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What Should Our Attitude Be Toward Current Events Introduction: Scripture (Ezekiel 33.7-11) Attitudes are important for they not only determine how we interpret information and events but how we react. Sometimes an action may be right but an attitude wrong, thereby making us wrong. Over the last few weeks two events occurred: the death of a bad man, and tornadoes that destroyed numerous cities in the south. What should our attitude be toward those events. I) Death Of Usama Bin Ladin A) Reaction of many was to celebrate 1. Newspapers with titles that I will not repeat. 2. Crowds came out Sunday night to party it up. B) The death of a bad man 1. Son of a wealthy businessman, advocated violent jihad (a Holy War) against the U.S. in particular. 2. After the first Gulf War he formed Al Qaeda to fight against the West. a. 1992 bombing at Gold Mihor hotel in Adar. b. 1993 U.S. Trade Tower bombing, his first attempt to bring down the twin towers. c. 1997 Luxor massacre (62 killed) d. 1998 U. S. embassy bombings e. 9/11 thousands were killed in the Trade Towers 3. Killed on May 1st, 2011 by U.S. Navy Seals C) What should our reaction be? 1. Some Christians also celebrated his death and others chastized them for doing so. 2. It is sad to see a person die in a lost condition. We see this every day in the newspapers. Hebrews 9.27;10.31; 2 Thess. 1.8-9. a. Whatever dedication he had to Allah and the Muslim religion is now over. b. We should never rejoice at a soul being lost for eternity. Proverbs 24.17, Ezekiel 33.11. 3. Glad a sinful man, responsible for the deaths of thousands of people can no longer hurt and kill innocent people. a. Bin Laden was not an innocent man, he choose his pathway in life. b. It is the duty of governments to protect the innocent and punish the guilty, Romans 13.1-4 4. Therefore, I am glad this evil man can no longer hurt innocent people but I am saddened by the loss of a soul. 5. Hell is a place prepared by God to punish evil people, Matthew 25. II) Recent Tornadoes and Other Tragedies A) Last week tornadoes in the south killed hundreds of people 1. Example: Marcus Smith, a student at the University of Alabama, a member of the church in Virginia is missing. Hundreds are still missing and perhaps dead. 2. Some were killed without warning, others took shelter in their homes but massive tornadoes in Alabama, Tennesse, Arkansas, Georgia, etc. destroyed their homes. People left without food, shelter, power, etc. a. Not to sound harsh but there is nothing new under the sun b. Thousands died earlier this year in Japan's earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant disaster. B) Some see this as God's direct will -- if you lived then He meant for you to die; if you died then it was your time. 1. Not everything is the result of God's direct will, 2 Peter 3.9. a. David's sin with Bathsheba was not God's direct will b. Israel offering human sacrifices was not God's direct will 2. God did not directly make the earthquake or tornadoes. These are the product of nature. a. They are the result of God's permissive will, that which God allows due to man's freedom of choice, and nature. b. These events shows us how fragile we are and how we tend to take things for granted. c. We are to be concerned for those who are suffering. 3. There are consequences to sin, including the very first sin a. Death came into the world b. Change in the earth, Genesis 3.17-19 C) Some will either blame God or use these events as reasons to reject believing in God 1. "A loving God would not allow this to happen" 2. If this is the God of the Bible then I don't believe in Him a. Does our displeasure or anger at human suffering prove that God does not exist? b. It proves that we do not understand and do not like what we are seeing. c. Huh??? 3. Answering their objections a. Does your displeasure and anger at your doctor prove that he does not exist? b. Does your displeasure at death prove it does not exist? Or, your children, etc. 4. We are to be thankful for all of our physical blessings, our daily bread. 5. God is more concerned with our spiritual well being than our physical well being, John 6.27. a. Jesus did not come so we could have eternal life here but in heaven. b. He alleviated human suffering for a short time for a few people but He died for everyone. 6. Some of the bad things that happen are because of man's decisions. Some are because of "time and chance", Ecc. 9.11. Conclusion: We are to be ready for we know not the hour when Jesus will come, nor do we know when we may die.
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