Also occurring this past week (although it has received considerably less media/political coverage) was the massacre of an estimated 2,000 people in the Nigerian town of Baga. This act was carried out by the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram. While the attack was primarily motivated by territorial aggression, Boko Haram leaders have made it clear that they consider their victims “infidels” or unbelievers.
It should be noted that the organizations behind both attacks are extremists and are renounced by mainline Islamic faiths. However, I believe that these two acts of violence reveal a theology that is at odds with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
1. The attacks reveal a denial of a universal sin nature. The terrorists believed that the victims’ sins were more deserving of death than any sins committed by the terrorists themselves. The members of Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda would claim to have outweighed their own sin with righteous deeds (including the killing of the infidel). The two shooters of Charlie Hedbo are reported to have shouted “We have avenged the Prophet Mohammed; we have killed Charlie Hedbo!” They believed themselves justified in their act by the guilt of the victims, and the eternal rewards they would reap by their deed.
Of course this is in stark contrast to Paul’s statement in Romans 3:
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”
There is no difference from an eternal perspective between the sin of a satirist, a terrorist, or a philanthropist; all are found guilty before the Lord and all are incapable of gaining God’s approval through any deed. The one who desires to follow God is not ordered to take up arms for righteous murder, but rather implored to go to his knees in humble contrition; to throw themselves on the mercy of the finished work of Christ, rather than relying on the futile efforts of their own flesh.
2. The attacks reveal a denial of God’s sovereignty in judgment. Romans 12:19-21 admonishes those who would take vengeance into their own sins:
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
While God has given governments authority to punish evil and reward good (1 Peter 2:14), the final judgment against wickedness will be given by the Lord Himself. Revelation 20 tells us that all will stand before the throne of God and be judged. Sin will be dealt with for all eternity, and the only salvation is for those whose names are in the book of life. Gathering munitions and administering death and judgment in the name of God, is tantamount to giving oneself authority that Scripture reserves for God alone.
3. Finally, these two terrorist attacks reveal the necessity of the Gospel. No one’s heart or mind was truly changed by the events that occurred. Charlie Hedbo proceeded to publish a new paper with a cartoon depiction of Mohammed. The terrorist organizations did not convince anyone who was not already within their ranks to repent of sin, or turn to God. You see, the Bible is clear that only the Gospel truly changes lives. Only the death and resurrection of Jesus can provide salvation to a dying world. Only the divine work of God can change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh. Only the Holy Spirit can bring about a new creation, a born again spirit, and a heart clothed in righteousness.
Friends, let us learn a lesson from the events of the past week. The message of gunfire brings death and destruction to the victim and the assailant alike. The message of the Gospel brings everlasting life to all who believe. Let us preach the Gospel with the assurance that its message is more potent than lead, and its effects are more powerful than gunpowder.