Dealing With Terrorism And The Fear It Provokes

You probably know that a man recently beheaded a woman in Oklahoma. I suspect all the facts regarding this brutal, vicious, ugly action are not in but, at this point, my understanding is that the man beheaded the woman with a knife.  A knife! I keep trying to get my head around that reality but this kind of barbarism is hard to process.

When I heard this story, like everyone else, many thoughts went through my head.  I will admit that some of my thoughts weren’t very nice. But I suppose horrible actions will tend to generate thoughts that are not nice.

There are a number of things I’d like to express when it comes to this story because it has stirred up a bit of anger in me and I feel like venting.  But I’ve taken a few deep breaths and counted to 10 and I’m realizing it is probably wiser for me to exercise some caution and not go on a rant with a bunch of my initial thoughts because a person in a Christian leadership position is supposed to be a person who behaves responsibly.  (Hey, I might as well start with this responsibility thing now, huh? Better late than never.)

I will share this thought, however: My experience as a pastor has helped me understand that many people in our culture struggle in serious ways—sometimes even debilitating ways—with fear.  Obviously, when we encounter stories like this one—a story that deals with a person in our own country being beheaded—it stirs up even more fear for many of us because it can feel like this: a savage and cold-blooded form of terrorism may now be coming to our homeland and operating in ways we have never before had to deal with.

The Evil One wants us to live in fear. Fear is a fertile breeding ground for the type of chaos and hatred he wants to perpetuate. Terrorists operate utilizing fear as a primary tactic, as well. Fear can be very effective for their purposes.

God, on the other hand, does not want us to live in fear. In fact, God’s love and God’s presence can dispel fear. Please know I do not write these words as glib clichés, I write them in all seriousness and with a genuine desire to offer help.

I present this truth to you based upon firsthand experience and based on the authority of the Bible:  God’s love and God’s presence can dispel fear.

I’m not suggesting that other forms of preparedness and awareness are not necessary. They are. I pray that our nation’s leaders will be vigilant and untiring in their efforts to prevent terrorism of any kind. One of the most basic and essential purposes of the government is to provide for the protection of the citizens. I am trusting our leaders will take this responsibility very seriously.

However, fear is a difficult emotion to dispel. It doesn’t always respond to pure reason or intellectual arguments offered to assure safety. Terrorists know this and they hope we will respond to them in fear.

My beloved friends, I write this in humility and love:  Fear is not inevitable and it is not unavoidable.  We don’t have to be afraid.