Bad Root and Bitter Fruit

This article was published in the Presbyterian Standard, Issue No. 24, October-December 2001.

MUCH has been written about the deplorable act of terrorism perpetrated by Bin Laden and his organisation on the 11th September. Words seem insufficient for such a time. Is it not the time-honoured axiom that actions speaks louder than words. And action is what we have got. America is bombing Afghanistan. President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair are united in a common cause against terrorism. And, predictably, there is unrest among Muslims who insist on placing obligations to fellow Islamic believers prior to obligations to justice and truth, ahead of moral decency, and before loyalty to Queen and country. Yet we will never really understand what is happening until we understand a few biblical facts: 

(1) The root of terrorism is hatred to Christ. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18). Bin Laden’s aim is to destroy Christianity. He and his followers hate Christ. Yet this is but an outward expression of what is in the heart of man. There is a real warfare and terrorism in the heart of fallen man against God and his Annointed. Is it not the case that when God appeared in human flesh mankind cried with one voice, “Crucufy Him! Crucify Him!” 

(2) This root brings forth corrupt fruit. “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” (Matt.10:25) How these words of the Lord stand to condemn much of what passes for Christianity today. A sterile, indifferent Christianity that has the sole objective of removing the offence of the Cross. “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:16) 

(3) This root has many shoots. We commend the Prime Minister for standing shoulder to shoulder with our American friends against terrorism. However, we must equally lament his Government’s determined stand against the Gospel. Mr Blair stands shoulder to shoulder with Islam when he states that he finds comfort in the Koran. His Government stands shoulder to shoulder with the homosexual lobby as it continually promotes immorality. And who does the Government stand shoulder to shoulder with in Northern Ireland but terrorists - Mr Adams, Sinn Fein, and the I.R.A. terrorists who steadfastly refuse to give up their mass weapons of destruction. At the same time faithful Protestant brethren are betrayed, ridiculed, and viewed as the great enemy. Does anyone know exactly what weapons the I.R.A. have destroyed? Are they going destroy one weapon more? In a recent visit to Northren Ireland, it became apparent that many within the Province know that the I.R.A. has no intention of handing over its weapons. It doesn’t matter. Mr Blair will stand shoulder to shoulder with his Republican terrorist friends. 

(4) Only a good root will bring forth good fruit. Mohammed, the Pope of Rome, Mr Adams. The Prime Minister stands shoulder to shoulder with them all. Yet there is one he consistantly refuses to stand with: the Lord Jesus Christ. He will not have this man to rule over him. Yet it is the Lord alone who embodies Righteousness and Truth. He alone reveals the glory of the one true and living God. His cause alone has the victory over the flesh, the world, and the devil. We pray for a day when spiritual weapons of warfare would be employed in our land to glorious effect.