Regarding our nation's reaction (and that of much of the rest of the world) to the horrible events of September 11, 2001...

We would do well to heed Scripture, to pause and examine ourselves, and take a closer look back into history. Bringing to justice wicked men who attack defenseless individuals is, of course, necessary... but most today know little of what God requires of our nation. And indications are that most of us are not inclined to be educated right now.

At this moment in time, freedom-loving peoples have been forced to unite against a common enemy. Emotional patriotism has risen to levels seldom seen. As never before in history, global unity of purpose has made amazing strides in spite of cultural, ideological, and even religious differences.

But sooner or later a stark reality must be faced. Being attacked by wicked men does not somehow automatically make us righteous. To assume so is an indication of an ungodly pridefulness that Scripture guarantees God will oppose.

Over these past two weeks we have witnessed an unprecedented array of individuals calling people to "prayer." Amazingly, many of these same individuals disagree on who God is and how He may be approached.

Our church’s Adult Sunday Bible Class has been studying through the book of Joshua (LifeWay Christian Resources). Interestingly, this past Sunday’s lesson was about the battle of Jericho. In Chapter 6 a warning was given to the Israelites to carefully obey God without exception. The penalty for not doing so, for even one of them disobeying, would bring liability upon the entire nation. Chapter 7 of the book of Joshua relates the tragic consequences of one man’s sin... it cost the lives of many innocent people at the hand of their enemy.

Many do not wish to acknowledge that God requires righteousness of a nation, particularly a nation that claims to be "one nation under God," but the Bible is quite clear on the issue. Perhaps the greatest act of "patriotism" may be found in the example of such biblical prophets as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Micah, who even in the midst of a national emergency called their countrymen to humble submission to a righteous God.

By and large, I think we Americans have misunderstood the greatness of our country. Because we assume we have somehow deserved God’s blessings of the past and present, we are a prideful people today. The recent horrible events of murderous attacks give rise to what many assume to be a justified assertion of our own righteousness.

Obviously, these terrorists were evil men doing wickedness, but corporately, as a nation, we must ask ourselves if we are not guilty of working our own wickedness, just in more "civilized" ways, falsely legitimated by our own laws. When you think about it, doesn’t our own wickedness give these self-proclaimed religious zealots a sense of false justification for their own wickedness? They apparently believe they are acting as the hand of God to punish us for our immorality!

I am certainly not agreeing with them. They are wrong, but that still does not make us right, either.

I have listened to us these past two weeks, and I have heard precious little expression of humility before God. Justice will prevail, some say. But when we call upon God for justice, does that justice not include His dealing with our own guilt as well?

A government bears the sword for a purpose, and our government will respond to this attack. But there is an element involved here that we ought to fear much more than wicked, murderous terrorists. The element that so dangerously prohibits the blessing of God is our own pridefulness. We have offended a holy God, and we do not even perceive it. Is the murder of millions of our own defenseless children any less evil than what these wicked men accomplished? Are we more righteous than they are in the sight of God?

We are a nation (and a world) that must defend itself or suffer continued murderous attacks upon defenseless citizens; a nation whose patriotism has been stirred; a nation eagerly rallying behind their governmental leaders, many of them good men faced with heart-rending decisions. But at the same time we are an unrepentant nation being propelled into combat by the actions of evil men. Who can be the winner in that war?

But, alas, all of this is inevitable... if we have heard the Lord, if we have believed His Word, we have known that such a thing as this was coming. The wonder is that it took so long. And this is just the beginning.

Perhaps, though, as with every conflict so ghastly, some men will turn to God in true faith and trust. Perhaps some will have the blinders stripped off and they will see the true light of Christ. It is an agonizing reality that this "awakening" will require the death and suffering of so many. The pridefulness of man does not easily yield.

Many years ago God spoke to another prideful nation; a nation of people that He chose to favor and bless; a nation through whom He chose to bless all men; a nation we are today allied with... an alliance that is perhaps our brightest hope in this present dark situation. God's words spoken so forcefully then are instructive to us today...

"Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O Earth. For the Lord has spoken: 'I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know; my people do not consider.' Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters. They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away backward.... When you come to appear before me, who has required this from your hand, to trample my courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to me. The new moons, the sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies--I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your new moons and appointed feasts my soul hates.... Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood."

This, God's prophetic Word, calls for repentance and humility before a holy God. We will not know peace, we will not know victory, until we submit to God's Word.

Jerry Moser