 Coping
with the 9.11.01 Aftermath
Where is God When Tragedies Happen?
By Robert Shuller
The story of the human race on planet earth is the story of the conflict
between good and evil.
The horrific bombing of America by planes in the hands of suicidal terrorists
is a most traumatic illustration of this good versus evil – or God versus the
devil. Real evil has no respect for humanity. Never have we seen a more demonic
act than the killing of the thousands of innocent and good people in New York
and Washington and Pennsylvania on September 11.
And never have we seen a more immediate and immense demonstration of
affection. God was the first on the scene to help. See Him in the firemen swift
to enter the burning buildings, never to walk out alive. See Him in people in
all walks of life who offered their blood, and their tears. Pray with me...
WE PRAY for those who faced their last hours of life in terror on the
airplanes. WE PRAY for the medical workers who are working around the clock to
relieve the pain and suffering. WE PRAY for our President. May he be strong to
lead our people. WE PRAY for those families whose loved ones are not coming home
- an empty chair. WE PRAY for the firemen and police who bravely responded to
save the lives of those endangered. WE PRAY for all of our government officials
who make our laws to govern us. WE PRAY for our military who spring forward in
danger to protect our country
Just look around, He is using the heart, the hands, the eyes, the face, the
arms and feet of people. They line-up to donate blood. They risk their lives
searching to save lives that might still be breathing under the rubble. God
comes alive in the thousands of caring human beings.
Now all of us can allow God to control our reactions and become a part of the
healing. Meditate on this: "God is our refuge and our strength, a very
present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be
moved, and the mountains be carried into the sea, the Lord is with us...our
refuge" (Psalm 46).
Why do bad things happen to good people? That’s the wrong question –
wrong because no one knows the answer. The right question is: ”What happens to
good people when bad things happen to them?” We know the answer to that
question: They always become better people. Tragedy never leaves them where it
found them.
So we can choose to react positively to the sad, sick and
suffering scene. We can choose to discipline ourselves against a negative
reaction.
If we choose to discipline ourselves against a negative
reaction, what does that mean?
If we choose to discipline ourselves against a negative
reaction, what does that mean?
It does not mean that we fail to exercise justice. The President
of the United States is correct when his strong words promise appropriate
punitive retaliation against the perpetrators of this recent terrorism and also
on their protectors.
This is not a time to sin on the side of mercy.
This is, however, a time to guard against attacking religion in
prejudice or in anger. The terrorists who are found guilty of this unspeakable
evil cannot be labeled authentically “religious”. Real religion respects all
humanity treating all persons with dignity. Real religion is driven by a human
spirit that reflects the love of God.
It has been my honor to become acquainted with the power leaders
of positive Islam. And there is and has been a strong anti-Islam propaganda
loose in this world. The true terrorist who would attack and kill innocent
civilians is not a true Muslim. Anymore than Christians or Jews who move to the
radical right or radical left and take up arms and kill innocent persons in the
name of their “religion” cannot be called true Jews or true Christians.
“The devil comes as the angel of light,” the Bible tells us.
And the devil uses radical extremists of Christians, Jews, and Muslims. So this
is a time for positive believers in the God of love to come together and unite
in heart and face this new millennium with the unity of spirit that will
powerfully transcend theological disagreements.
May it be said of this generation, “You shall be called the
repairers of the breach and the restorers of paths to dwell in.”
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