Choose Faith Over Fear When Facing Terrorism
Whitney Hopler
Terrorism is constantly in the news, spreading violence and uncertainty in its wake. It’s natural to respond with fear, but it’s very possible to respond with faith. If you choose faith over fear, you’ll help change our terror-stricken world for the better.
Here are some ways you can shine the light of faith into a world filled with terror:
- Ask God to help you see every person – no matter what religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status – as God sees him or her. Ask God to give you genuine respect and love for each person you encounter. Realize that no person is unreachable as far as God is concerned. Pray for people to connect to God through saving relationships with Jesus Christ, and share the gospel with everyone you can whenever you encounter a natural opportunity to do so.
- Strive to live a genuine Christian life – one that will enable other people to see God at work within it and motivate them to seek Him. Remember that people are watching you to learn more about what it looks like to have a relationship with Christ.
- Be a peace lover. Never use any type of manipulation to try to force people to pursue Christ. Instead, let your life set an example that motivates people to discover more about Christ on their own. Show others how religion is meant to be used – for good, not for terror.
- Face the sobering facts about the current circumstances in our world rather than avoiding them. Realize that there is indeed great danger that exists, but that Christ’s power is stronger than any danger in the world. Stay informed about news of terrorist threats and be alert to any ways you can reduce risks of becoming a victim.
- Pray regularly, recognizing that terrorism’s root cause is spiritual warfare between good and evil. Ask God to guide you and others engaged in the ongoing fight against terrorism. Combat terrorists’ weapons like bombs and grenades with the ultimately more effective, spiritual weapons of prayer and God’s Word.
- Remember that very real hope you have in Christ. Don’t give into fatalism, even in the toughest of circumstances. Know that God brings good out of evil all the time.
- Serve others whenever you can. Show people God’s love by helping to meet their needs. And, if you encounter any volunteer or vocational opportunities to help bring justice to terrorists or protect citizens from future terrorism, contribute time and energy to the cause.
- Participate in the discussions of evil that have become much more prevalent since the terrorism of September 11, 2001. Now that many people acknowledge evil’s existence, they are more open to hearing about the power Christ gives to overcome evil.
Adapted from In the Name of God: Understanding the Mindset of Terrorism, copyright 2002 by Timothy Demy and Gary P. Stewart. Published Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Or. Look for this book in your local Christian bookstore or buy it online by clicking here: http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?isbn=0736910220
Timothy J. Demy is a military chaplain and adjunct instructor at the U.S. Naval War College, where he received an M.A. in Strategy and National Security Studies. He also has Th.M. and Th.D. degrees in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the author or coauthor of more than two dozen books on theology, ethics, and culture. Gary P. Stewart, a military chaplain, has written and lectured widely on issues of ethics, politics, theology, and culture. He holds an M.A. in Bioethics, M.Div. and Th.M. degrees in theology, and a D.Min. in leadership, and is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wales at Lampeteer in England. He is the author, contributor, or editor of more than a dozen books and articles.
How does the terrorism taking place in the world today affect your life? What are some ways you're trying to rely on God to help you choose faith over fear in the face of terrorism? Visit Crosswalk's forums to discuss this topic by clicking on the link below.