Spiritual terrorism

Romans 1:28-32

Rebel groups are found around the world. Some have legitimate grounds for rebellion, being under a tyrannical government, which often is trying to exterminate their race. In these cases there is an effort to protect innocent people. In other cases, the rebellion is the result of a group who wants to control everyone else. These are the groups which want to form such tyrannical governments and use them to enrich themselves. They destroy even the ones they purport to be trying to help. They are the terrorists who bomb public markets and hotels rather than military installations, and pride themselves on killing one enemy, even though they killed dozens of their own people in the process.

Such groups try to destroy any reminder of the ruling groups authority, including signs, post offices, and protective services despite the harmful effects of destroying such basic infrastructure. They want no reminders of their own lack of control. Those who rebel against God have a similar attitude.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:28-32)

The situation is much like the Palestinians, who have been allowed to have their own government though they occupy land conquered by Israel, or like the IRA in north Ireland, whose only freedom comes from England and the rest of Ireland allowing them to practice their own government on land that has been conqured by England. Despite repeated efforts to develop peace, they persist in attacking and destroying those around them.

An attitude of lawlessness and fear pervades the atmosphere, even for those not actively involved in the rebellion. Those who violate the legal, ethical and moral standards are praised and rewarded. A culture of wickedness prevails in the society, and those who try to improve it are hated.

Those who rebel against God are often highly religious, but their lives are controlled by evil. They are “filled with all unrighteousness.” They are caught up in sexual sin or “fornication,” from promiscuity to adultery to homosexuality and bestiality. “Wickedness,” from vandalism to animal abuse to attacking people on the streets is considered funny. The desire to take what others has, or “covetousness,” rather than earning it oneself becomes the norm. Being full of “maliciousness,” They take pleasure in being able to hurt others, whether physically or verbally.

“Full of envy,” they resent other people having things or being respected. “Murder“ is considered as a way of resolving conflict. “Debate," or argument is a way of life, as is “deceit” Bitterness, anger, and hatred, or “malignity” characterize their attitudes. They become spreaders of rumor or “whisperers,” and “backbiters,” or betrayers of their friends. As “haters of God,” they mock, attempt to discredit, or attack those who believe.

They are “despiteful,” or spiteful, deliberately causing trouble. They are “proud,” even when they have done nothing to be proud of. “Boasters” often take credit for things they haven‘t done, or try to make minor or bad actions appear as a great accomplishment, like the tailor who killed seven flies at once, then made a banner proclaiming “Seven at One Blow.” Much energy is spent planning pornographic books and movies or planning crimes by “inventors of evil things.” Lack of respect results in being “disobedient to parents.”

Refusing to accept limitations, they ignore mechanical and logical principles in their decisions because they are “without understanding.” Their word, or even a signed contract means little to “covenant breakers.” “Natural affection,” such as the love for ones children or parents, or mate is replaced with an attitude of selfishness, resulting in infidelity, domestic violence and physical and verbal abuse. They are “implacable,” or never satisfied, always demanding more, whether money, belongings, or revenge. They become “unmerciful,” extracting every thing the can.

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them,” (Romans 1:32). These attitudes, and the people who do these things begin to be admired by those have rejected God, as is demonstrated by the popularity of Gangster Rap music, Television programs like most reality shows and movies, and fan clubs for mass murderers like Jeffrey Dahmer. Terrorist organizations depend on such admiration for new recruits.