Response to Terrorist Attacks

Security in Christ
By Marta Bennett

Dear Urbana 2000 brothers and sisters,

I write from Nairobi, where my heart is heavy along with all of the USA and the rest of the world in the aftermath of the attacks in NYC and Washington on September 11th. Perhaps it is especially poignant here in Nairobi, with the memories still fresh from the Nairobi and Dar es Salaam bomb attacks just 3 years ago in August 1998. I sit in church behind those scarred, blind, or bereaved as a result of the US Embassy bombings, and we have had many church services in the city these past two weeks in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 events. The Muslims (Kenyan Africans, Asians and Arabs) are holding prayer services as well, equally devastated by the events that have transpired, and grieving with the horror that has happened.

At one of the services held in the main city park on the 15th, one man stood up to bring greetings and to testify that he had been buried in the US Embassy rubble for one week before he was found and rescued, which renewed our prayers for the victims in NY ... hoping against hope for a few more survivors. I was with a new friend later the next day here who has lost her son, who was working on the 105th floor of the WTC. She lost her husband years ago when he was about the same age as her son is now. She has now gone to the States, making arrangements for his funeral. (She is African American, her husband was Kenyan who was in Kenya's Parliament; his death had been mysterious, perhaps politically motivated). Life is hard... and God is good. It truly is only our Creator God who is unchanging and ever faithful; God is our only sure foundation. The Lord is present even as we walk through dark valleys of death. God does not promise us exemption from the effects of evil, but he does promise his Presence in the midst. This was the witness of the man buried for a week.

We are praying here for the leaders at all levels worldwide, to be making wise and careful decisions, with actions that ultimately bring God's justice and peace, and not escalating violence. We also pray against the hatred between innocents which only joins forces with the terrorists. We are praying that this does not become a Christian vs. Muslim war, nor America vs. Arab world, but that we can name it for what it truly is: evil and terrorism against humanity and God's creation

Some have noted that one act of "trying to help out God" has had reverberations down throughout history, that act being the birth of Ishmael, who is understood to be the father of the Arab race. It is true that there has been dissension between the descendents of Ishmael and the descendants of Isaac ever since. But even at that time, God did not punish or banish Hagar and Ishmael. It is from that very incident in history that we are given one of God's names by Hagar herself: El Roi, "God sees" and Ishmael's name means "God hears." (Genesis, chapter sixteen). It seems that both Arabs and Jews are the literal descendants of Abraham. Yes, as it says in Scripture, the Jewish people were and are the chosen people of God, by God's choosing, and the Messiah, Jesus, came from the Jewish race. But Jesus, as a Jew, was born of both Jewish and Palestinian (Moabite & Canaanite) ancestors. (Review the names in Matthew's genealogy in chapter one, noting the women mentioned. Then read their stories). Abraham was blessed to be a blessing for ALL nations, and that has been fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom there is no Jew nor Greek (nor Arab, nor Asian nor American I might add), no slave nor free (Gal. 3:28). May we not add hate to hate, but instead see each person through God's eyes. Let acts of evil be seen for what they are: acts of evil, passionate and calculating.

Much has already been said about our response as Christians to the events that have taken place. Besides aching over the tragedy, and seeking to love our neighbor in the midst, let me only add that perhaps for the first time, the ordinary American can begin to understand the experience of perhaps the majority of people in the rest of the world. The sense of fear, insecurity, and vulnerability that now has entered the reality of the average American (and I might note that this is especially new for most White Americans even more than for Americans of other origins) truly has been the daily experience of many people living in developing countries for all of their lives. Ask any refugee who has settled in the US.

Kenya has been a relatively peaceful country on the African continent, but even here, people live in the constant awareness that they are often pawns in the light of international decisions and local politicians and land owners, with little if any say on their part. People groups here were divided up without rhyme or reason by Europe in the last century or two, and national boundaries were artificially drawn by monarchs who "wanted a mountain in their territory too." Decisions made by the US Congress today have ripple effects here in Kenya, and US Government policies set there at times affect lives here more directly than those living within the borders of the USA. Perhaps for the first time in the American psyche, there is the awareness that ultimately, we are not in control. No one is omnipotent or omniscient, apart from God; no human government can guarantee absolute safety or security. Nor is it a matter of "Where is God?" God is here, wherever we are. God is waiting for us to trust in God, not our security, not our freedom. True freedom only comes by having confidence in a loving, just, merciful God, and in seeking to be a part of what God is doing in the world, by his grace. There is freedom and joy in so doing, even in the most dire contexts.

Some friends of mine were once challenged about a decision they were making about going into a war torn area to serve in a ministry where their skills were urgently needed. After much prayer, they decided to continue to move ahead with their plans, even though there had been some recent kidnappings. When they were asked if they really thought it was safe to go, their reply was that they couldn't think of anywhere safer than being right in the center of God's will. Yes, they may die, but they were safer there than if they disobeyed what they deeply felt God calling them to do (they are still alive and well I might add). We are all going to die one day, one way or another; they preferred to place their lives in God's hands, to follow where he seemed to be leading them.

Rather than being paralyzed by fear, distrust, or thoughts of revenge, may we move forward in whatever way God has called each one of us, loving God and loving neighbor. There are no guarantees for safety or comfort. In fact, if anything, the opposite is true. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, "When God calls a man, he bids him come and die." May we work daily for justice, aware that decisions we make even in our lifestyles makes a difference in the lives of others. Justice and righteousness (not mere charity, but justice, and not revenge, but the alleviation of oppression) are themes that run deeply through all of Scripture. May we be advocates for the oppressed, regardless of race or creed. May we be bearers of Good News, addressing the roots of evil, and overcoming the evil with truth and good.

The God of the universe, incarnate in Jesus Christ, chose to reconcile the world to himself through horrific torture, suffering betrayal, humiliation and brutal death on a Roman cross. God is no stranger to the weight of evil. But through that sacrifice of Jesus’ life, death and fear have lost their power. As followers of Jesus, may we be people who are propagators of hope and life, not hatred or destruction. May God's light and love ultimately dispel the darkness of heart and soul around the world, drawing all peoples to himself. May we each do our part, humbly, faithfully, and with "sheer dogged endurance." (I Thess. 1:3, JB Phillips).

Marta Bennett, Nairobi, Kenya

September 26, 2001

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