WHERE WAS GOD?

As the enormity of the terrorist attacks against America begins to register in our minds, we are beginning to try to put meaning on the events. I have heard such things as; "God allowed the attacks because of our national sins (abortion, pornography, lack of faithfulness, removing formal prayer and Bible reading from our schools.) Others have said this is the beginning of the chastisement mentioned in various Marian visions. Most of us, however, are still filled with compassion for the victims and their families, anger at the terrorists, fear that it really can happen, and awe at the courage and selflessness of the rescue workers. Somewhere deep down, we will begin to ask the heartfelt questions; "how can a loving God allow this?" and "where was God when the planes where on their way to the targets?" We may even feel anger at God for not intervening. We may feel a certain amount of confusion about God’s role in the world.

Where was God? God was in his heaven loving his creation. Which brings us to the question that has been asked by philosophers and theologians for thousands of years is, "How can an all loving God allow evil to exist in the world?" In other words, why didn’t God stop this? It must be some form of punishment.

The terrorist attacks are not the will of God. God does not will evil. Nor did God allow these thing to happen as a punishment for our national sins or any promised chastisement. Jesus refutes this false idea many of the people of his day held. (See Luke 13:2-6, John 9:2) Sickness, disaster, poverty, are not a result of God punishing us for our sins anymore than wealth, health, and freedom are a sign of God’s blessing. Even in the book of Genesis God would not destroy the city of Sodom if there were only ten righteous men there. (Genesis 18:20-32) Were there not at least ten good people in the World Trade Center or on the airplanes?

How, then could God, if he is all loving, allow this to happen? God is indeed all loving. God loves us so much that he wants us to freely choose to love him back. He does not force us. He has given us free will. We can freely choose to love God, or reject him. Our choices, however, have consequences. The sad fact of history is that many have turned their backs on God. Sin entered the world, and with it evil, when humans turned their backs on God. These evil acts where the result of people choosing evil over good, death over life, hatred over love. Evil people freely chose to do evil acts and many innocent people died because of there choices. This is a fact of life we would rather forget, but we forget at our own peril. When a child is killed by a drunk driver it is not part of God’s plan. God doesn’t will these things to happen. One person simply freely chose to drive a car while drunk with disregard for the possible consequences to others. All sorts of symbolism can be attached to the fact that the World Trade Center may represent greed and the Pentagon represents violence or oppression, but the fact is that evil people decided to commit evil acts with disregard for the consequences to others. In this case, the consequences were even intended

The good news of God’s love is that he can make good come out of even this terrible event. Many throughout the world have looked on New Yorkers as calloused, hardened people. The reactions of the rescue workers who risk, many giving, their lives for others they did not know belies this. Jesus says, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one’s friends." (John 15:13) Yet here are these brave people laying down their lives for strangers. Heart warming stories are already being told of people in the towers who could have escaped staying behind to help others, or even staying behind so someone would not have to die alone. The outpouring of love in the form of donated blood, money, and all sorts of volunteer aid makes one proud to be an American. And let us not forget, the churches were filled with people praying not just on September 11, but after as well, praying not for themselves but for others, known and unknown to them.

Evil is ever present in the world. We must resist evil but we must not let evil make us afraid. Jesus tells us, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." (Matthew 10:28) Fear is the hoped for result of terrorism. The terrorists hope to paralyze us with fear. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, casts out all fear. If we act out of fear or hatred, the terrorists win. If we refuse to be paralyzed by fear or respond in hate, they cannot really harm us. God’s love will console and strengthen us during this time of difficulty. His love is everlasting.