MAY 2013 - Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ

From the SUPERINTENDENTROBERT MARTINTerrorism certainly isn’thatched regressing in its violentnew. Jesus faced it Himself.Jesus lived His lifedo not get better with age, butthroes. Some things, obviously,struggling with terrorist attemptsrather degenerate at a frighteningpace. Sin weaves its wayon His life; attempts which finallysucceeded at Calvary, as the ultimateinnocence was nailed to adestroy that very life itself.into the fabric of life only totree. He was led as a lamb to theThe church has a lot of workslaughter—inhumanely murderedto do. The world is being calledby a mob in full fury. Jesus wasto repentance. This call is notnot ignorant of terrorism. Itbecause the citizens of Bostonshaped His life and caused Hisor any other stricken area aredeath.more vile than the rest, but ratherbecause all have sinned andJesus was born into a terrorfilledarena of life. Herod, fearingcome short of the glory of God.Martin Richard, age 8, killed at the Boston Marathona potential loss of kingdom andAs a matter of fact, the call forpolitical clout, requested an audiencerepentance is not new. It is a callwith the wise men that would visit Jesus. The wise men, followingthe heavenly star, had found the young child Jesus. Herod, The problem is that many do not heed its steady call until facedthat has echoed through the millennia from Adam until now.in a misguided effort to rid the world of a young king candidate, with dilemmas such as terrorism. Until provoked, the summonsresorted to terrorism. Herod “was exceeding wroth, and sent to God is suffocated with the cares of the world, the deceitfulnessof riches and other things. The voice of repentance isforth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and inall the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according merely a whisper—an unheeded unpleasantry and a worrisometo the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men” nuisance. Then something out of the routine happens and the(Matthew 2:16). Child after child was forcibly ripped from the ears are forcibly reopened. In flows the vibrant call to come toclutches of weeping mothers and fathers and the blood of innocentswas shed. Tears flowed and mingled with the blood of able manner, are constantly pierced by the tragedies of life.or return to God. The world’s ears, howbeit in an uncomfort-useless slaughter. A sad testimony to the warped state of a madman.A spectacle of violence that has been too often repeated. must not let the opportunity to preach repentance die with aThese times often call for spiritual reflection. The ChurchSome things do not change. The death of the innocents continues.Of all the tragic and terrible sights associated with recent salve of retribution or the opium of good will. “Repent!”—thewhimper. The Church must not settle for a patriotic feeling, theterrorist attacks, perhaps the most grievous and anger-provoking Church must shout it from the rooftop, to the religious and topictures are those of murdered children mercilessly snatched the infidel.from the land of the living at the hands of faceless cowards. All Terrorism and tragedy will happen. It always has. Repentance,however, is often avoided. It is circumvented at great peril.human loss is tragic, but no loss moves the spirit more than thewaste of young, exuberant, joyous and tender lives. Perhaps this Today, even as yesterday was, remains the day of salvation. Nowis because children represent a nation’s link with the future. Children,indeed, are a nation’s, as well as a church’s, greatest asset. for revival and harvest. When people are shaken, they need re-is the time for the Church to fervently pray and consistently fastHow dare evil rob the innocence and the promise of children? pentance to waken them to God. May America awaken to greatSin continues to flood the landscape of society, culture spiritual revival in the midst of sorrow, uncertainty and perilousand life. No institution or person has completely escaped its timespervasive, corrupting nature. Into this volatile mix terrorism is Our world needs it. Our children need it.8 Apostolic Witness