What Do We Do When the Taliban Celebrate?

A few days shy of 20 years ago, the Taliban carried out an attack on America that cost 2,977 American's their lives.  They reduced the World Trade Center to rubble and tears.  The headquarters of "the world's most powerful military" had a black eye and didn't even know from where it came.  In the coming weeks, America launched a war against the Taliban.  A year later, that war expanded into Iraq and eventually became a war against Al Qaeda.  Thousands of Americans were killed, and many thousands more were injured.  Today, both the Taliban and Al Qaeda have declared victory while America retreats into itself, dazed and confused. 

How are Christians to understand these events? 

If we are into the prosperity-gospel (a false gospel), we must conclude that God no longer loves America.  If we were into Christian nationalism (a false gospel), we would need to rally the troops, pull up our bootstraps, and get America back on top of the world.  As cultural Christians (no gospel at all), we point to collapsing moralism in our nation and seek to return to our caricature of the 1950s.

Or, if we know our Bibles and are honest with ourselves, we recognize idolatry.  The false god of military security is exposed and ashamed.  The idol named national pride is humiliated, and we are brought low.  

If we know our Bible, we understand that God has used wicked nations to humble other nations.  We know God has scattered his people to strip them raw and call them back to himself in better health, as God heals them through sanctification.  We remember that the early Church was persecuted to get people moving into all the world for God's glory and the love of others.   We recall Jesus restoring Peter after Peter's lowest moment.  As we read Scripture, we discover that God raised wicked leaders to judge sinful people, but we also recollect God sent messengers to warn the sinners to repent.  And let us certainly not forget the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who were confused by the crucifixion of Christ.  To them, Jesus appeared and reminded them of the centrality of the cross. He showed them that Jesus is in the center of it all and that there's a much bigger story of redemption playing out. 

While confusing and painful, what we see today is not a surprise to God.  And in fact, he's sovereign over it and will use it for his glory.  He will ordain these events for the good of his people.  But before you think of yourself, consider that what we are seeing may be for persecution in Afghanistan to grow his Church there.  Maybe this is to puff up and harden the Taliban as they openly reject Jesus.  Or perhaps this is for the hurting widow, finally turning to God to ask if her husband died in vain.  It may be for the confused veteran.  Or maybe it's for you, allowing yet another false hope and fake security to break in your life, causing you to depend on God.  Likely, it's for all of the above, and much more.    

What do we do with this?

Repent.  Humble yourself and turn to Jesus.  Remember that if you are a redeemed and adopted child of God, this world is not your home.  It's not your destination.  You're just passing through.  Find your hope in Christ.  Pick up your Bible and read.  Pray.  Fellowship with other believers weekly in worship gatherings, or more often if you can.  Sing praises, prayers, intercessions, and confessions to God.  Commit to loving the brothers and sisters in your local church. Seek opportunities to tell others who are confused and lost where to find hope and healing.  See how God may be working here and paise him, for he is good, and he's working all of this out in your life for your good.  Pray for the persecuted church in Afghanistan and pray for the Taliban.  And pray for our nation too.