What Can We Say?

LOCH A TUATH NEWS October 2001

One of our favourite family photographs was taken on top of the Empire State Building in New York, looking out towards the Twin Towers and the Statue of Liberty beyond. The Manhattan skyline has few rivals. I remember us taking a boat trip around Manhattan island, contrasting the compactly built financial district at the West tip with the sights of Harlem at the West.

Like the rest of the world it was unbelievable to be told on 11th September that a plane had been piloted into each of the twin towers, and another into the Pentagon. To witness the scenes of carnage afterwards -- with shots of people jumping out of windows a quarter of a mile from the ground, or others being chased by an avalanche of dust down New York streets -- was incredible. Who would ever have thought that so much could change so quickly.

Our service at Back Free Church on the Monday following these attacks was well attended by people from our own district and beyond. Quite apart from the fact that several of us have visited New York, the ties between America and Scotland go deep. It is only right that we should take time to stop, think and pray about the world we are in, and to give our support to the United States in its efforts to secure the liberties of the free world.

Of course there are theological issues which arise over tragedies of this kind. Why does God allow such things to happen? How can we believe in God when such tragedies occur? Whatever approach we take so such questions, one thing is certain: the world would be infinitely worse and darker if there is no God to turn to.

But I think we can say more. We worship a God whose sovereign will does not do away with human freedom. Indeed, it establishes human freedom. We are at liberty to make choices -- choices to build cities and towers in them, choices to work where we wish, to live where we wish, to take this aircraft flight and not that one, to become Christians or not. We have the capacity to choose. And we dare not blame God for our wrong choices.

Secondly, we worship a God whose sovereign purpose addresses the problem of human wickedness. It was for a world in the grip of sin and lawlessness that he gave his Son. And his Son receives hijackers and terrorists and eats with them. The only possible remedy for our lost world in the grip of sin, death and fear is to be found in the cross.

Thirdly, we worship a God whose sovereign purpose does not stand aloof from human tragedy and suffering. In the midst of the throne is the One who wept as he stood by the tomb. He could not -- can not remain unmoved. The reality of his sympathy has given hope to many who have found themselves in difficulties not of their own making.

As I said at our memorial service, while the newspapers have been using the vocabulary of the Book of Revelation -- talking about apocalypse and end-times -- we must capture the vision of that Great Book, with its perspective firmly fixed on the sovereign rule of Christ. May the tragic events of the past month lead us to seek and find our comfort in the Christ of the cross.