The REAL Problem Behind the Recent Terror Attack

Do you remember “The Jerk” with Steve Martin? It has to be one of the funniest of Martin’s films. There’s a scene where he’s working at the gas station and someone begins shooting at some oil cans. He begins to panic and yells, “He hates these cans! Stay away from the cans!” In other words, he thought the cans were the problem. Not the person who was shooting the cans. Funny until it is real life.

The recent events of mass shootings, terrorist attacks, and a divided nation, makes me sad. It is not surprising, but never-the-less sad. No one is talking. No one is listening. The media is telling people what to think and not how to think. We live in a world of tweets, headlines, and empty hearts and minds.

Now, to the point: the recent shootings in Florida are tragic.  Facebook, Twitter, the news, and the government are pointing fingers. I can’t say some of the accusations are false. But they all fail to address the real problem. Here’s what I mean:

Guns. In President Obama’s news conference on June 14^th, he and others are proposing a ban on assault weapons. (http://www.wral.com/obama-urges-congress-to-reinstate-assault-weapons-ban/15778248/) I have to ask the question, are specific types of guns to blame or is there something else.

What if the massacre would have been committed with machetes or over-sized spoons? Would there be a proposed ban on machetes or spoons? Because one could wrongly conclude that the machete or the spoon is the problem. But is this logical or right?

Islam. Conversely, some are blaming Islam for the terrorist attack. There are others who say, "no.  It isn’t the religion of Islam. It is the extremists of Islam." 

I would ask both sides, “have you read the Quran? What evidence do you have for your position?” I have read the Quran and anyone who has read it, cannot deny it calls for the murder of all infidels, ie non-Muslims (Surah 2:91; 9:5). For additional resources, read this article: https://carm.org/islam-religion-peace-and-terrorism or watch this brief video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a13Rj5yrAhg .

Do I think the doctrine of Islam is something we need to be aware of? Yes. Do I believe that each Muslim adheres religiously to its teaching? Thankfully, no. Do I think that Islam is ultimately to blame for the recent attack? To some this will be a surprise: not really.

My friend and apologist, Tim Stratton, just wrote on this: http://freethinkingministries.com/islamic-terror-homosexuality-the-consequences-of-ideas/. 

Religion. I think it only takes a cursory look at religions to see that not all religions are created equal, nor are they all peaceful. But here’s what we often hear: “Religions like Christianity lead to more violence and oppression.” 

Is this true? It is a statement that punches one in the gut, but should it? Here’s the facts regarding mass murders in the 20^th century:

·         1932-1933; Stalin / Marxism - 15 Million

·         1937-1938; Rape of Nanking - 300k

·         1938 – 1945; Nazi’s / WW2 – 6 Million

·         1949-1976; Ma Zadong / Marxism - 60 Million

·         1975-1979; Pol Pot in Cambodia - 2 Million

·         1994; Rwanda - 800k[1]

This means roughly 85 million people have been murdered because of atheism – the anti-God / anti-religion.[2] So when someone does commit murder or a terrorist attack in the name of religion, the question you and I must ask is: “Is the person doing the action, acting in keeping their religious world-view or violating it?” And we need to be honest with our assessment.

Okay, if guns, Islam, and religion aren’t the ultimate reason for these murders, then what is? Sin. Sin is the issue. 

So many people want to blame the symptoms of these events, but not the problem itself. The problem is sin. Without addressing the heart, we will only be kicking the can down the road of politics, legislation, and name calling. It has to stop.

Some, in fact, many today would deny sin exists (1 John 1:8, 10), but to do so is foolish. None of us can get away without sinning. Our lives are a mess because of it. We need to admit it’s sin so it can be dealt with.

Atheist Journalist Matthew Parris wrote the following words in an article titled As an Atheist, I Truly Believe Africa Needs God. 

“Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted. And I’m afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.”[3]

In other words, it’s not quick fixes, specialized training, regulations, etc that are the solution. It is a heart change that is found in the good news of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, but through me (John 14:6). Jesus also said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32), The Apostle Paul said, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). This is the solution to the problem. A changed heart - a life saved by Jesus Christ.

For those of you who do believe, I encourage you to pray. Pray for the victims who were injured. Pray for the families and friends who lost loved ones. Pray for healing – true healing of the soul. We must do as Jesus taught: pray with belief (Matt. 21:18-22), love your enemies (Matt. 5:43-48), and be prepared for the persecution and division that is happening and is to come (Matthew 10:16-39).

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[1] http://carm.org/religion-cause-war

[2] https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#safe=off&q=atheism+responsible+for+more+deaths+

[3] http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/matthewparris/article2044345.ece