What Deity Inspires Terrorist Bombings?

One reader of the Greenville News sent a letter to the editor asking the question, "What deity inspires terrorist bombings?" He asks in regards to the London tube bombings more specifically.

Terrorists may be sitting somewhere tonight in a joyous little group, happily congratulating themselves on their successful bombing of the London tube. They may be offering a critique of how well their plan succeeded. Perhaps they are not satisfied with the number of people killed or injured. Perhaps they have contrived a better plan that may be used elsewhere and perhaps with more success.

Likely, they are pleased with the fact that the bombers were not stopped from their assignment. Some may have worked on other plans that were shelved or postponed for one reason or another. They may be delighted that this time the plan came together and did its sinister work to innocent, unsuspecting infidels who do not share the same maniacal devotion to this image that they believe is God.

Perhaps some of their members were sacrificed in the bombing. Candles may be lighted in honor of them and boastful speeches bellowed in their memory. There may be photographs of the departed. There may be letters or notes written by the bombers with instructions that these documents be opened and read only after the bombing.

Will the ceremony be opened or closed with a prayer? What kind of God would that prayer be made to?

Many thoughts flood my mind regarding this idea of a God who can inspire terrorist bombings. The Triune God of the Bible does not inspire such things. Even though He is the only God transgressed against, He is the only God of which placed the penalty for our transgressions upon Himself. The Triune God of the Bible was both satiated in His wrath and merciful to those who are unworthy of it at the same time. The Islamic god is either one or the other, but he is not both at the same time.

Muslims can not know if they have the eternal life of which they seek. It is not a guarantee, otherwise, they would know they could attain it. They hope against hope that their suicide bombing would kill as many "infidels" as possible to even be noticed by Allah for a chance they will be accepted into heaven. But even then, the suicide bombing is no guarantee. This is a works-based salvation. Jesus blood and righteousness is not enough in their eyes. But then again, they only view Christ as a good teacher, a prophet, but not the Savior of the world.

Many people today have missed the whole point of Jesus' redemptive acts upon earth. They think that Jesus did most of the works required to attain heaven but not all of them; thereby, people must finish what Christ started. This is far from the truth. Jesus fulfilled all the law of God - perfectly. There is not one drop of the law of which must be fulfilled because it is already done. Jesus Himself said, "It is finished." Think on these words! "It is finished!" When we go the extra mile to help someone, we are doing absolutely nothing to add to what Jesus already accomplished. When we give that extra dollar to the poor and needy, we are doing nothing to add to what Jesus already accomplished. When we drop the milk carton on the floor and it bursts leaving a huge mess, our cleaning up the mess does nothing to complete the law. When we have messed up in a single area of life (no matter how small) and we beat ourselves up because of it, we are doing nothing to add to what Jesus Christ has already accomplished.

We must remember our Sanctification must face our Justification. Our Justification is only found in Jesus and His finished work. We can not add anything more. Therefore, when we do our deeds, we must do them in light of Jesus. We should not do them in order to fulfill the law. That has already been finished. We must do deeds as praise, thanksgiving, and worship to Christ.

This is a paradigm shift in our thinking. If you have not thought about this before, I would strongly recommend pondering the implications of such thoughts. Jesus came to fulfill the law because we can not do it on our own. Since Jesus fulfilled the law, we are free from the law and its penalty, eternal death. Christ frees those who believe to freedom. Our freedom, then is not doing whatever we please. Romans speaks to this point that we are freed to freedom but not unto sin for then we place ourselves back under the law. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus as their sole Justification are Justified completely. God then accepts you, not on the basis of who you are but on the basis of the Jesus and His finished work.

This is what sets the Triune God of the Bible from the god of Islam. The god of Islam has not made any possible means by which the sinner can be reconciled to himself. So what deity inspires terrorist bombings? A false deity. Praise be to the Triune God of the Bible Who reconciles those who believe (and only believe) in Him.