Books on Islam, the End Times, Osama Bin Laden and Terrorism are on American nightstands in record numbers. September sales of the Bible are at new highs. Church attendance on September 16, 2001 set new highs in thousands of churches. Implication? When the veneer of sophistication is painfully peeled away, America at its core is spiritually hungry and open. What an incredible opportunity for the church. How then should we respond?

Should we be tweaking our end times dooms-day sermons by whiting out Sadam Hussein as the antichrist and scribbling in Osama Bin Laden's name? Should we be reading up on the Battle of Armageddon? We think not.

Should we be calling for vengeance? We think not.

Should we be automatically, almost mindlessly joining in civic, semi-religious ceremonies that celebrate patriotism and God, however you conceive Him to be and with whatever name you prefer? Should we be uncritically participating with assorted rabbis, priests, imams and chanting gurus? We think not.

How then should we respond? What then should we think? We do not claim to speak 'ex cathedra' (authoritatively for God), nor would we dictate to you, but we would suggest the following paths of wisdom.

First, we call our people to remember that our primary citizenship is in the Kingdom of God, not in the United States of America. As such, our earthly responses must be tempered. We should view all things on this earth through the eyes of a resident alien. This means that our passions do not come unglued and our mind is not turned off when terrorists attack. American citizenship is not the most important thing. Though the privilege of living in this country is a remarkable blessing, it is not the ultimate.

Second, we call our people to pray. Pray for our leaders, especially President Bush and his advisors. Ask God to minister wisdom, courage and protection from developing a vengeful spirit.

Pray for the grieving to find comfort and to move toward God in their pain. Even when human arms are not available to comfort them, God could draw near in response to our prayers. God is not limited by space or time.

Pray for the Salvation Army. We are supporting these, our fellow Wesleyans, with our dollars from the Bishops' Famine and Relief Fund. They are ministering with more than one hundred officers and workers at Ground Zero. Your contributions to the Bishops' Famine Relief Fund will strengthen their hand and heart in ministry. See www.freemethodistchurch.org to contribute to this fund.

Pray for those of Arab descent in America, many of whom are being singled out for unjust and intolerant responses. In this regard, in casual and lunchroom conversations, we call our people to weigh every word before speaking it, recognizing that God's wisdom goes beyond man's wisdom. This is not the time for arrogant statements about different ethnic groups, political intrigues, nations or rulers.

Pray for our armed forces and our chaplains around the world. There is a mighty cadre of Free Methodist chaplains in the military, hospitals, and in local law enforcement arenas. Several have been working in Washington, D.C. and at Ground Zero on Manhattan Island. Pray that God will give them insight into the particular needs of each person they serve in Jesus' Name. Pray for our military chaplains that they will be kept safe to minister grace to soldiers under great stress. Pray for the families of other Free Methodists who are members of our armed services.

Third, we call our people to be alert, listening between the lines for those whose hearts have been prepared by the grace of Christ to receive the good news, that God is not holding our sins against us, but is asking us to reconcile with Him as we trust in the sin-bearing work of Jesus on the cross. We ask you to be praying for these kinds of opportunities.

Remember Jesus' words to his disciples (Luke 12:11)? "When you are called before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." We believe that if you pray for an open door to share your faith with a seeking person, the Holy Spirit will help you to know what to say.

Fourth, we call our people to speak for justice, but not revenge. Christians may seek and pray for justice under the law, but vengeance belongs to God alone. We must keep this distinction clear. We expect our people to influence public conversations with words of grace and love, not hatred and vitriol.

Fifth, we call our people to suspend judgment on the degree to which this act is the judgment of God on our nation. We simply do not know. We will not know until eternity. Based on the principles of scripture and the patterns proclaimed by the biblical prophets, this could well be something God is allowing and using as a wake-up call regarding our materialistic and hedonistic mindset. As such, we need to be on our knees repenting, asking: "Lord, am I personally standing in judgment for secular attitudes and mindless mimicking and selfish living?" Repentance from any sin of our own is extremely right and good.

Sixth, we call our people to remember that God is not distant and isolated from His creation. God is relational, responding to us and working within human history. God does not just issue decrees and unleash lightning bolts of judgment. God has 'dirty fingernails' in that he is everywhere at work among us.

His Spirit is ever reaching toward and striving with all mankind. God is suffering with all mankind as we experience evil and pain. We must remember that other Free Methodists in countries like Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have been experiencing this kind of loss and grief every month for years. We need to be humble in our spirit, remembering that our grief is still much smaller than that of even our fellow Free Methodists in other parts of the world.

Seventh, we call our people to a renewed study of God's Word, the Bible. Though we extend grace and respect to those of other religions and honor the truth of God that might be incorporated in their religious books and writings, we remind you that we believe the Christian revelation in Christ and in the scriptures is unique. This revelation stands alone as the authority for our beliefs and as the guide for our conduct. We will be moderate in our public statements of this belief and kind toward all of a different persuasion.

Eighth, we call our people to personal renewal in relationship to Christ. Let us use these days to become more fervent in our seeking of Christ, more radical in our obedience of Christ, more constant in prayer and more loving toward others. We cannot control the events of history, but we can control our personal responses to the Lord of the Universe.

Ninth, we call our people to confidence in God's sovereignty. Many have been affirming, "Remember, God is still in control," even as others secretly doubt it. How do we respond? We believe that God is always in control of the details and outcome of salvation history. We have no doubt that all creation will one day bend the knee and acknowledge Jesus as Lord. God is in control of His redemptive plan. It will not be thwarted.

But we also believe that God has set people free and therefore has chosen to relinquish control of much of the day-to-day stuff of our lives. As such, God's hopes for mankind are often thwarted by our evil choices. When this happens, the Father often shifts gears, adjusts and designs new ways to get our attention and bring us under the umbrella of grace provided by Christ.
His Spirit is ever present, ever active, wooing us, winning our freely chosen surrender to Christ as Savior and Lord. Because God works subtly, and without coercion, even we who believe need to be diligently looking behind the scenes and into the shrouded background for the fingerprints of the One who is aware and working. We walk with eyes of faith and prayer-tempered insight. With such insight and confidence in God, we will continue to be people of hope, faith and love, because God is sovereign and all who will, may come to Him and be saved.

What about the ebb and flow of world politics and history? Having set mankind free, God also does not dictate all terms of history. God allows nations and leaders to reject him. He does not always derail evil plans. Neither does every evil act have a divine reason. Nor is every evil act something God would have stopped, if only we had prayed. But God always desires that the pain evil renders would turn nations to Christ.

The Apostle Peter reminds us (II Peter 3:8-13) that the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise. He is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Peter affirms: "…the day of the Lord (the end) will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare."

Therefore, Peter asks: "…what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives, as you look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."

We remind you of James Russell Lowell's insights in the hymn, Once to Every Man and Nation:

Though the cause of evil prospers, yet the truth alone is strong.
Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong.
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadows, keeping watch above His own.

Our hearts resonate with Isaac Watts' hymn, which affirms what will one day be certain:

Jesus shall reign where ere the sun does his successive journey's run. His kingdom shall spread from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.

The Board of Bishops, Free Methodist Church of North America
Dick Snyder, Joseph James, Roger Haskins, Leslie Krober