911 - My Original Response!
What follows was originally written just days after the origianl attacks on NYC - Sept 11, 2001
The disasters of recent days sound a trumpet of warning on the wall for those who name the name of Christ.
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As a result of the tragedy that fell upon the
We must first come to grips with the fact that no matter how infuriating it may seem or how inept our political leaders appear at times, justice is the responsibility of government. Yahweh set it in place and it must remain that way for all righteousness to be fulfilled. We must recognize that, without reserve, our God is sovereign. This does not negate the free will of man. The purpose here is not to debate doctrine, but to call a Bride to readiness.
The Responsibilities of Government - Justice
David outlines in Psalm 72 the duties of the king.
Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king's Son. He will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice. The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor.
David begins by realizing that he, as the king, needs to hear from the Father and receive His judgments. He then states that the king should judge with righteousness or right standing with God. It is the responsibility of government to act rightly on behalf of, to vindicate, to pass judgment for or against those who are poor, afflicted, depressed or in need and to set free, to bring to safety, to succor the offspring of those who are destitute. David goes on to say that the king must break in pieces, to crumble, to destroy those who defraud, oppress or do violence.
I believe that we can replace king in that passage with President, Congress, or simply government. These are the responsibilities and duties of any government before Yahweh. If and when a governing body or individual fail to fulfill these, that is when divine judgment intervenes in the form of drought, failed crops, war, disease or economic collapse. You may have seen a movie with Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise and Demi Moore entitled “A Few Good Men”. This is the story of two soldiers on trial for executing a “Code Red” on a Pvt. Santiago which resulted in his death. The drama of the movie is in attempting to pinpoint the blame for this unnecessary death. My interest for you in this movie is that at the very end, the two soldiers who actually carried out the “Code Red” are given dishonorable discharges for conduct unbecoming a U.S. Marine. The one younger soldier keeps saying, “But we did what we were told.” To which the other replies, “But we were to defend the weak like Pvt. Santiago.”
Therein lie the two principle jobs of civil authority: defend the weak, destroy those who do not.
An Example From the Old Testament
As Christians, we must recognize the sovereignty of the Lord our God. |
Until the time of the judges,
See this picture clearly. When they served Yahweh and walked according to His statues, His laws, His government,
We must ever be mindful and thankful for the grace and mercy of the Father. Whenever the people of
The book of Judges is an excellent example of this. My particular favorite is Ehud.[3] It took
Ehud, called by Yahweh to assassinate a ruler who enslaved |
To begin with, Ehud was left-handed which is significant when you realize that the handshake as we know developed from the custom of greeting by extending the right hand to show that you were not holding a weapon. Secondly, under the call of Yahweh, Ehud planned the assassination of Eglon, king of
After making his presentation of tribute to King Eglon who, by the way, was a very fat man, he told the king that he had a secret message for him. Everyone was sent away and Ehud met the king in his private chamber. He then told the king that he had a message from God. Eglon was intrigued and rose from his seat at which time Ehud took the dagger from his right thigh with his left hand and thrust it into the king’s belly. It went in so far and the king was so fat that the dagger disappeared inside him. Ehud left the chamber, locking the door behind him. He then rallied the children of
Most commentaries you will read about this event are gutless saying that there was no mention of him acting under the guidance of the Spirit to do what he did – yada, yada, yada. The truth is that this is included with the accounts of Samson and Deborah as an example of Yahweh’s justice on behalf of His people. Ehud was not a vigilante. He was called by Adonai to set His people free. Not as dramatic as Moses, but the same result!
When Leaders Fail to Obey
It was always the Father’s desire for His people to follow after Him, not for there to be an intervening government. However, when Samuel the prophet had grown old and his sons whom he had sent in to judge
At this point, I am going to pass over most of what transpired but it is a good lesson for all of us. We should appreciate the government we have and pray for the leaders that Yahweh has ordained, yes, ordained for us. If we don’t execute our responsibilities to pray for our leaders and we complain, we may just get what we deserve.
In the book of first Samuel, chapter 15, Yahweh is balancing the scales of justice. During the exodus from
Samuel also said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over
Though it may seem cruel to us, we must remember that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts[5]. Our Heavenly Father does not do things capriciously. He has a purpose and a design for every action. So, even though we do not understand why Yahweh would give the instructions to completely wipe out a people four hundred years after the offense, it was the responsibility of the king to carry out justice. There is the principle that the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children to the third and fourth generations[6]
Very much like boiling a frog, secular humanism has crept into the thinking of Yahweh’s people today. You can boil a frog by placing it in a pan of cool water on the stove. You can then slowly raise the temperature of the water to boiling and the frog will not leap out. So it is with us. We view the apparent atrocities of the Old Testament with the “enlightened” eyes of secular humanism which places more value on the individual and society than on obedience to Yahweh. We reason away abortion as the elimination of tissue for the sake of the economic status or inconvenience of the woman, not the killing of a life co-created with God at conception. We embrace divorce as a consequence of personal growth not the breaking of covenant before God and man. But I digress.
King Saul was given these instructions and was expected to fulfill his responsibility to execute justice. Instead of doing what was right before Yahweh, Saul reasoned what was best for him. Although he eliminated all the people, he kept the king alive and brought back all that was the best under the guise of sacrificing it to Yahweh. Even before Saul arrived back at camp, Yahweh regretted making him king.
Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. 1 Sam 15:10-11 NKJV
Samuel’s response to Saul’s rationalization was simple.
"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." 1 Sam 15:22-23 NKJV
Obedience is better than sacrifice. In times of crises, we become willing to sacrifice any and every thing.
“O, God, if you get me out of this I’ll…
never do it again.
go to church.
give up smoking (drinking, pornography, swearing, ad infinitum, ad nauseum)
go into the ministry. (There’s a good reason to answer the call - not!)
tithe to my church, etc.”
The problem today is the same that Saul faced. He wanted to look good before the people or he wanted to please the people. He wanted to do anything other than obey the voice of Yahweh. However, not thinking like we think, Yahweh is not interested in what we are willing to give up in place of our obedience. He expects obedience. He expects obedience not just from individuals but from governments.
As a pastor of a local congregation, I anticipate that the Father will show me His desire and direction for this small gathering of believers, not only on the grand and global scale but also in our day to day dealings. If Yahweh is going to speak prophetically to His people, I do not need to be the one speaking, but I will know, by His Spirit, what he wants to say and if what is being said is from His heart. If I can expect that with this relatively small gathering of believers, how much more is the Father involved in the direction of a nation if the leaders will listen. The writer of the proverb tells of Yahweh’s involvement in the affairs of state.
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1 NKJV
As a result of his disobedience, Saul lost his kingdom.
But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over
An example of this disobedience and its consequences endemic to a people is found in Judges 1:21-33:
V21 But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites …
V27 However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean…
V28 And it came to pass, when
You get the idea. As a nation, each tribe followed the example of the others and did not obey the instructions of the Lord. Some even attempted to gain economically from the conquest, putting the accumulation of wealth over doing Yahweh’s will. Not a good idea!
The result this disobedience, i.e. sin, was thorns and snares.
Then the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: "I led you up from
It is some three thousand years later and
Applications for Today
It is the responsibility of government, whether godly or evil, whether democratic or despotic, whether religious or secular to defend the weak and bring justice to those who oppress the weak. If a government, whether a body of elected officials or a military dictator, fails to fulfill this responsibility, we can expect divine intervention. This intervention can come either punish, as in the case of Saul where he lost his kingdom and ultimately his life or, as in the case of
In the specific case of President Bush and our Congress, we must support them in prayer (accompanied by fasting), in word (by writing to encourage them and not criticizing), in action (by donating blood or other activities which they may request of us). Among the things that we must be doing, being patient is most important. We are dealing with an enemy - terrorism- that has patiently been laying in wait, planning and positioning for years. Though a major military response may satisfy our lust for vengeance, it will probably not accomplish the desire of Yahweh. Our government must do justice on behalf of the thousands of people who lost their lives that day, but it is justice, not revenge, that must be sought.
With that in mind, I must point out that it is the government’s responsibility to exact justice and not the right of any individual or group. We must not prove our enemies’ correct in their prejudice of our country by giving into blind rage or, worse, self-righteous anger against anyone wearing a turban or with brown skin and a foreign accent. Remember, or learn of, what this country did after
Which brings me the second word- forgiveness.
The Responsibility of the Bride – Forgiveness
Just as there are consequences for a country and its government if it does not seek justice on behalf of the people, there are consequences for its people if they do not forgive. These consequences are dire and no respecter of persons.
In what has become known as “The Lord’s
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors… For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt
He makes it personal when John quotes Him.
“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:23
At this point, I could pursue the explanation of debt and debtors, trespasses and sins but suffice it to say that if anyone in anyway wrongs us, offends us, or violates our rights, it is our responsibility to forgive. If we forgive, we will be forgiven. We can choose not to forgive, that is our prerogative. If, however, we do not release someone from their debt to us, our debts will be held against us. Our recompense then will be all the worse as a result.
Then Peter came to Jesus and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." Matt 18:21-35
We have received so great a salvation, so complete a forgiveness that we are compelled to release others from their obligations to us. That is to say, that we are constrained by love to not hold others’ wrongdoing, error, offense, sin against us to their account. For if we do, the same measure that we use to judge others will be used to judge us.[9] We will receive precisely and completely what we deserve without mercy.
It is not our responsibility, as individuals, to exact justice. We are to forgive. The intents and purposes of the heart are known only to Yahweh. They are discerned or judged by Him as to whether they are good or evil.[10] Therefore, we cannot know what someone else is thinking and to assume that we know what they are thinking or would do just because of the color of their skin or their mode of dress is what we know of as prejudice. And prejudging others brings judgment to us.
As children of our Heavenly Father, we must first forgive the terrorist for treachery and murder. These deaths, though casualties of war, were not the deaths of soldiers on the battlefield but were the slaughter of innocents. We must forgive! We are compelled to forgive whoever planned these attacks as well. Our God is an awesome God. He will avenge. We must forgive.!
Freedom – A state of eternity not policy
As Christ began His public ministry, He read from the prophet Isaiah.
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." Luke 4:18-19
Among the reasons for the Spirit of the Lord to be upon Him was to proclaim and send out liberty, freedom, forgiveness. Paul wrote in his second letter to the believers in
This freedom in Christ has nothing to do with civil rights or political status but the fact that we are no longer slaves to sin. Paul writes to the believers in
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Rom 6:5-7
Our liberty in the
Christ did not come to establish a political order. His disciples wanted it, but His kingdom is not of this world. He will return to receive His kingdom one day. However, until that time, there is no one form of government that is a heavenly pattern. As a matter of fact, our freedom and our peace exist outside of this world’s system. It is not important if the government we live under is a democracy, a dictator or a king. It doesn’t matter if we have freedom to worship or are persecuted for our worship. Peter instructs us that we are to submit ourselves to whatever form of government we are under because they have been sent by God to punish evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.[13] Our freedom exists in Christ and is not based on civil liberties, just ask the believers in
Putting 2 Chronicles 7:14 in Context
Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chron 7:12-14
The temple has been dedicated. The sacrifice was consumed by fire from heaven. The Glory of God filled the temple. After all this, Yahweh appears to Solomon at night to reestablish covenant with him and the children of
When these disasters would hit the nation of
Of course the reverse is true as well. It just happens so rarely that a people actually fulfill the Father’s desires and live in the blessings that flow. We should be that people, a people for God’s own possession, a people after His own heart. But that brings us to that “state of the union” today.
The passage from 2 Chronicles 7:14 indicates that if the people of God, in this day and age that is what we call the church, the gathering of those who have answered the call of the Spirit of God, will humbles themselves…
Let’s pause for a moment and think this through. Why do Christians go repeatedly to this verse? Because they expect Yahweh to respond to their petition. That precludes the fact that there were or are circumstances that led to God’s judgment that they are seeking to avert or relinquish from the land. There is a direct correlation between the obedience of the people of God and blessing or cursing upon the land or country in which they dwell.
Therefore, if the United States of America is experiencing the judgment of Yahweh either actively through disasters, etc. or passively, by the removal of the Father’s protection, then there is something more that the “church” needs to be doing other than just praying.
That brings us back to the first call that Yahweh makes to His people – that they humble themselves. This implies bending the knee and the neck in recognition that there is but one God and He alone must we serve. I believe that the events of September 11th should serve as a wake-up call to the Christians of this country. The
Therefore, it is the responsibility of the “called” to bring Yahweh’s blessing. It is their obedience that causes His rain to fall and their disobedience His wrath. However, like
These just scratch the surface of the obvious and we wonder why the
Lessons From a Lunatic
The object of a whole host of investigations and world interest and malice, Osama bin Laden, can teach the church a few things.
q Aggressive Recruitment – Internationally, he communicates a message with such fervor that the disillusioned and outcast run to him. Not only has he established cells in at least 34 countries, but he has managed to unite unlikely groups against a common foe.
o Been in the typical church lately? The only fervor involves hoping that the minister will be done before the roast burns or the game starts or the green flag drops. We have forgotten our first love. We have become tepid in our love for God. And you can forget about actual cooperation in endeavors to reach our dying communities. If it ain’t building my empire, I ain’t gonna do it. Too many pastors are building their own empires instead of Christ’s kingdom.
q Devoted Followers – So committed are his followers to him and his mission that they willfully set their lives to fulfill the “call”. Some of the people involved in the September 11th attacks spent years in training and biding their time, waiting for the word that would come. The word that would cost them their lives.
o In the American church, we break off relationships because of the color of the hymnals or of the vestry carpet. We split churches as a result of power struggles within the leadership without regard to the effect on the sheep. Our zeal is not for His house but our favorite parking space or pew. If we have to go to more than one meeting a week, we grumble and complain. Ask your average “church-goer”, when did you last speak to someone who doesn’t know Jesus, let alone tell them of what Christ has done in your life?
q Osama bin Laden is the son of an Arabian billionaire. He left the country with $250 million dollars. Rather than living in the lap of luxury, he is living in a cave (sound familiar). All of his resource (money, emotion, people) goes to one purpose, to destroy the enemy who happens to be the
o In the church in this country, rather than following the Pauline Economic Plan (if you have more than you need, give it to someone who has less than they need [16]), follows the example of the shepherds in Ezekiel 34 where they are upbraided by Yahweh for feeding off the flock rather than feeding the flock. There is too much indulgence in the name of ministry and too little nurturing in the name of the Son. We are not willing to pay the price to overthrow our enemy.
q Holy Warriors - The al-Qaida, as bin Laden’s followers are known, regard themselves as holy warriors. They see their mission as divine in origin, their devotion as expected and their deaths as victory. Their violence is just Their calling providential. There is no length to which they will not go for the cause. They are consecrated to the purpose.
o Christians in
It is time for the trumpet to sound and the holy army of God to arise, to put off our political correctness, our apathy, and our self indulgence and repent. It is time for the Bride of Christ to make herself ready by dressing herself in fine linen which are the righteous acts of the saints[18] not the self-righteous indifference of the bloated. We are a chosen generation, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a people who belong uniquely to God that we might proclaim, shout aloud to our neighbors and friends, the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.[19]
Written by C.J. Burgan
©2001 My Father’s House
[1] Judges 3:7, 12; 4:1, etc. Unless otherwise indicated, all quotes are from the New King James Version ©1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc.
[2] Judges
[3] Judges 3:12-30
[4] 1 Samuel 8:1-9
[5] Isaiah 55:8-9
[6] Exodus 20:5, 34:7
[7] Judges 2:1-4
[8] George Santayana (1863–1952),
[9] Matthew 7:1-2
[10] Hebrews 4:12, Jeremiah 17:10, Revelation 2:23
[11] 2 Corinthians 3:17
[12] Galatians 5:1,13-15
[13] I Peter 2:12-14
[14] John 3:17
[15] John
[16] 2 Corinthians 8:8-15
[17] Matthew 11:12
[19] 1 Peter 2:9
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posted by missionaryman @ 8:14 AM
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