March 11, 2002

Where is God after Sept. 11?

Through A Glass Darkly, by John Myers, Internet Photojournalist

The Institute on Religion and Democracy has published a thoughtful commentary on the war against terrorism, exploring responses by the religious right and left and the ground between.

"Straight Answers to Moral Confusion in National Crisis" is the booklet's title, with a series of articles, all authored by the aptly named Alan F.H. Wisdom and subtitled, "Observations on, and Responses to, Religious Discourse since September 11."

TThe second essay asks "Where is God after Sept. 11?" focusing on churches' roles.

From the left, or liberal religious leaders, Wisdom quotes a statement by the National Council of Churches, also endorsed by "scattered" Catholics, Jews, Muslims and Evangelical Christians.

It suggests that religious congregations be "safe places to weep and secure places to begin rebuilding our shattered lives and communities." But it warns that America "must not, out of anger and vengeance, indiscriminately retaliate in ways that bring on more even loss of innocent life," Wisdom quotes the NCC.

The NCC interfaith statement also calls for a national rededication "to global peace, human dignity, and the eradication of injustice that breeds rage and revenge." Not mentioned anywhere in the statement is Jesus Christ in any way.

At first blush, this appears to be a harmless, though bland statement we can all agree with. But take a closer look at the last statement, which includes what could be called "code words."

Calling for the "eradication of injustice that breeds rage and revenge" is giving political cover to Osama bin Laden, Yasser Arafat and any other terrorists who think their perceived problems give them the right to kill innocent civilians anywhere.

There is no possible excuse that will justify what was done on Sept. 11, and calling for America to not "indiscriminately retaliate" is as much as saying President Bush's war on terrorism is the same or as equally unjustified as Osama's bloody deeds.

From the religious right, Wisdom notes there have been "only a few statements from Evangelical sources recognizing the crisis of September 11 as an opening for Christian evangelism."

Wisdom quotes Southern Baptist Convention President James Merritt, who said "Our SBC family has been reminded again that the only hope for this world is the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that many would turn to the truth of the gospel and that believers everywhere would sense a new urgency to bring people to a saving knowledge of God's Son."

Wisdom notes many reports of local churches seeing visitors and irregular members returning to services after Sept. 11, and many local pastors "responded to this spiritual hunger with a fresh and powerful presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

But he adds, "national denominational agencies and leaders, with a few exceptions, have not spoken much about Christ."

Wisdom quotes James Donahue, president of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif., who conducted a special workshop for religious leaders to respond to Sept. 11 attacks.

Donahue told leaders to "take their cues from the experience of the people" on how to conduct services and counseling. "Where are the people?" is the core issue, Donahue concluded.

Wisdom responds, "Contrary to Donahue's assumption, the core issue for the Church is never 'Where are the people?' It is always 'Where is God?' And for the Christians, the answer to this latter question lies pre-eminently in Jesus Christ."

Wisdom adds, "The events of September 11, like the crises of previous eras, should drive our churches back to the Gospel of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Gospel is the wisest and most powerful message that the Church has to communicate to this or any other society."

I don't believe I can improve on that, and only add "Amen."