TomPaine.com - 9/11 And The Sport of God

9/11 and the sport of God
by Bill Moyers

Terrorists plant time bombs in our heads, hoping to turn each and every imagination into a private hell governed by our fear of them.

They win only if we let them, only if we become like them: vengeful, imperious, intolerant, paranoid. Having lost faith in all else, zealots have nothing left but a holy cause to please a warrior God. They win if we become holy warriors, too; if we kill the innocent as they do; strike first at those who had not struck us; allow our leaders to use the fear of terrorism to make us afraid of the truth; cease to think and reason together, allowing others to tell what's in God's mind. Yes, we are vulnerable to terrorists, but only a shaken faith in ourselves can do us in.

So over the past four years I have kept reminding myself of not only the horror but the humanity that was revealed that day four years ago, when through the smoke and fire we glimpsed the heroism, compassion, and sacrifice of people who did the best of things in the worst of times. I keep telling myself that this beauty in us is real, that it makes life worthwhile and democracy work and that no terrorist can take it from us.

But I am not so sure. As a Christian realist I honor my inner skeptic. And as a journalist I always know the other side of the story.

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PRAYER:
Dear Jesus,

Heal our nation.

So many conservative christians clamor that we must confess and repent our sins of permitting abortion and homosexuality.

Our hearts convict us that they may be right, but some even accuse You of sending Katrina to punish New Orleans, and that is insane and perhaps even blasphemous.

We also need to confess and repent of our sins of indulgence, pride, gluttony, greed and soft middle-class complacency toward our brothers and sisters in poverty...

And yes, of racism

even if it is unconsious or subconscious or covert or mild or accidental or institutional rather than hot, acute, hateful and personal.

Forgive us, Lord

And move us by Your Spirit to reach out and help,
and to re-examine our hearts and become more sensitive

And please, Lord
Don't let Satan use these disasters to polarize us further and divide us deeper.

In Jesus' Name,
AMEN