The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

January 2009

Terrorism In Mumbai

On November 26 to 29, 2008, terrorists with rifles and grenades came ashore from the sea to attack the Indian financial hub city of Mumbai. The attack has been called India's "9-11".

The violence in Mumbai killed at least 171 people. India has said nine militants were killed and one captured alive. U.S. analysts said as many as 23 gunmen could have been involved.

"If there were others that had a role in the whole operation, I would not be able to say now," Chidambaram said.

Indian newspapers reported the Pakistan military's spy agency ISI helped train the gunmen ("India admits security lapses in Mumbai attacks," www.washingtonpost.com, Dec. 6, 2008).

Pakistan has denied any connection to the attacks in Mumbai, though their meticulous planning, coordination and precision imply a level of direction that no ordinary militant group is capable of. But this time the terrorists may have gone too far. The murderers of Mumbai made special efforts to single out American and British nationals among their hostages, and killed the Israelis running Mumbai's Jewish center. This was clearly not just an attack on India; the assailants were taking on the "Jews and crusaders" of al-Qaeda lore ("After the Horror," www.time.com, Dec. 4, 2008).

Commenting on the shortcomings of civilian control of the Pakistani military and security services (the latter of which may be implicated in the terror attack), Time added, "In India, the state has an army; in Pakistan, the army has a state."

Inspired commentary

Terror attacks lead to increased desires for security which in turn increases a willingness to give up civil freedoms in return. Christians have a source of strength that conquers fear and allows prayer for one's enemies.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:25-27).

Corruption In Illinois Government

Breaking news as this is written tell of the Governor of Illinois being arrested for corruption.

President-elect Barack Obama is calling for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign, after the Illinois governor's arrest on corruption charges caused an unwelcome home-state distraction during an intense transition period. ...

Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday, accused of scheming to enrich himself by selling Obama's vacant Senate seat. The governor has authority to appoint Senate replacements ("Obama Calls on Blagojevich to Resign," www.foxnews.com, Dec. 10, 2008).

Commenting on the situation, commentator Charles Osgood observed:

The Governor of Illinois has now apparently taken that to the extremes.Money may not be the root of all evil, but quite a lot of it....

Alan Greenspan [former chairman of the Federal Reserve System] finally realizes that there was a fatal flaw in the way the financial system has operated.

Alan Greenspan, Former Fed Chairman, on Capitol Hill in October:"Yes, I found a flaw.I don't know how significant or permanent it is, but I've been very distressed by that fact."

And that was that even the top people in top financial companies will do pretty much anything, if they can get a whole lot of money for themselves by doing so.

Greenspan: "Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders' equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief" ("The Osgood File," www.wcbs880.com, Dec. 10, 2008).

Inspired commentary

The Bible actually says the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10). As society seems to becomes more secular, the basis for morality becomes weaker. The Bible associates falling morality with the last days.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

Atheism and Liberty

An author and commentator noted the emergence of a modern atheism in the United States, but argues that the basis for human equality and liberty is found in Christianity.

IN RECENT YEARS there has arisen a new atheism that represents a direct attack on Western Christianity. Books such as Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion, Christopher Hitchens' God Is Not Great, and Sam Harris' The End of Faith, all contend that Western society would be better off if we could eradicate from it the last vestiges of Christianity. But Christianity is largely responsible for many of the principles and institutions that even secular people cherish — chief among them equality and liberty. ...

In sum, the eradication of Christianity — and of organized religion in general — would also mean the gradual extinction of the principles of human dignity. Consider human equality. Why do we hold to it? The Christian idea of equality in God's eyes is undeniably largely responsible. The attempt to ground respect for equality on a purely secular basis ignores the vital contribution by Christianity to its spread. It is folly to believe that it could survive without the continuing aid of religious belief (Dinesh d'Souza: "Created Equal: How Christianity Shaped the West," Imprimis, Nov. 2008).

Inspired commentary

The Christianity that follows the Bible with its declaration of the law of God is the ultimate source of principles to govern the relations of mankind. Outbreaks of human evil war against those principles but a day will come when evil will end.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us (Acts 17:24-27).

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:29-31).