Emotional Terrorism

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We watched anxiously as law enforcement and homeland security desperately sought the two young suspects in the Boston Marathon attacks.

Program Transcript

We watched
anxiously as law enforcement and homeland security desperately sought the two
young suspects in the Boston Marathon attacks.

The people of Boston experienced – for a few days – what so many around
the world have come to accept as a way of life. Young people in Syria, Iraq and
Afghanistan are growing up never knowing a single day of peace or security.

Although we were able to breathe a sigh of relief when the crisis came
to an end, the authorities cannot drop their guard. Even the best security
forces cannot guarantee 100% protection. That is the nature of our violent,
angry world. Sometimes the situation seems hopeless.

Events like this should move us
to be introspective and question the intent of our hearts. How does someone
become so filled with hate and indifference for others that they could carry
out something so monstrous? We might wonder what goes through the mind of a
terrorist as they plot destruction. Do they “see” the innocent men, women and
children that they will directly affect – the lives they lead, or their
countless friends and family? So much of this mayhem is caused by misguided
religious zeal.

We are all capable of cruelty
and indifference. As Jesus explained, “For it is from within, out of
a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice,
deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All
these evils come from inside and defile a person” (Mark 7:21-23).

The vast majority of us,
whatever our belief system, would never seek to physically harm someone. However,
our actions or lack of actions emotionally harm others. Ask yourself, “What behavior
do I allow that can hurt and destroy?”

The apostle Paul tells us to
have the mind of Christ and let the Spirit renew our thoughts. A terrorist
convinces himself that his actions will change the world to the way he thinks
it should be. So let’s ask ourselves, “What changes will I make today in my
schedule, relationships, and actions that will change the world and that will
especially change me to how Jesus Christ intends it to be?”

I’m Joseph Tkach, Speaking of LIFE.

Program Transcript

We watched
anxiously as law enforcement and homeland security desperately sought the two
young suspects in the Boston Marathon attacks.

The people of Boston experienced – for a few days – what so many around
the world have come to accept as a way of life. Young people in Syria, Iraq and
Afghanistan are growing up never knowing a single day of peace or security.

Although we were able to breathe a sigh of relief when the crisis came
to an end, the authorities cannot drop their guard. Even the best security
forces cannot guarantee 100% protection. That is the nature of our violent,
angry world. Sometimes the situation seems hopeless.

Events like this should move us
to be introspective and question the intent of our hearts. How does someone
become so filled with hate and indifference for others that they could carry
out something so monstrous? We might wonder what goes through the mind of a
terrorist as they plot destruction. Do they “see” the innocent men, women and
children that they will directly affect – the lives they lead, or their
countless friends and family? So much of this mayhem is caused by misguided
religious zeal.

We are all capable of cruelty
and indifference. As Jesus explained, “For it is from within, out of
a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice,
deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All
these evils come from inside and defile a person” (Mark 7:21-23).

The vast majority of us,
whatever our belief system, would never seek to physically harm someone. However,
our actions or lack of actions emotionally harm others. Ask yourself, “What behavior
do I allow that can hurt and destroy?”

The apostle Paul tells us to
have the mind of Christ and let the Spirit renew our thoughts. A terrorist
convinces himself that his actions will change the world to the way he thinks
it should be. So let’s ask ourselves, “What changes will I make today in my
schedule, relationships, and actions that will change the world and that will
especially change me to how Jesus Christ intends it to be?”

I’m Joseph Tkach, Speaking of LIFE.

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