Last November I began a series of bulletins on "The Worst That Can Happen," which I intended to follow by "The Best That Can Happen." I postponed doing these for one main reason—I felt that events were about to take place, and decisions made, that were going to give us a clearer indication of the course to which we are headed. I think that this has been true.
We must always keep in mind that humility before God, repentance, and intercession can yet change many things. However, without major changes in the direction we are headed, the world is about to reap a terrible whirlwind of violence and destruction. This will not be just from Islamic extremists. We must always remember that "...our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).
We keep hearing on the news that Al Queda is going to awaken "sleeper cells," or groups of people that they have planted in various places to commit acts of terrorism when activated. This may be true, but the devil is about to awaken many other "sleeper cells" of those who are not Muslims, but are disgruntled, disenfranchised, and are ruled by lawlessness. One of the enemy’s main goals is to spread more fear and panic so that people will be more easily led by him (Satan controls through fear the way the Lord leads by faith). In this way the paranoia will create even greater suspicions, and therefore divisions, among people and even nations.
United States Relations to Israel
I am in almost constant contact with the leaders of large churches, movements, and even denominations. I have not talked to a single Christian leader in a long time that has not somehow in our conversation expressed anything from displeasure to disgust at the way the United States has used a double-standard in relation to Israel’s war against the terrorist assaults on its people. I have not yet heard a single positive or supportive comment on our foreign policy in this matter. I too have been deeply disturbed by our government’s seemingly hypocritical policy in this matter. We have declared we will hunt down terrorists and even make preemptive strikes against them, but then chastise Israel for its attempts to do the same. I agree the policies and public statements that our government has made in relation to this did cost us the high ground of moral purpose in our own fight against terrorism. I think it has also opened us up to the same kinds of suicide attacks on our own soil.
I believe the damage that was done by the apparent confusion within our government can yet be reversed. I also believe our President can display the leadership to take the reigns of our foreign policy and assert such a decisive, unyielding resolve to fight terrorism in all forms, and from all sources, that the moral high ground in this war can be regained, and our position there even strengthened.
If this is done, where a consistency of policy in our fight against terrorism is regained, it is still going to be a very hard and long war, but we can win it. If this moral and political consistency is not regained, the war against terrorism will still be ultimately won, but not by the United States leadership. In fact, the United States will experience a dramatic reduction not only in its moral leadership of the world, but its political and economic leadership as well.
Our moral strength in the battle against terrorism depends on the present leadership making terrorism itself, in any form, to be considered by the entire civilized world as a diabolical act that makes the leadership, and the cause, of any who use it illegitimate, and marks them as an enemy of the entire civilized world.
Unseen Foreign Policy
In all foreign policy there is much that goes on behind the scenes that the public is never aware of. Because of this there are many things that do not seem to make sense to the public, and if all the facts were known, would appear as very different. Certainly there are understandings and negotiations going on behind the scenes with the Palestinians, the Saudis and other governments, which if they were known would help us to better understand the actions of our government. Even so, regardless of what is going on behind the scenes, inconsistency and hypocrisy are never justified. We cannot claim the moral authority to wage our war against terrorism without standing by Israel’s right to do the same, and even supporting them to do the same in the same way that we are asking other governments to support us.
Certainly the Palestinians may have some legitimate issues, but they must be considered illegitimate, and the authority that claims to represent them illegitimate, for as long as they use terrorism as a means to further their cause. Israel is absolutely right not to negotiate with terrorists, the governments that support it, or allow it. To reward these terrorists with any considerations, much less recognition of statehood would be one of the gravest mistakes we could ever make as a nation.
Any people, who are so demented that they would strap bombs on their children, and send them out to blow up themselves and other innocent people, must be recognized as the diabolical force that they are. To negotiate with such people is at best a naiveté that is unbecoming of any great nation. At worst, it is to make a pact with the devil, which he will use as a gate of hell to release hell upon the earth.
A Higher Authority
We must pray for the moral courage, endurance, and resolve, of our leadership. We must pray for the consistency of our foreign policy so that a standard can be raised in which the whole world can respect and trust. Our government is still able to do this. There is hardly a war in history in which the leadership has not wavered, made bad judgments and mistakes, and then recovered its focus and determination. The war we are in promises to be long, and at times very confusing. This is why we need a clear trumpet call that makes the issues of this conflict clear, so we will have the kind of endurance it will take to win this war. Our President can still be used to do this. However, because the battle is not against flesh and blood, it cannot be won merely by human strength and wisdom. We, the church, must pray for him, and all who are in authority, with a new resolve and consistency. We must also pray for Israel, and the Palestinians—what the devil intends for evil, be turned into good for all concerned.
