Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
The suffering in the nation is enormous. May the Holy Spirit comfort the thousands of mourners. Is religion involved in this terrible terrorism? Yes, because the suicide "pilots" believed the teaching that if one is killed in the Islamic "jihad," he enters Paradise immediately. Suicide-bombings would be unlikely without this theological teaching.
Again, religion is involved because basic to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is the sad failure of dear Abraham to believe God's promises when he took that second wife Hagar. He stumbled in old covenant unbelief (so did Sarah!). Thus two "sons" of Abraham claim as genetic inheritance what is known as "the Holy Land."
Will religion be increasingly prominent in America's new "future" since this infamous "9/11"? The nation has been secular and its culture increasingly godless; but the nation has now been deeply humbled, never so since the Civil War (an inspired writer described that as "deeply humbled in the dust"). The most highly sophisticated political, social, and military wisdom seems perplexed by this new and insidious "war on America." People are afraid; everyone is. It is inevitable that eventually (and maybe soon, now!) they will want to turn to God for protection. Religious leaders will be exalted to national prominence, and their counsel will be treasured.
But all through history, when religion has been exalted to join with civil government authority, oppression of conscience follows. Acute national emergency will trigger "final movements [which will] be rapid ones."
Jeremiah's advice to Baruch in 45:5 is now highly appropriate: "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not." Why? "Evil [is coming] upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest."
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 12, 2001.
Copyright © 2011 by "Dial Daily Bread."
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/dailybread/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to:dailybread@1888message.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
