Monday, December 19, 2016

German Christmas Market Attacked

                 Another deadly terror attack in Germany. At least a dozen dead, dozens more injured. It appears ISIS delivered on their recent promise to attack Western Christmas Markets during the Christmas season. At least 12 people lost their lives and hundreds of families have had their lives turned upside down in mere moments. Earlier today, their loved ones were strolling the marketplace, enjoying the bright lights and decorations, basking in the warmth and good feeling of the season, perhaps purchasing a few last gifts for their loved ones. Now they are dead or maimed- physically and mentally.
                When is enough enough? Under attack by secularists and radical Islamists, the hyper-tolerant Christian faith will soon be in danger of letting itself be marginalized to the point of near irrelevancy. Let those of us who still believe… commit ourselves- here, today, now- to stop hiding and apologizing for our own faith. The Archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles J. Chaput, once said, “Evil preaches tolerance until it is dominant, then it tries to silence good.”
                We have reached that point. Good (or at least, mostly decent) is afraid to speak up- and stand up- for itself, in case the extreme secularists and Islamists accuse it of being intolerant. To paraphrase Lincoln: Let us here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.

                                Isaiah 40:31
                                But those who hope in the Lord
                                Will renew their strength
                                They will soar on wings like eagles;
                                They will run and not grow weary
                                They will walk and not be faint

                So we softly sing to those who have so recently slipped the surly bonds of Earth:
                                “Silent night, holy night
                                All is calm, all is bright
                                Sleep in heavenly peace
                                Sleep in heavenly peace

                                Stille Nacht, heilige nacht
                                Alles schläft, einsam wacht
                                Schlaf in himmlischer ruh

                                Schlaf in himmlischer ruh”

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