How does terror affect society on the whole? What does it do to a person? Perhaps terrorism can be attributed to a tactic of the devil, perhaps it is just the result of a fallen world, maybe both. I wonder what the real dangers of terrorism are…
One of the definitions of Terror, as defined by the oxford online dictionary is the: use of extreme fear to intimidate people, but I think that dictionary.com gives a better definition: Intense, overpowering fear. It’s pretty clear that this is happening all over the globe. Acts of terrorism are very common with the latest development being the transportation of two bombs on cargo planes destined for the US. In other news 14 soccer players were massacred in Honduras for reasons not yet apparent. This is only the latest news, there are countless other examples from pre and post 9/11. Sometimes the motivation may be religious, sometimes revenge or simply psychotic behavior. What ever the reasons are, and I am sure there are many, the results are the same: Terror!
Terrorism in its various forms usually serve some sort of purpose. Reading any days news will probably reveal some of the reasons behind terror attacks. I don’t want to go there. What I want to do is evaluate terrorism from a broad perspective, on the whole.
What is happening on the larger scale? How does terror affect society? Two thoughts pop into my head. Insecurity and mistrust. I think these two issues are far greater than the actual acts of terror. What!? Let me explain, Insecurity and mistrust destroy relationships, they replace love with fear and trust with faithlessness. This is bad in two ways, one, it kills you from the inside out and two it encourages more terror.
Ephesians 2:8 says that we are saved by faith. 1 John 4:18 says that there is no fear in love. Philippians 4:7 says, And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Terror tries to rob us of these things: Faith, love and peace. God gives us peace at heart, terror tries to take it away. Love drives out fear, terror tries to bring it back. We are saved by faith, terror tries to divert it, be it by losing heart or running to other securities.
On the other hand, one’s faith, love and yes even peace, can be tried, tested and ultimately strengthened in the end. So which will it be? Contemplate Solomon's words: If you are weak in a crisis, you are weak indeed.