JCCC Prayer Ministry

Ground Zero: Where are the Christians?

Around the world people watched smoke billowing out of the north tower of the world trade center in New York City only moments after being struck by a commercial airliner. Another airliner appeared on the screen only a few minutes later, and the viewers watched in horror as the second plane crashed into the south tower. Then, a little while later still, each tower collapsed upon itself trapping or killing thousands of people underneath them.

Christian leaders have said much about the tragedy, many speculating why God would permit such a horrible event to take place. However one views the reasons behind these terror-driven actions, I believe events following the attacks can give those of us who are Christians much to think about as well. In particular I think of the example of those who tirelessly worked, trying to rescue those who might be trapped alive in the wreckage.

Many questions have come to my mind, such as: What was it that drove these hundreds of rescue workers to labor night and day for days on end? Why were these people willing to set aside life as usual to work alongside strangers under seemingly hopeless circumstances?

There are many possible answers to the above questions, but one conclusion seems certain to me: the rescue workers clearly saw the plight of the victims and they knew the consequences of inaction. Televised images of people trapped inside the doomed structures calling for help from open windows while others leapt several stories to their deaths are burned into the memory of the millions of us who saw it. Undoubtedly, few would remain untouched, and indeed thousands were stirred to offer help. Perhaps they imagined themselves being amongst those trapped and still alive in the smoldering heap of ruins. Time was short, and hesitation would result in the death of those still hanging on. The issue on their minds may not have been so much whether there was something they could do, but rather to do nothing was to do the unthinkable.

Perhaps we can draw an analogy between the victims of the terrorists' actions in New York, with the spiritual condition of mankind in every part of the globe. Just as those who were trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center faced imminent, physical death, the Bible tells us that all people have sinned and therefore face imminent, spiritual death (See Romans 3:23; 6:23). If we believe these and other, related Scriptures are true, then why is it that we believers don't seem to be responding in a manner appropriate to the seriousness of the situation?

Again, there may be any number of possible answers, but among the most basic of these would be that, unlike the rescue workers, we don't see clearly the plight of those trapped by sin or the consequences of our inaction. This blurred vision comes, I believe, from an inadequate understanding of God, and a subsequent, faulty understanding of man's relationship with Him. The resulting imminent judgment of those whose sins have not been forgiven is also not seen in its severity, which contributes to our lukewarm response.

God has graciously revealed much about Himself in the Bible. The names He has given Himself, the attributes recorded about Him, and the miraculous works ascribed to Him throughout Scripture help us gain a clear image of God. For instance, we learn that God is holy. Isaiah recorded the words shouted by the Seraphim seen in a vision he had of the Lord in His temple who said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory" (Isaiah 6:3). Isaiah is so overwhelmed by His holiness, he realizes his own sinfulness, and that his life is forfeit since he has come into the presence of holy God (6:5). The Bible also declares the Lord is, among many of His other attributes, righteous and just. The Psalmist states, "For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face" (Psalm 11:7). Also, in Deuteronomy 32:4 the Bible says, "The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He."?

If God is indeed perfectly holy, righteous, and just - and He is - then it follows that, like Isaiah, anyone with unforgiven sins still cannot hope to enter into His presence. Indeed, if God is perfectly righteous and just, then he is required to exact a penalty for the breaking of His law.

Some Christians have chosen to overlook some of God's attributes, whether by intention or by ignorance, in favor of others. For instance they may, correctly, recall God is loving, merciful, and gracious. While these attributes are also true of God, they are exercised in perfection and in consistence with all of His attributes, including His holiness, righteousness, and justice.

The Bible also gives us a clear picture of the nature of man and his standing before God. As I mentioned above, man is sinful, and therefore will face God's terrible wrath (Romans 1:18). In addition, the Scripture says man is incapable of saving himself and needs to have his sins forgiven, and this is only accomplished through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:6). Those who have not put their trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sin will be severely judged, and this punishment will never cease (see Matthew 7:23; 13:50; Revelation 21:8; 20:15). Their fate is both unimaginable and horrible.

Unfortunately, it seems that many Christians are either ignorant of the truth concerning God and man's relationship to Him, or have chosen to not believe the Bible's words about them. This seems evident when observing our general lack of urgency and unwillingness to make sacrifices to help save those who are spiritually perishing. It is imperative that we correct this blindness quickly since delay will result in many, many people, trapped in sin, to pass into a Christ-less eternity. If it is ignorance that blinds us, then we need to search God's Word to discover His true identity, and likewise to understand man's unique position in His creation. If it is unbelief by which we close our eyes to God's truth, then we must confess our sin to Him who is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin (1 John 1:9).

Once we Christians see the true condition of man clearly then we will be compelled to do whatever we can to save those who are on the brink of spiritual death. This would naturally include sharing the gospel message of forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ with those whom we meet. It also follows that we would fervently pray for our Lord to work in the hearts of those who don't know Him so they would be willing to accept the salvation made possible through Jesus' death in their place. We would also pray for the Lord to bring in more people to help in the rescue operations.

Like the rescue workers at the collapsed World Trade Center buildings may have reasoned, we too must conclude that to do nothing - or even to delay action - is to do the unthinkable.

JCCC Prayer Coordinator November 12, 2001