1 Timothy 1:12-17
“GOD IS BIGGER THAN ANY TERRORIST”
BY: Reverend Kenneth Emerson Sauer
Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church in Newport News, VA
As you all know, our world was changed this past week--changed by unbelievable and
hideous evil--we have all been affected, we have all mourned--and continue to do so...
Tuesday morning, I was over at First Church Newport News, meeting with other pastors
as we do each week, for prayer, fellowship, and theological reflection.
Around 9:15, the secretary came into the room, and told us that there had been some kind
of terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.
We immediately ended our meeting with prayers for those who were involved in
whatever it was that was going on....and then headed our separate ways with no idea just how
horrible this disaster would be....when I got home, my wife embraced me--crying--she had just
watched on live television--something that you only see in movies---but never expect to see
in real life--the second airplane crashing into one of the Towers.
Across the country, shock has turned into grief, and anger.
So the question I want us to ponder this morning.....is what are we as Christians to do
in the face of this tragedy?
In our Scripture lesson for this morning we read that the Apostle Paul was once....in
essence a terrorist....
Hard to believe, but the man who God used to write much of the New Testament, the
man who was one of the most influential evangelists and theologians of all time....was once a
“persecutor, blasphemer, and a violent man.”
Acts chapter 9 tells us that Paul was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s
disciples”, and that “He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in
Damascus, so that if he found any there who” were Christians-- “whether men or women, he
might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
And in Acts chapter 22, we see that he persecuted Christians, all the way to their
deaths....he beat Christians....and when Stephen who replaced Judas as a disciple was
martyred....Paul “stood there” giving his approval “and guarding the clothes of those who were
killing him.”
Yes, the great Apostle Paul was once a terrorist.....
But God loved him anyway.....because God is so much bigger than any
terrorist....bigger than any evil.....and God sought him out...proving His love!
On his way to Jerusalem, with murder on his mind.....Paul whose name was Saul before
his conversion, explains “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from
heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, “Saul! Saul! Why do
you persecute me?
‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
“I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.”
This changed Paul for the rest of his life....his entire direction changed.....he made a
360 degree turn....and began preaching Christ....all the way to his own death as a martyr.
And this is the same thing that God can do for the terrorists of today.....even the people
behind the horrendous deeds that we have all witnessed this past week.
Because God is bigger than evil.....love is stronger than hate.....and love ultimately wins.
The Devil may have won the battle this past Tuesday, but Jesus has and will win the
war!!!
In our Scripture, Paul goes on to say, “I acted in ignorance and unbelief.”
And isn’t this what this mess boils down to?
Ignorance and unbelief!
Isn’t this what is actually at the root of all the world’s problems throughout
history---from our every day sins, to our selfish ambitions, to brutal acts of violence, terror
and murder....
We live in and are surrounded by ignorance and unbelief....
Ignorance in the ways of God....Ignorance in how to deal with ourselves and other
people.....Ignorance of the Way to salvation and peace.
Now Paul was totally convinced that what he was doing was right....that what he was
doing was God’s will....and I believe that those who perpetrated and carried out last week’s
attack believed that they were doing what was right....it’s hard to imagine....but it’s true.....
As Paul declares in Acts chapter 26, “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was
possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
But our ways are not God’s ways---as Paul soon found out.
For God turned Paul’s ignorance and unbelief into something completely different.
In verse 14, Paul declares, “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,
along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
And this is what we need to pray for...this is what we are called to be witnesses
too....this is what we are called to preach and proclaim....
That the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ is bigger than this horrible catastrophe.....
That the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ is bigger than any terrorist.....
That the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ is bigger than any hate....bigger much bigger
than any evil!
Thanks be to God!
Without His grace we would be nothing.....without His grace we would not
exist.....without His grace we would have no hope....without His grace there would be no
possibility for peace!
“But with God all things are possible.”
That is what we must keep in mind...that is what we must continually remember when it
looks like all hope is lost.....when it looks like everything is falling to pieces....when we are
witnesses to the most vile evil imaginable!
We must remember that God’s grace is sufficient to save and convert even the worst of
sinners!
And that is what Paul calls himself....and that is what many of us think of the people who
carried out and planned this most evil deed!
This week we were witnesses to the worst of all evil carried out by human beings on
American soil....
But Paul says in verse 15, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
Christ Jesus came into the world to save you and me, Christ Jesus came into the world to
save Paul, and no matter how hard it is to say this: Christ Jesus came into the world to save
terrorists.....even those involved in what happened this past week.
Paul even tells us this in verse 16.....he says, “But for that very reason I was shown mercy
so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an
example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
God chose the worst and turned it into the best!
This is the God who changes water into wine....
This is the God who raises the dead....
This is the God who befriends the friendless, and touches the untouchables.....
This is the God who takes something as horrible as a cross used for execution, and
turns it into a symbol of eternal life!
Paul was shown mercy so that God could display His unlimited patience.....
Paul was shown mercy so that we could see and understand that even the worst of
sinners can find the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
And that God is so merciful, so loving, so patient, so kind, that he is willing to pour out
this mercy abundantly...this love abundantly....this faith abundantly....
So abundantly that the worst of sinners became the greatest Apostle....who declared in
Romans chapter 8, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?.....
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I
am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the
future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
They say that America has had a wake up call--and it’s true---we have seen, felt, and
experienced the most dreadful evil imaginable....
So what are we as Christians to do in the face of this tragedy?
Well, we’ve already seen the face of Christ working through those people who have been
risking their lives to put out the fires, risking their lives to save those who were caught in the
rubble.....
We’ve seen the face of Christ in those who have been standing in lines in order to give
blood......
We have seen the face of Christ in those who mourn for their loved ones, we have seen
the face of Christ in those who have died....
And we as Christians are called to pray for them, and to mourn with them.....which we
have done and are doing.....
And we can even be angry....angry that this kind of evil exists....angry that so many
innocent lives have been lost and shattered......
But in Matthew chapter 5, Jesus tells us “Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you.”
And I don’t think that we can do this on our own.....
We are also called to forgive......
And I don’t think we can do this on our own either.....
But it is possible.....and there is only one way that it is possible......
By calling upon God....by asking God to help us to be able to do this....and it may take
time....it may take a long time.....
But “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners.”
As Paul looked on approvingly when Stephen was being stoned, Stephen prayed out to
God, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
And when Jesus was hanging on the cross in utter humiliation and agony He prayed,
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
The terrorists acted out in ignorance and unbelief.....
Therefore we are called to do what can only be done through the Spirit of the living and
loving God.....
“Father forgive them.”
“Father forgive us.”
Father, enable us to keep on keeping on....
Father, enable us to believe in your mercy and your love.
Father enable us to accept your mercy and your love for ourselves.
Father, enable us to carry out your great commission, as Jesus tells us to do in Mark
chapter 16: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
God is bigger than any terrorist....God is bigger than any evil....The victory is God’s, and
we are all God’s creation.
