Six Biblical Responses to Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings!

We are all saddened by the recent disaster in Sri Lanka that shook the entire world including the Christian world. This particular article below by Ajith Fernando teaching director of Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka, and author of Discipling in a Multicultural World (Crossway 2019) made so much of sense when he penned down this article which appeared in ‘Christian Today’. This can be applied anytime when we face any disaster. I have condensed a bit due to its length, but you may check the link below to read the complete article.

Whenever tragedy hits a nation, Christians need to ask how to think Biblically in response to the situation. As Christianity is a body religion, it is best that groups of Christians meet and discuss a common response to the challenges. We cannot delay our response. There are both immediate responses and more long-term responses to heal the wounds of our people.

I have thought of at least six necessary responses from Christians to what has happened:

1) Lament Loss

Christians must join the nation in lamenting and mourning over our losses. Protestants have been somewhat lacking in espousing a theology of groaning (Rom. 8:23) that opens the door to lament (though that seems to be changing). The Old Testament has many instances of elaborate mourning customs, and that is found in the New Testament too. The church responded to Stephen’s death with a “great lamentation over him” (Acts 8:2; also see 9:39). Each country has its cultural ways of lament, and we must look for practices to adopt which harmonize with Christianity. In addition to Easter time, April is New Year in Sri Lanka and most Christians have cancelled their usual festivities because of what has happened.

2) Condemn Evil

The Bible is loaded with condemnation over the wrong that takes place in a nation, and the ministries of the prophets are a good example of this. Where possible and appropriate, we need to strongly condemn—with no reserve—the barbaric acts that have happened. Like the prophets, we may also need to denounce the failure of our national leaders to take appropriate steps to protect the people in response to intelligence reports.

3) Alleviate Suffering

Part of the Christian answer to the problem of evil is action to alleviate suffering, as people made in the image of a God who works. The Bible is loaded with advice to care for those who are wounded and vulnerable. We must look for opportunities to help. Some of these are more formal projects done in an organized manner by groups—Christian or general community efforts. Others are personal responses. As representatives of the God of all comfort, we can seek to comfort those who are hurting (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

4) Leave Vengeance to the Lord

In our hearts we must apply the principle of God’s “holy-love” as we think through the situation. The Bible is clear that our holy God punishes wrong. The reason we are to “never avenge [ourselves]” is because we “leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Rom. 12:19). When wrong is done, something in us says, “That deserves to be punished.” That is a biblical sentiment. God has given government officials the authority to be agents of his wrath by punishing wrongdoers (Rom. 13:3–4). We must let justice take its course. But even if it doesn’t take place on earth, we know that it will at the final judgment. We can choose to stop the downward spiral of revenge where violence begets violence and huge destruction results.

5) Don’t Bear False Witness

The Bible is severe in its condemnation of false accusation and harming the innocent. Racial, ethnic, and religious prejudice often comes from lumping large numbers of people alongside a few radical members of the group they belong to. I do not want to be naïve about the plans of some Muslim groups to control the world and use violence to achieve that end. But in Sri Lanka, for centuries we have lived harmoniously with Muslims. I often feel that my Muslim neighbors are better neighbors to me than I am to them. If we lump all Muslims under the category of terrorist sympathizers, we do many of them a huge injustice which is abhorrent to God. Such attitudes could isolate them to the point of pushing them to find refuge among radicals. It is no secret that violence against Muslims encourages radicalism. We must conscientiously do all we can to prevent that from happening.

6) Pray

While it may seem foolish to spend time praying during a crisis when there is so much to do, this is the most powerful thing God’s people can do in a national crisis (1 Kings 19). We need to mobilize individual and corporate prayer among Christians. Leaders must take the lead in calling for prayer. Christians in Sri Lanka often lose hope when they are faced with wave after wave of bad news. But we don’t pray with a defeatist attitude. We know that God is building his kingdom culminating in the return of Christ, and that our actions are building blocks in this process.  Holy-love will win in the end! Amen. Come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20).

This article originally appeared here

Blessings.

Good Friday & Easter -The Essence

[“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). “The Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us” (Gal. 1:3–4). “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15).] 

Message on Giving

Jesus Christ puts the liberality and generosity of God on continuous display. It is not just at the Cross, or even in the Resurrection, that Jesus represents the grace, the gift-giving-ness, of God to us, we still experience the same in our daily life His immense grace and mercy that sustains us and our families. If you have noticed, in every miracle, every parable—simply by being in the world at all—Jesus is proclaiming, “God is good and He loves giving." 

I like the way Andrew Wilson, author and Pastor at King’s Church, London connects the parables to the core message of giving:  “Many parables in the Gospels present God as an irrepressible giver, even when the parable has other goals. Once there was a farmer who scattered seed so liberally that most of it didn’t take root. Once there was a king who forgave a debt of 10,000 talents (millions of dollars today). Once there was a vineyard owner who gave people far more than their work was worth. Once there was a father who gave away half his estate to his rebellious son—and then gave him a feast when he came crawling back, having wasted it all. Once there was a nobleman who gave three months’ wages to all his employees, and then went on a foreign trip. Once there was a landowner who gave his vineyard over to tenants. Once there was a king who gave wedding invitations to every undesirable in the county.”

When all Christ's teachings and the demonstration is about giving, then don’t we think we share the same responsibility as well? We are supposed to reach out and demonstrate Christ's love by giving too. Taking the gospel to the un-reached is not by word alone. It is the message with love, deeds and sign. Let us consciously follow His footsteps and make a difference in our society and nation.

The purpose behind Suffering 

According to the Book of Hebrews, God is restoring his original design for creation through the death of his Son, who was "crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death" (2:9). From the bruised heel of Genesis 3:15 to the reigning lamb of Revelation 22, the Bible tells the story of a crucified Messiah who is glorified through suffering. The promise of victory includes the price of suffering. From here on, a pattern emerges: Victory comes through suffering, exaltation through humiliation, and, ultimately, the kingdom through the Cross. "Glory is the dazzling, jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring showcase of God's character to a world darkened by sin. It is the explosive radiance produced by his holiness, love, mercy, justice, wisdom, and power—all of which come together in the most fitting way in the death of Christ." Andrew Wilson. 

Blessings.

What Cost?

David was man after God's own heart. A man who was always conscious to please God and prioritize Him over everything. There are so many good patterns and principles that can be drawn from his life. He trusted God from his young age and killed the bear and the lion creating a testimony bank, His sincerity in worshiping Him, his divine musical capabilities which was not only soothing and creating excitement but also driving out the evil spirit, his priorities to honor God, the military strategies, the business strategy model and so on is commendable. Even today, the beautiful book of psalms, which is the best devotional that suits individuals, families, churches, and gatherings are noteworthy. 

I want to draw your attention to one incident, which I think was simply amazing. David was found guilty after he numbered the Israelites and was punished too. He falls at the feet of the Lord, he found acceptance and received forgiveness. He was then instructed by the Lord to build an altar and offer a sacrifice. God came to David that day and said to him, “Go up and set up an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 2 Samuel 24:18 CSB .  

 It is seen that king David reaches to Araunah and presents his request. Araunah immediately obliges to the king's request by saying everything is readily available and belongs to the king and there is no need for the king to request. He can take it and use the same at his freewill, moreover it is for the Lord.  Hmmm this is quite an appealing deal, isn't it? when you have power and Influence and you are in leadership position you can get things easily. It can come without any cost most of the time. Moreover for the giver it can be a privilege to contribute to the great leader and be recognized lifetime, especially when it is something for God, anyone would love to give or share their resources. 

David was just different and his response was amazing.  "The king answered Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for twenty ounces of silver. 2 Samuel 24:24 CSB. Wow! That's a man with great principles and divine values. He ensured to pay a cost when it comes to doing the business of God. We see God was pleased and accepted his prayers and restored the land.  2 Samuel 24:25 CSB .

We cannot do a service without paying any cost. It becomes all the more crucial when being in a leadership position. We see this precedence magnified manifold when the son of God made the greatest sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.  The key verse from the Bible John 3.16" For God so loved the world in this way...."  it did not stop there, the love was demonstrated "that He gave His only begotten son...:", the immeasurable cost God paid to save us from all the wretchedness of sin. 

There is always a challenge when we actually have to pay a cost from a situation where our financial status may not be favorable or from a situation where our support system is not very strong. Irrespective of such challenges how are we prioritizing God's work and serving Him?  The cost required to pay can be many other factors beside our financial resources. Can we take stock of the cost we have paid for following and serving Him? Its worth pondering.

Blessings.