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September 11th, 2001
(September 2001)
 We
write this just a few hours after horrific terrorist attacks on
New York and Washington. The hearts of Russian Jews around the world
and here in Northeast Philadelphia are filled with fear, anger and
desire for revenge for what are likely the acts of a fanatic Islamic
organization. With all of the recent events, many Russian Jews are
developing great hatred towards Arab people.
While it is proper for a believer to desire that
those who are guilty would be brought to justice, it is nevertheless
wrong for Jewish believers in Jesus to be filled with hate towards
others.
You see, the difference between those who believe
in Jesus and those who don't is this. Believers know that Messiah
Jesus has rescued them from the slavery of sin and from the bondage
of Satan. (Please read "Do You Believe in Satan?").
Terrorists are potent instruments of the Devil, a very real person
who wants to drag all of us to sin and to death. We also know that
all of us are sinners and all of us will die.
But we know that God sent his Son Jesus to confront
Satan, and to rescue us from sin and death. We now have at our disposal
an incredible power - the power of the Gospel, the only kind of
power that enables us to truly love others! Those Jews and others
who do not have Jesus in their hearts can only rage in anger against
the Arabs.
A believer in Jesus should ask themselves a question:
How does the Gospel apply to this situation? I think the answer
is clear. Jesus as the King of Kings unites people under himself.
Jews and Gentiles (Arabs or otherwise) have the power to unite and
show the world that the Gospel is real, by turning away from Satan
and instead following the authority and rule of the Messiah Jesus.
Paul wrote about the mystery that has been revealed
to us by God in this New Testament age: "Through the gospel the
Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one
body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus His intent
was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should
be made known." (Eph 3:6)
Jews and Gentiles have complimentary roles in God's
redemptive plan. Together they make up the church, the people of
God, spiritual Israel. Through the body of the Messiah, God's incomparable
wisdom will be revealed! The horrific terrorist attack on the World
Trade Center is a horrible tragedy, yet in God's providence it can
become a great opportunity to show forth God's Glory! Do you believe
in Jesus? Pray with us!
Standing on the Rock,
Ilya Lizorkin, Pastor, and Marko Malyj, Pastoral Associate
Rock of Israel
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