DAY OF INFAMY 2001
Religious leaders respond to attacks
Falwell, Graham, Colson, others urge prayer, condemn terror
By Joel Miller
© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com
Religious leaders across America are responding to yesterday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington with calls for prayer and condolence to the families of victims and survivors of the largest-ever assault on U.S. soil.
"This is a national crisis of unparalleled proportions," said Charles Colson founder of the Washington, D.C.-based Prison Fellowship Ministries. "It is Pearl Harbor compounded; a day that will redefine infamy in the annals of American history. I grieve the massive loss of life and pray that God will comfort the families and friends of those who have been taken."
"Obviously, war has been launched against the United States. While we don't know who is responsible, we can be assured that our government is working to find out who is responsible," said Jerry Falwell, WorldNetDaily columnist and chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
"Right now," stressed Falwell, "our government and our president need our prayers."
Falwell's call for prayer is echoing from all corners of America.
"This is a time for all Americans to pray for the thousands of victims, their families and loved ones that have been affected by the tragic events of today," said Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and president of Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse.
Jewish leaders have also weighed in with support.
President of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations Rabbi Eric Yoffie said in a statement that he "mourns with America."
"We extend our profound sympathies to the families and friends of those who have been devastated by these despicable acts of murder," said the rabbi. "We offer our thanks to the thousands of police officers, firefighters, and paramedics who have risked their lives to save others."
"We express our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those lost today," said officials of the United Jewish Communities in a statement. "We pray for the recovery of those who were injured, and stand ready to support those seeking physical and emotional healing." UJC represents 189 federations in North America.
Rabbi Daniel Lapin of Toward Tradition in Seattle, Wash., was cautious in saying anything, only offering an ominous quote from the Jewish Mishna: "Better not to offer words of comfort before the dead are buried."
"These atrocities remind us how precious life is and how important it is to be spiritually ready to stand before and give account to Almighty God," said Graham.
Not to minimize God's justice, religious leaders are also talking about terrorists giving account to authorities more temporal and material – namely the U.S. government.
"Our nation has sustained the most severe attack in nearly two centuries, and the response must be proportionate, but swift and sure," said Colson. "Anything less will be inadequate in light of our responsibility as the leader of the free world, and the responsibility of our government to restore order."
While saying that love and prayers of fellow Christians are extended to victims of this "cold-blooded mission of murder," John Hagee, author of "The Battle for Jerusalem," was quick to add, "We pray for our president, that God would give him the wisdom of Solomon in this time of crisis – that he would give him the strength to search relentlessly for those who have bathed our streets in blood and when they are found to give a vigorous military response the world will never forget." Stressing caution, Hagee told WorldNetDaily that there should be "an exact identification [of the terrorists] before there's a military response."
To the terrorists, Hagee had stern words: "You have destroyed the twin towers in New York City, but you have not destroyed the American Spirit. Attack one of us and you'll have to fight all of us. We will not live on our knees to terrorism."
While Osama bin Laden's terrorist organization is suspected, no one is certain about final responsibility. Still, most credible suspicions point to the Middle East.
"We can blame the Islamic clerics for creating the kind of hatred that results in this sort of action against America," said Hal Lindsey, biblical prophecy specialist and WorldNetDaily columnist. Lindsey pointed to celebrating Palestinians, dancing in West Bank streets upon news of the attacks. "They said America was reaping what was it sowed in supporting Israel against them."
While Muslims in East Jerusalem reveled, Muslims in the U.S. gathered to condemn the violence and offer condolences to the families of victims.
"American Muslims utterly condemn what are apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts," said the American Muslim Political Coordination Council.
AMPCC member organizations – American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, Council on American-Islamic Relations and Muslim Public Affairs Council – were joined by the Islamic Society of North America in condemning the acts.
"Many Arabs are Christian believers, and many others who are not actively pursue peace," said Hagee, warning people about "broad-brush guilt over the entire Arab community."
While Hagee hopes to steer enmity away from those sharing the religion and ethnicity of the supposed terrorists in absence of the actual perpetrators, Colson warned about overreaction on the part of government.
"[T]he purpose of terrorism is to destabilize free societies and to take away our liberties," he said. "We cannot succumb to this assault on our deepest beliefs by restricting the civil liberties that make this nation great."
Tying the spiritual to national security concerns, Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson spoke yesterday about the need for spiritual revival in America. "It's not a missile shield that we need right now. We need a prayer shield throughout this nation. And I'm asking this nation, the Christians of America particularly, to pray to ask God for revival in America," he said during a "700 Club" broadcast.
"We must have His protection, because at this point as an open, free society, we're unbelievably vulnerable. And obviously we can't shut down our civilian aviation. We can't shut down all the Amtrak trains. We can't shut down all the office buildings. We can't shut down the government offices. Every place where we as a free society live, work and travel is vulnerable to this kind of terrorist attack."
"My prayer is that the people of this nation will turn their eyes and hearts to the Lord and seek His wisdom and protection," said Falwell. "May all Americans pray for our president and government leaders that God would guide and direct them as they lead our nation during these dark hours."
Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church plans meeting today at 6:30 p.m. for a prayer service.
In the aftermath of the attacks, many religious leaders are looking beyond the immediate tragedies to events unfolding in the future.
In the book of Psalms, "King David gives believers everywhere the command to pray for the peace of Jerusalem," said Hagee. Citing ongoing strife in Israel and the U.S.'s jarring entry into the world of Mideast terror, Hagee added, "Never in our history was that verse more important than today."
Hagee sees the attack on the U.S. as part of the ongoing fight between Palestinians and Israelis, warring over control of Jerusalem – the powderkeg of biblical prophecy.
Lindsey, author of numerous books on biblical prophecy, joins Hagee in this understanding of future events.
Seeing no scriptural evidence of the U.S. as major player in the end times, Lindsey predicted in a May 2 WorldNetDaily column and his video, "Where is America in Prophecy," that something catastrophic will happen to United States to take the nation from the position of a world power. In Lindsey's view, "The power must shift to Western Europe."
"I believe radical Islam declared war on the United States Sept. 11, and that this is only the beginning. I also believe that this will focus even more attention on the Arab-Israeli conflict and make it the No. 1 priority for the world," said Lindsey. "As prophecy indicates, this is exactly the condition into which the Antichrist steps and solves with a pseudo-peace."
Others diverge from Hagee and Lindsey's tack.
In his only public statement thus far, Tim LaHaye, coauthor of the best-selling "Left Behind" series and founder of Tim LaHaye Ministries, said, "This ruthless act does not have any specific significance in Bible prophecy other than to point out that in the days before Christ returns the Bible warns of perilous times (2 Tim. 3:1). Hopefully this will cause millions of individuals to receive Christ and make their peace with God while there is still time."
Gary DeMar, author of "Last Day's Madness" and president of American Vision is one prophecy pundit who differs greatly from preceding end-times scenarios.
While dissuading believers from seeing the attacks as "Armageddon now!" portents of unfolding last-days terror, DeMar does see this assault as a wakeup call from God.
"It's interesting how many journalists are talking about God," he told WND. "We never hear about God unless something like this happens."
"America has strayed a long way, and maybe God is calling us to account."
"The soul of our nation is facing one of its darkest hours," said Colson. "May God help us."
To that end, Falwell cites a passage from 2 Chronicles: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
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