[Mr. Mulliner]

America's response to September 11th attacks should not be either/or: either repent and accept the attack as a result of national sin or take retribution against those who committed the attacks.

An international war against terrorism is right and good. But we're foolish to think that there's no correlation between this attack and the many ways that our nation has acted with complete disregard to what God has taught in the Bible.

If our founding fathers were here, I have no doubt they would lead us in national repentance. And quite possibly in the war against terrorism.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Thanks for sending me this article. Surprised it wasn't posted already.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Here's something by Frederica Mathewes-Green, one of my favorite editorialists and a regular at World.

[jlogajan]

God promised that calamity would follow disobedience. So why are we quick to dismiss it

Cuz maybe religion is a crock? Ever think of that?

[John Valentine]

This is the mirror image concept of the loony thinking that led some Muslims to think that they acted to please God by killing innocent people.

Instead, you have it that God acted to kill innocent people because we displeased Him.

I'm sorry, but both of these 'ideas', if the term can be stretched this far, disgrace the entire process of rational thought.

Furthermore, they stray from faith, and blaspheme the Creator.

I can only hope and pray that all who have fallen prey to these errors - blasphemies, really - will come to their senses soon.

[Uri’el-2012]

I would offer : Romans 8:28-36 NIV

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he
also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be
against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will
he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge
against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that
condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the
right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love
of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or
sword? 36 As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

XeniaSt

[Timesink]

I look out my window and everything is exactly the same as it was pre-9/11, except there are a few more US flags flying. Some judgement.

Or perhaps God is only angry at capitalists? The bond market especially? <sarcasm>

[Mr. Mulliner]

ping

[laredo44]

Today the first thing he asked me was, "Why do you think that happened yesterday?"

I was stumped for a minute. I hadn't thought of exactly that question. I said, "I don't know."

Fr. George said, "It was the punishment of God."

Hadn't thought of that question? Hadn't thought of it? That's about all any of us were doing when weren't mourning the events or admiring the heroes. The author is obviously looking for a device to introduce his "punishment of God" conjecture. The problem is he's told a lie to dramatize his point. This is the way liberals write opinions and report the news. If the facts don't fit the objective, make them up. I expect better from this site.

[wayne_shrugged]

IMHO, G-d is only right, just and good. G-d is not a puppet-master meting out good and bad judgment at random. Rather, G-d set up a perfectly just world where certain laws of cause and effect are in place; we have FREE WILL -- we decide.

We are responsible for what befalls us in the end; by violating certain fundamental laws of cause and effect, WE decide what will happen.

Don't "blame" G-d -- blame ourselves. Change what must be changed and move along...

Too many people in our recent past have "felt" they (left-wingers) can set up the system of their choosing regardless of basic laws of cause and effect -- now they should clearly understand...

[Sir Gawain]

ping

[Gig]

It seems most of the dissenting replies question anyone believing that our loving God could DO THIS to US. Well, I have a slightly different view: God did not "do this" to us, but he withdrew his protection for a short time.

How many parents tell their errant children, ‘don't do that, you'll get hurt?’ Finally, the parent, having failed to get the message across, allows the child to exercise their free will and the result is, the child gets hurt.

I believe God withdrew his protection and thus allowed this to happen. I believe it is a wake-up call to this nation to repent from the road of sin we have been happily traveling. Those who would nay-say and cast aspersions on such ideas are quite possibly part of the problem, not the solution.

FLAME AWAY!

[mavoca-la]

I received this in an email, I thought it appropriate to the subject.
Dear Family and Friends,
I had a very dear friend question my faith in God right after the terrorist attack on America. Her question was simply put, "Where is your God today?"
She was very hurt, as all Americans were, so I tried not to react defensively. Since that moment I have prayed and grieved over the disastrous events.

However, I believe I have the answer. I know where my God was the morning of September 11, 2001! He was very busy.

First of all, he was trying to discourage anyone from taking this flight. Those four flights together held over 1000 passengers and there were only 266 aboard. He was on 4 commercial flights giving terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the family members who was called by a loved one on one of the high-jacked planes said that passengers were screaming in the background. On one of the flights he was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the highjackers. He was busy trying to create obstacles for employees at the World Trade Center. After all only around 20,000 were at the towers when the first jet hit. Since the buildings hold over 50,000 workers, this was a miracle in itself. How many of the people who were employed at the WTC told the media that they were late for work or they had traffic delays. He was holding up 2-110 story buildings so that 2/3 of the workers could get out. I was so amazed that the top of the towers didn't topple when the jets impacted.

Although this is without a doubt the worst thing I have seen in my life, I can see God's miracles in every bit of it. I keep thinking about my friend and praying for her every chance I have. I can't imagine going through such a difficult time and not believing in God. Life would be hopeless.

[Guenevere]

#1....Singapore, you know I agree!!---repentance AND retribution!

Thanks for the post & the flag!!!

[Stingray]

"But we're foolish to think that there's no correlation between this attack and the many ways that our nation has acted with complete disregard to what God has taught in the Bible."

Why, oh why, do you people insist on slandering God this way?!?!?

[RnMomof7]

If our founding fathers were here, I have no doubt they would lead us in national repentance. And quite possibly in the war against terrorism.

The problem is you have to have a change of heart to repent..I do not believe there is a true change of heart here..

[HalfIrish]

In his native Romania Fr. George [Calciu] challenged the communist authorities repeatedly and forcefully, with a courage that defied self-preservation. He was confined in brutal prisons, subjected to brainwashing, and formed a lifelong friendship with a fellow prisoner, Richard Wurmbrand, author of Tortured for Christ.

You can read about him here: Voice of the Martyrs. They also have links to their radio spots and a section called Faces of Persecution where people suffering persecution around the world are spotlighted. Muslim abuse of Christians is documented.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

In America, we have developed a national repulsion to accountability. We fail to see that nations are considered moral agents just like a corporation or other institution is a moral agent. We also fail to recognize and remember that there are indeed consequences for sin.

I am NOT saying the WTC atrocity was "caused" by our national sins. On the other hand, if this calamity does not humble us and bring us to our knees as a nation, what will it take? It is not a bad thing to be humbled under His hand. It is a wonderful thing. Repentance is not a bad thing. It is a good thing. Both lead the soul to lean more fully upon our God and Creator. Why are we so averse to the throne of grace?

Yesterday, my church proclaimed a fast to petition God for His protection and seek His favor upon our land and our churches. If ever we needed the Lord before, we sure do need Him now!

[Brian Allen]

If our founding fathers were here, I have no doubt they would lead us in national repentance. And quite possibly in the war against terrorism.

Please, Dear Lord, that Our Founding Fathers are here!

Alive and well in you and in me -- and in every last one of our friends and brothers!

Surely the time rapidily approaches that will see us in a war of renewal of our dedication to the tenets upon which Our Fraternal Republic was Founded and upon which it -- and the very survival of our species -- stands?!

A War of Renewal of Independence!

[the-ironically-named-proverbs2]

Jer 16:1-13
1 The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying,
2 Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.
3 For thus saith the LORD concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land;
4 They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.
5 For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.
6 Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:
7 Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.
8 Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink.
9 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride.
10 And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?
11 Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;
12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:
13 Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.

Jer 20:1-2
1 Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.
2 Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

It wasn't a popular message then, and it's not popular now.

[IGNATIUS]

Fr.George Calciu and Frederica-Mathewes-Green(an Eastern Orthodox convert)are part of that ancient Christian tradition which has greatly suffered and continues to bear heavy affliction from militant Islamicists.Arguably no other part of Christendom has endured as much nor has such historic reasons to fear and detest them.

Imvho this fact adds to the credibility of the author's premise.