September 12, 2000 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org) - America and much of the rest of the world was shocked, angered, and deeply grieved by yesterday's terrorist attack on the World Trade Center Towers in New York City and the Pentagon. Thousands of souls went out into eternity, leaving behind a vast number of grieving friends and relatives. The emotional and economic impact of this tragedy will be staggering.

There is nothing that can be said to justify this attack, which was largely aimed at defenseless civilian men, women, and children. It was senseless, cowardly, foolish, wicked, and godless. My prayer is that the authorities in America and elsewhere will be granted the wisdom and skill and courage to be God's instrument of justice in this matter (Romans 13).

At the same time, we must remember that America is not a righteous nation and is not innocent before Almighty God. America is proud, and God has warned that pride goeth before a fall. Americans in general are a sinful, pleasure-mad, money-crazed people who make a profession of faith in Christ but the Christ they worship is not the holy Lord God revealed in Scripture. Americans love religion. They have a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3). Some of the gods of America are Sports, Wall Street, Hollywood, and Rock & Roll, and professing Christians in America are just as enthused about these false, unholy gods as those who do not profess Christ.

America's churches are largely apostate and deeply, deeply compromised. The preachers, for the most part, are cowards who care more about pleasing the people than God.

The murder of unborn children is supported both by the courts and the legislature. When our president lies and cheats and perverts justice and commits gross immorality in the very White House itself, his poll numbers remain high; and professing Christians make up a large percentage of those numbers.

The teaching of God and His Book are not allowed in America's public school system. America's centers for higher education are permeated with anti-Christian philosophy.

The litany of crimes against God by this nation that hypocritically inscribes "In God We Trust" on its currency, could go on and on and on.

There was a time when tragedies like this did not happen in America. There was a time, and it wasn't that long ago, when God had His hand of protection upon this lovely land. It was a time when churches preached on Hell and demanded repentance, when even unsaved women dressed in a modest and feminine attire, when the Bible was taught in public schools and most women did not even dream of killing their own babies, when only a tiny number of children were born out of wedlock and divorce was scandalous and rare. That was a time when school children did not shoot each other and mass murderers did not roam the countryside and homosexuals did not march in the streets and presidents did not obstruct justice and policemen were not called pigs and pop music did not use gutter language.

That was the time when terrorists were not allowed to accomplish their vicious plans in this lovely land.

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep" (Psalm 127:1,2).

"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD" (Jeremiah 17:5).

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 1 Chronicles 7:14

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Timothy 2:1,2).

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:1-5).