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There is probably no one word that could describe the events of 9/11 more succinctly than the word "fear." Who will ever forget what we felt as we watched those towers collapse and knew other planes were on the way toward even greater destruction? No one really knew the extent of the attack or the identity of the conspirators. All we knew was fear and uncertainty.

Very little has changed since then. We regularly hear from Homeland Security of fresh alerts and are warned to be on the watch for anything suspicious. But what is it we are to fear? What should we consider worthy of concern? How do we return to normal? Do we even remember what "normal" is? What is the future outlook for my children and grandchildren? What kind of a world will they have to face?

These are days filled with fear and suspicion. But they are also days of incredible opportunity for the propagation of the Gospel. These are days when people are crying out for answers. Is this it? Is the end near? Will some rogue nation secure weapons of mass destruction and set off what for several generations the entire world feared would transpire between the USA and the former Soviet Union – a nuclear war?

The churches of America were packed in the aftermath of 9/11 but soon emptied out as life returned to "normal" and the stock market stabilized. After all, no more buildings were blown up, patriotism was at its zenith, and the saber rattling had already started. The world of terror would have to pay for its sins against this great military giant. America would survive and grow even stronger. That is America!!!

How soon we forget. It didn’t take long for a court to rule the words "under God" unconstitutional and for more law suits to be filed by one atheistic doctor who seems bent on becoming the heir apparent to Madelyn Murray O’Hare. We started this new school year with no prayer. The political pre-election haggling has only just begun. The babies are still being executed in the womb. Corporate theft and greed is at a peak. The mirage of economic boon in the decade of the 90’s produced by the worst moral leadership this nation has ever seen has now been exposed. We were not really wealthy. We just thought we were. And while we went to sleep morally we shriveled up and nearly died as a nation spiritually.

Then came 9/11. A wake up call? A judgment from God? The sinful acts of demented men? Signs of the time and with more to come? I say yes to all of the above. Clearly demonic powers flew their suicide missions into those centers of economic and military power - but not apart from the filtering Hand of a Sovereign God Who is calling a nation to repent of her great corporate sins. If ever there was a time in America where the freshly prepared soil for evangelistic sowing is glaring at us, it is now.

People are searching for answers; they are learning that not all religions are created equal. The spiritual bankruptcy of Islam is slowly but surely being exposed for what it is, a religion of hate and war. If ever there was a time when the shallowness of liberal American Protestantism, bent on the abandonment of the great doctrine of Biblical infallibility, needs to be exposed for what it is, it is now. If ever there was a time in American history where the emptiness of doctrinal pluralism, a system that teaches all faiths lead to heaven, needs to be counteracted by the preaching and teaching of the uniqueness of our Biblical faith, it is now.

We need to be emboldened to speak out with conviction. There is but one way to God, and that is through a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. As Christians, we need not fear since we have read the end of the Book and we know how it all turns out – we win!!!

Betters, Chuck L., Abundant Riches Newsletter, MARKINC Ministries, Bear, DE