Spiritual Warfare: Questions and Answers — Stephen Kaung

Co-Death and Co-Resurrection as Preparation for Spiritual Warfare

I have two questions. Question number one, it seems that Mrs. Jessie Penn-Lewis said that it was only after a believer had experienced the co-death and co-resurrection with the Lord Jesus Christ. Was he or she able to start to engage the real spiritual warfare?

Could you elaborate on this point? I will answer it very briefly, just using the experience of the children of Israel as an example. We find that after the children of Israel left Egypt, they crossed the Red Sea.

And in typology, as you find in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, this going through the Red Sea, they are being baptized unto Moses. So in a sense, to us, you know, after we are redeemed by the precious blood, we are separated from the world by baptism, and we are being baptized unto Christ.

But after that, you find that the children of Israel were in the wilderness, and as we have already explained, that the wilderness is a place where our flesh is being revealed. Because often times we think that after we are saved, then we are perfect, not knowing that our flesh is still flesh, it hasn't changed.

That which is of the spirit is spirit, and that which is of the flesh is flesh. So the Lord has to reveal to us our flesh. He has to test us, to prove us, to humble us, that we know what our flesh really is.

And even though after we are saved, we are in the world already, because we do not belong to the power of darkness. Now we have been translated to the kingdom of the Son of God's love, because we belong to another kingdom.

So the God of this world will begin to attack us. He will hate us. And warfare began at the very beginning of our Christian life. But as we have mentioned, even though there are, there will be wars, it is mainly war against sins, against the world, against our flesh, and so far as strict spiritual warfare is concerned, these are just skirmishes, testing of grounds, and they are real, but they are not in the very center of spiritual warfare.

Crossing the Jordan into the Reality of Spiritual Warfare

Not until the children of Israel, they crossed the Jordan River, and they were in the land, flowing with milk and honey, that the real battle began. Now we know that the crossing of the River Jordan is also a type of baptism, because baptism really has two meanings.

One is we are being baptized unto Christ. Formerly we belonged to the world. Now we belong to Christ. But baptism also means we are dead in Christ, buried with Him, and being raised together with Him into newness of life.

And this is typified by these two crossings. The crossing of the Red Sea is that we are being separated from the world, and being baptized unto Christ. We belong to Christ now. And in crossing that you find it is by the power of God.

Moses lifted his rod, and the Red Sea was divided. But in crossing the Jordan is entirely different. We find that the ark of God had to enter into the river first. And then the water divided, and the children of Israel, they went through the dry ground.

So it is a going together, the ark together with the children of Israel. So it represents co-death, co-burial, and co-resurrection. We are being dead with Christ, buried with Christ, and are now being raised together with Christ into newness of life.

And in doing that they enter into the promised land. So it is true that unless we really know what is meant by co-death, co-burial, and co-resurrection with our Lord Jesus, we are not really in a position for real spiritual warfare.

So it is true what Minister St. Louis has said is really scriptural, because unless we are in that resurrection ground, we are not really in a position for real spiritual battle, because spiritual warfare is not against flesh and blood.

Spiritual warfare is against principalities, authorities, and the universal Lord of this darkness, and the spiritual power of wickedness in the air. So that's where the real warfare begins. So I think this should be enough for the first question, because it is more or less academic.

David, Solomon, and the Character of Christ in Warfare

Now the second question I feel is a real one. King David was not allowed to build God's temple, because he was a man of war. It seems that long time engagement in spiritual warfare deprived him some spiritual character, which will otherwise make him a man of peace, like Solomon.

This sometimes makes me hesitate to enter into active spiritual warfare, fearing that it will make me too aggressive and even frightening to others, and losing the good image of a peaceful land we all desire.

Could you comment on this? I think that's a real question. And Solomon, in typology, both represents our Lord Jesus. He is our David. He is our Solomon. In a sense, trying to divide David from Solomon, and Solomon from David, I think it is a wrong perspective.

And if you have the wrong perspective, then you come to the wrong conclusion. So we should see that David and Solomon, they represent our Lord Jesus. The two faces in the work of our Lord. The two aspects of our Lord Jesus.

David is a man of war. He sheds much blood, and he was not allowed to build a temple. But we must remember that it was by the wars that David fought, that he was able to gather the spoils of the war. And then, using these spoils as materials for the building of the temple.

So in other words, you'll find these wars that David fought were not, in any sense, contradict this matter of the building of the house of God. Because his work is preparation. To prepare for the material of the house of God.

Then, after the war was over, and there was peace around, then you can really begin to build. Because you cannot build when there is a war going on. But after the war is won, and then you gather the spoils, and use these materials to build the house of God.

So, in a sense, you'll find engaging spiritual warfare will never take away any character of Christ in us. As a matter of fact, our Lord Jesus, he overcame the enemy as the Lamb. Because he did not fight the spiritual warfare with weapons of the flesh.

He fought it with spiritual weapons. It is as the Lamb that he overcomes. Now you remember in Revelation chapter 5, when John saw in a vision, there in heaven, one who sits upon the throne, in his hand a scroll.

And then the proclamation, who is worthy to take the scroll and to open the seal. In heaven, upon earth, underneath the earth, no answer. No one is worthy. No one is able to defeat the usurper. And you remember John wept, because he felt it was a hopeless case.

Then he was comforted by the elder and said, no, behold the Lion of Judah, he has overcome. But when John looked around, he didn't see a lion. He saw the Lamb, newly slain, standing before the throne.

And then the song, thou art worthy. So, brothers and sisters, you'll find that our Lord Jesus, he overcame the enemy as the Lamb. His tactic is not earthly, worldly. He overcame because of his humility, of his meekness, of his denying himself, of his sacrificing his own life, in obeying his father.

You'll find that our Lord, he really overcame as the Lamb. There is a lion character in him, but it does not contradict with his Lamb character. And eventually you'll find the Lamb in the midst of the throne.

In a very real sense, you'll find that in engaging in spiritual warfare, you will not lose. Your Lamb character. There is a Lamb character in us. It is wonderful because in our thinking, a lion cannot be a Lamb.

A Lamb cannot be a lion. And yet, you'll find in spiritual reality, the Lamb is the Lion and the Lion is the Lamb. There is the strength of a lion expressed in the life of a Lamb. So, he does not fight with fleshly weapons, but with power according to God.

So, brothers and sisters, I think it is because we, in our thinking, when we think of spiritual warfare, immediately we think, well, we have to be aggressive, we have to be overpowering, and actually we fight with weapons of the flesh.

So, that would be really frightening. You know, you see people, they think they are engaged in spiritual warfare, and they go around and try to bind the enemy and say, I rebuke you, Satan. Now, Satan will say, who are you?

In fact, the seven sons of that Thai priest, in the name of Jesus that Paul preached, I command you to leave. And the evil spirit says, now, I know Paul, but who are you? And they jump upon me. So, brothers and sisters, if you try to fight a spiritual warfare with weapons of the flesh, it's terrible, it's frightening, you know.

You have to put up a kind of attitude, as if you are a superman, you know. And you have to shout so loud, as if you are in real battle, but you are defeated. I think we need to realize that this spiritual warfare has to be fought with spiritual weapons.

And the most effective weapon is the character of our Lord Jesus, because the enemy recognizes the Lord. And when they see it is the Lord, they flee. But if they see it is you, you are not his match. Do not be afraid that when you are engaged in spiritual warfare, the lamb character will suffer.

As a matter of fact, it actually is strengthened. So, I hope that will answer the question. And I have to leave more time to my brothers. Evidently, in the last two days, I wore down the saints, and there were really no questions for me.

Family Life as a Training Ground for Spiritual Warfare

However, being the youngest of the three brothers speaking, that means I'm on the bottom of the totem pole. And there is a question for Ephesians Heil, which was passed on to me. I mean, Ernie Heil. So, first, we need to turn to Ephesians, chapter 6.

I will try to answer, and then you check with Ephesians Heil and see. Let's read the first nine verses. Here is the question. Now, perhaps somebody is having some spiritual warfare in their family, which makes it a good question.

Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first and foremost. The first commandment with a promise, so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in sincerity of your heart as to Christ.

Not by way of eye service as men pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will, render service as to the Lord, and not to men. Knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.

And then this matter of spiritual warfare comes into focus. Well, I wouldn't say that there's a direct relationship here. That is to say, Paul speaking about the family and remembers the intensity of spiritual conflict.

Paul is finishing up a section on the outworking of our Christian lives based upon our calling, our worthy calling, and based upon the vision of who Christ is and what he's doing in his church. Then we are called upon to live a life through Christ, not lying, working with our hands, edifying one another in speech, not living as children of darkness, but children of the light, and so on and so forth.

And eventually he comes to these matters domestic and brings these up. So, I wouldn't say there's a direct relationship here, but there is definitely a relationship. It goes without saying, and all of us know, that probably, if I might say, the primary training ground for spiritual warfare is truly trying to deal with our own families in a godly way.

And in fact, the same thing applies, of course, we usually take this masters and slaves section, because we don't have slavery per se, as interpreted as understanding that how we deal with our employees or how we work upon our jobs as employees has very much to do with training that comes over into spiritual warfare.

Now, I don't know if you know this so much, but I went to a Baptist college, and in this Baptist college, there were certain kids marked out from the very beginning, and they were called P .K.'s, preacher's kids, or M .K.'s, missionary kids, and they were always the wildest.

They were the ones that struggled with the faith. They were the ones that struggled with staying out late, being generally rebellious, and all of this kind of thing. And it was my first beginning insight.

While I was in college, I was saved. And while I was there, and so I was just saved, and back in those days, I was a Baptist, so I was a good Baptist. I mean, you know, I'm just reading the Bible for the first time.

And here are all these kids who grew up as preacher's kids, were just living a life that was far away from the Lord's purpose. I didn't understand at that time something I understand now. When somebody steps up to serve the Lord, the enemy goes after his kids.

If you have a heart that's merciful, would you please pray for the brothers who are responsible where you meet? Because their children are assaulted especially. If in some way it can so embarrass or disqualify the dear brother and sister that they feel they cannot possibly serve God.

We see that right from the very start, how much spiritual warfare is involved with raising a child. But it isn't just with those who are responsible or those who serve the Lord. It's with every brother and sister.

Your heart is set on really serving the Lord. You know the enemy is going to go after our kids. And the Lord forgive us for not seeing that sooner. There is spiritual warfare. And the old saying goes, we get too soon old and too late smart.

And many times we as young parents don't realize all of the spiritual flack in the atmosphere that our children are being raised in. And sometimes Christians are the most naive, I suppose. Because we're trying to live in a godly way and unaware of what our kids are addressing as they go out into the world and go out to school and all of this.

I've been recently resensitized a little bit about this. You know, I have some grandchildren now. And one of my grandchildren is a borderline autistic child. Which means that she cannot communicate verbally yet, even though she's five years old.

But she's relatively smart. But the thing that I've noticed about her, because she hasn't had the usual sort of training and communication skills, is her tremendous sensitivity to traumatic things on television.

Now she picks up immediately when one of those stupid and sometimes even demonic cartoon shows on Saturday morning as her brothers and sisters are sitting there just watching some kind of a big klopsy cyclops, enemy monster with these big teeth.

Looks like a jack-o'-lantern, you know. And they play loud music as this monster strides on the seat. And all of my grandchildren are sitting there just watching it. But this girl is traumatized. Because there is something evil behind the music and the tempo and this animal, you know.

But, you know, we become so inured to this. We don't even realize the traumatic nature of this kind of thing. No wonder our children's souls sometimes have been calloused to what the enemy can do. Well, I just say that as one little example as to say, may the Lord help us and open our eyes to see that it's only by his mercy that our children will be kept.

Prayer, Parental Limits, and Spiritual Protection

A parent can almost, almost, actually the parent cannot in the end, keep your child from the world's influence. That's what I'm trying to say. Some parents, I feel, almost try to smother their child just to keep them from these things.

But you cannot. And so, even though you try to send them to the better school and you may do these kind of things, which I, you know, I have no problem. Your conviction and leadership, I trust. But even with all of that, still, we really need to pray for our children.

Now, if parents can learn to pray for their children and take hold of the unseen things that are spiraling around our children in such a way, bring them through. I tell you, they've learned much in the area of spiritual warfare.

Because the same thing happens on a larger scale in our assemblies, as is going on in the church. The young people, of course, they're always getting shot. In our assemblies, aren't they? The teenagers are always getting shot.

Pulled away from the fellowship. Finding reasons to be offended or this and that. And so much of that is not flesh and blood. There are spiritual things under there. There's ground being undermined and all of this.

But you see, we'll learn that at home, won't we? So, there is spiritual warfare at home. And sometimes, you know, I mean, I hate to say this. Ernie's in enough trouble already for talking about women being all emotions.

So, I don't want to go into too much of this. But you know, sometimes the godly woman has to, in a way, pray for her husband because he's under some kind of influence. Sometimes the godly husband has to pray for his wife because she has fallen under some kind of spiritual influence.

Sometimes you find yourself, as it were, as a child and servant of the kingdom, standing against, if I could put it that way, your very beloved own. Because they're not doing something that's really in the will of God.

Now, you don't stand against flesh and blood. You know what I mean? You don't chuck your wife out and say, you know, when you stop this, you can come back home. But no, you can't do that. And really, with your children, you know, this passage is very clear.

You know, you can't exasperate your children by holding them down, holding them down, holding them down, all the time holding them down. They become exasperated with that. We have to trust the hand of God to preserve and help them after a while.

I mean, it is God's mercy that gets us through. But we all learn these things and how merciful we have to be to one another. I just can't believe what the children are going through these days. I cannot believe.

I speak occasionally with teenagers and hear what they experience every day in the hall of the junior high. It's unbelievable. So, anyway, is there a connection here? Yes. And it's the same thing applies about work.

Spiritual Conflict in the Workplace

And you know that. Those of you who go into the workplace that's ungodly. It's almost a torment for you, I'm sure. And the temptations and the undermining for you to go ahead and curse like everybody else and you to go ahead and have the attitude that everybody else has about the bosses or whatever these things are.

But, you know, you have to do your own spiritual warfare there. And be sure when you come home at night, you ask Jesus to cleanse you by his precious blood and wash your feet from the filth of the day.

But even there, you know, those of you who have small businesses and all of that. Now, I think you go through spiritual warfare, too. There are times when you realize that there are circumstances that are more than economic or circumstantial behind the sudden, I don't know, rebellion of the employees or behind the sudden unreasonable demands of the boss.

And, you know, these things become so real at times that a person has to leave a job as a godly Christian, because, you know, in the world, in the world system, it wants your soul. If it can get you day and night and working 80 hours a week, it will do it and a whole lot of care and more money or something.

It comes a place where you need to realize there's something behind that, that the demands are unceasing. It's not just a season of extra work. They're laying off somebody and making you do two man's work for the same money.

Now, we have to watch that bondage that can come upon us even in the workplace. And so I think, so can I just say, I think there's a connection here. We'll find if you work on a job in the regular world, that even that is not neutral.

It isn't a question. It's no longer a question. Here in the United States, it used to be a question. If you do a good job, they'll keep you forever. And you'll get promoted and people will realize your value.

Now, if you don't compromise somehow, they'll kick you out or push you aside or harass you or do something. And so there's conflict involved. So I do think that there is this kind of connection. Surely the things that we learn in our regular life opens our eyes to the fact that there is no regular life.

Even on our jobs and even in our family, there's spiritual conflict. And God bless the husband and the wife that can learn to stand together and raise their children through all of these spiritual attacks that they will go through.

God bless you. And remember to pray for one another in this matter. And you can see the teenagers when they start getting out on the outskirts and start kind of going away, pray for the parents. Some of the parents are doing all they can in their godly wisdom, but still the enemy is so strong in these things.

We can stand for the victory of our children. We raise them, pray for them. They'll come back to the Lord and stand with the Lord. So that is this one question. Now, the second question I have, I think we all have two questions.

A Biblical Response to Terrorism and National Warfare

And this is relevant to our present situation, although it wasn't really touched on in the messages this weekend. As a nation, what would be a biblical way to deal with terrorism? Now, here's where sometimes the redneck Christians flush out of the woods.

And we could get into a real debate on this. You know, of course, down through the centuries, this has been one of the great ethical debates of the Christian church, just what our position is regarding warfare, retaliation, revenge, turning the other cheek.

I mean, there's tons of stuff written on it. I don't even want to touch on it. But as a nation, what would be a biblical way to deal with terrorism? Well, I'm going to suggest the first thing we do is find a biblical way of defining the nation.

Because I think all of us must feel a little reticence about the United States being called a Christian nation. I don't think we could really say that. However, I'd like to look at nation in terms of three things, just very briefly.

One, the nation as seen under the judgment of God. Second, the nation as a minister unto us. And third, ourselves as the nation and the response to terrorism. If you'll turn to Deuteronomy 32, I just want to show a verse and say something about the nation under God.

Nations Under God's Sovereign Purpose

Nation under God. You know, we are a nation. Of course, the United States is a very visible political entity. It has geographical boundaries. It is a nation. But do you know that every nation is actually a vessel of God?

By the sovereign hand of God, He builds up nations. And by the sovereign hand of God, He destroys nations. According to their probationary response to God's will. I just look in verse 8 of Deuteronomy 32.

It's a most amazing statement. When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance. Now, that would include us, meaning our size and boundaries and blessings. And when He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.

Now, just very simply, what this is saying here in this song and revelation of Moses is that when God set the boundaries of the United States, it's in terms of how they treat Israel. The whole boundaries of all the nations of the world are set according to His purpose in Israel.

Now, of course, I'm not being, you know, Zionist here. But there's a spiritual principle there. God has a purpose and a plan for this whole world. And behind the scenes, He's fulfilling this plan. And according to nations and how they respond toward God's plan, they're either ejected or exalted.

In Matthew chapter 24, or sorry, chapter 25, in these messages where Jesus is speaking about the last days, his final parable that he gives in Matthew 25 in this particular section is about the sheep and the goats on the left and the right.

And the king comes to his throne and sits down and then the nations come to him. And he judges the nations as to what they did with the cup of cold water and what they did to the prisoners. And many interpret that this parable is not about individuals, but that in the messianic reign of the Messiah or during the millennium, the nations of this world will be judged according to their morality, according to their treatment of Israel and according to their treatment of the poor and the neglected and those in jail.

There is some kind of a righteous judgment that will be meted out based on the nation's response during this present time in the millennium. Now, this puts every nation on probation, although most nations don't see this.

We think we're entities within ourselves and we have our own plans and purposes. The United States has its own goals and etc. But you know what? The Lord says, well, whatever your goals are, if they don't fit in with mine, you're out.

And in this, I am very thankful. I am very thankful that the United States has found itself, for whatever reason, entangled with Israel. Then Laden, in his announcement yesterday, you know, he videotaped after the bombing, supposedly.

And in his announcement, he said, may America not rest until there's not a Jew in Palestine. So he came out and said what he meant. Until there's peace in Palestine and all the Jews are out, may America find no rest.

Now, we've got ourselves in this and it isn't for spiritual reasons. You see what I'm saying? What are we as a nation? It isn't because, oh, we're such a Christian nation, but it's because there are Christians in the nation who care something for Israel.

And now we're in a position where we're being attacked. I mean, if you if you are a Christian, then you should probably see that the reason those planes went into the Twin Towers had to do with Israel.

And we find ourselves in a position where, of course, most Americans really have no care about Israel at all. But as a nation, we're in such a place. And we will be judged by the Lord. And I think perhaps rewarded as a nation, if you want to say if there is a rewarding of nations, because we're standing with Israel, sometimes all alone.

They're the Lord's people, as blind as they are, as much as so many of those people in Israel are unbelievers. But there's something that God wants to do. And it has to do with that property there. And you can see that property is hated by the enemies of God.

And so we're caught in a kind of a thing. So how does a nation respond to terrorism? We already have. We're standing with Israel and we're a target. You know, OK. But you see, what I'm trying to say is, you know, as we read in Daniel chapter four, you know, where Daniel was speaking to Nebuchadnezzar.

And he said, you know, Nebuchadnezzar, your kingdom is exalted or based on whether you realize that the sovereign God rules. If we truly are in some measure a nation under God, it will make a lot of difference for this nation.

Government as a Minister of Justice

Because the nation is more than just its boundaries. The nation is a vessel for the service of God for his purpose. Then on a second level, if you turn to Romans chapter 13, let's just read through the first five verses.

I don't want to go into verse six because it has to do with taxes. The first five should be sufficient. Romans 13. Now, every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. But there is no authority except from God.

And those which are exist are established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God. And they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause for fear for good behavior, but for evil behavior.

Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you'll have praise from the same. For it is. Now, here's a definition of nation. It is a minister of God to you for good. Now, here's the nation.

It's a government and it's a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid for it does not bear the sword for nothing. For it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

So now, first, we look at the nation as an entity to serve God's purpose. Now, we see the nation as a government set up as a minister. Now, you must be amazed that Paul is writing this and telling these Romans to be subject to their government, which is the fourth beast.

But however, within the context of the world, the Roman government administered justice. And it was a minister of justice. And so, in a second sense, a nation has a government that's supposed to be a minister of justice.

Retaliation, Justice, and the Limits of Christian Government

Now, how does this government deal with terrorism? As you cannot be a nation that's going to exist for more than six months, unless you go by the natural law of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

And preserve your borders and retaliate with revenge. The most faithful to that law is Israel. If you kill an Israeli, they kill two Palestinians. That's the deal. And they're not kidding. They don't make idle threats.

They do it. I understand when they found out those terrorists who killed the Jews in Munich, Germany, you know, the Olympic team. And when they found out who killed them, somebody just told me recently, they just went around quietly and killed each terrorist one by one.

Back in their home in Paris and Frankfurt and other places. That is how governments work. You don't have a Christian government. Now, Geneva tried to be a Christian government under John Calvin. But the problem is, power corrupts.

Even Christian elders get corrupted if you're running a country. And next thing you know, it's an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Our government is presently giving an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

But we are privileged to be in a country. I don't know if this has ever been done in a war before. That while it's dropping bombs, it's dropping food. It's the most unusual situation. Quite a paradox.

But, you know, thank God we have some people who are Christians and some people who care for humanity. And, of course, Afghanistan's a shipwreck. And I feel compassion upon those people. They've been cursed by drugs.

You know, their whole country's economy is drug trade. Heroin is their biggest product. They were cursed by that. And now by this regime. Well, anyway, let's not get into the politics. But what we need to do, of course, our response as Christians need to be to pray for wisdom for our government leaders.

We do thank God that some of them really seem to be godly or God-fearing. We need to pray for wisdom because they do need wisdom. The enemy's very shrewd. They caught us completely blindsided on this thing of using planes as weapons.

Nobody was ready for that. And the enemy always is one step ahead of worldly wisdom. So it's good that we pray for wisdom and pray that the measure of justice by this minister, this government, be balanced and not just terrible.

You know, it would be awful if we just, you know, did something terrible. But so far, it seems to be wise and measured, the response, this kind of. So we need to pray for the government. It'll maintain this course in this present act of terrorism.

Repentance and Gospel Witness After Tragedy

I think that's all I could say. Then I'd just like to speak now about how can the nation, as a nation, how can we in a biblical way deal with terrorism? And that means us now. How can we as people? What's our response?

And as soon as this thing hit, you know, Luke chapter 13 came to my mind and it's still on my mind. So maybe we could just finish with a look at these few verses. In Luke chapter 13, there was actually a terrorist and a tragedy.

And Jesus responds to these things. Luke 13, verse one. Now, on the same occasion, there were some present who reported to Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

What a terrorist that Pilate was. He took some Galileans and mixed their blood with their sacrifice. And Jesus said to them, now, do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?

I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those 18 on whom the Tower of Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who lived in Jerusalem?

Now, there was a tower in Siloam, maybe by the pool, and it collapsed and killed 18 people there in Jerusalem. And he answered in verse eight. I said, I'm sorry. And verse five. And I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

As a nation, as Christians, as the people of the nation, how do we respond to this terrorist moment? I think the word is repent. I mean, if Jesus is saying anything here, he says there's no time to start doling out judgment.

We find comfort in saying how evil Ben Laden is. You know, we find comfort. Even some people had comfort. Some Christian ministers had comfort saying, well, we deserved it because we're such an evil nation.