of horrendous calamities and punishments that befall the wicked, and of God’s protection of the righteous. Yet how should a servant of God understand his/her position relative to suffering humanity? Can it be an attitude of self-satisfaction or of complacency? Or must we have an attitude of humble gratefulness to God who has called us, coupled with sincere concern for those who suffer?

Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:1-5)

And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE." (Luke 10:25-28)

"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

Are you truly and deeply repentant – completely yielded to God in every aspect of your life? If you are consciously unyielded to God in any matter, then you have no protection. If I am unyielded in any matter, I have no protection.

Are you genuine in loving your neighbor? If you are not genuine in outgoing concern for your neighbor, then you have no protection. If I am not genuine in outgoing concern for my neighbor, I have no protection. We cannot solve the world’s problems. But we can and must help our neighbors, as we have opportunity.

Can You Be Confident?

Can you be confident that you are indeed dwelling in the shelter of God’s protection – that you are abiding in the safeguard of His shadow? Can I be so confident? Yes, definitely:

I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them..
O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
O fear the LORD, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Who is the man who desires life
And loves length of days that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the LORD is against evildoers,
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned. (Psalm 34)

Let us devote ourselves to complete obedience and willing service to our merciful Father. Let us show love to others around us. Let us abound with gratefulness for the incomparable calling which our Father has granted us. Then, confidently, we can place our faith, our hope, and our trust for our safety and security in the loving, living God – He who alone is capable, both of delivering us in this human life, and of delivering us into eternal life.

Without fear or trepidation of puny human terrorists and their tactics, let us fervently and earnestly pray to the Almighty God of the universe, “Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” For only upon the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, will this world again begin to experience the restoration of true peace – the peace of Almighty God.

[1] Louis Charbonneau, Reuters. Concern grows over nuclear terror threat, National Post Online, November 1, 2001.

[2] Carol Giacomo, Reuters. U.S. Sees Increased Potential for Nuclear Attack, Reuters, Ltd., October 31, 2001.

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