Lone Wolf Terrorism - Godly or Cowardly?

Yesterday’s news and this morning’s news feed are filled with recounts of Sayfullo Saipov’s attack in New York City. Saipov, a native of Uzbekistan who immigrated to the US in 2010 and was a driver for Uber, was reported to shout “Allahu akbar!” when he exited his vehicle after mowing down dozens of tourists and ramming a short school bus with his rented Home Depot pickup truck. According to mainstream media (MSM), Saipov left notes in and around the truck pledging loyalty to the Islamic State (IS). Saipov was carrying two guns – one paintball, the other pellet – and was shot by NYC police after running from the scene. He remains in the hospital where he will recover before facing trial.

The FBI defines terrorism as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”

The FBI further divides terrorism into “International terrorism” which is “perpetrated by individuals and/or groups inspired by or associated with designated foreign terrorist organizations or nations” and “Domestic terrorism” which is “perpetrated by individuals and/or groups inspired by or associated with primarily U.S.-based movements that espouse extremist ideologies of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.” (www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorism)

While MSM reports notes and a picture of the ISIS flag in Saipov’s rental truck, is it too early to call this “Lone Wolf” a terrorist? Where do we draw the line between deranged criminal incited by terrorism, and actual terrorism? I think the answer to that will come only after investigation into Saipov’s past, his life in the US, and his contacts – to include activities at his mosque in New Jersey.

But for Christians, how do we react to yesterday’s attack? Is Saipov, and by extension other Lone Wolf Islamic Fundamentalists, following God’s model of annihilating entire peoples who have wronged his chosen people as in 1 Samuel 15? If God ordered King Saul to “put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys” (1 Sam 15:3, NIV) then what distinguishes His command from that of “Islamic Extremists” who have sworn to destroy America? And how do we as Christians reconcile the similarities and differences?

One word, Christ.

The arrival of Jesus Christ on the scene, His death and resurrection, and His continuing presence with us through the Holy Spirit marked the end of the tribe of Abraham as the only chosen people of God. In 2 Corinthians 5:15 we learn “he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again,” and in Colossians 3:11 we learn “there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (NIV)

So furthering the hate of death for anyone not aligned with a certain belief is a lie in itself. That lie is told by every religion on the planet, to include fake Christianity, to people who want to believe they are special. But that in and of itself goes against God since Christ taught “the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matt 20:16, NIV) So that hateful message is a lie and anyone teaching it is a liar. Rather, Christ broke down the barrier between Israel and the world and He taught to love one another as He has loved us – as He gave His precious life for us sinners.

Therefore it’s ok to preach hellfire and brimstone: That was John’s message after all and is sometimes necessary to remind us of the consequences of ungodly choices. But it’s not ok to act out the judgment associated with it. That is God’s job and His job alone. Consider our Lone Wolf terrorist, Mr. Saipov. What if his act of cowardice, his unilaterally misguided judgment upon his eight victims deprived one of them from the opportunity to know Jesus Christ as Savior? What if his measure in taking a random life causes another to curse God and make an eternally bad choice?

Now that’s a yardstick I wouldn’t want used on my day of judgment. (Matt 7: 1-2; Rev 20:13-15)

(Photo courtesy of CNN)