EMPATHIZE?

This is the face of our enemy, showing no mercy.

It is grotesque to superimpose on that picture the words we heard last month about how America should employ "smart power" as we fight our enemies.  What was the quote?

"America should use every possible tool and partner to advance peace, leaving no one on the sidelines, showing respect even for one's enemies, trying to understand and insofar as psychologically possible, EMPATHIZE with their perspective and point of view."

Would that have worked well in Paris today?

This radical Islamic terrorist execution squad can be heard on the video shouting the phrase we've come to dread..."Allahu Akbar!".  Every single person on Planet Earth is invited to make God's name famous, but these men make it famous in the most perverse of ways.

Coming out against people armed with pen-and-paper (four of whom are shown right, including the editor and three cartoonists) these killers didn't look like third-world fighters hanging off the back of a small careening pickup.  Instead, the scene looked like something from a Bourne movie as they entered and asked for specific victims by name.

Even though it is hard, look again at that first picture.  It is taken from above, so we can easily imagine the Lord looking down as this scene played out.  Imagine God's eye of omniscience seeing that policeman's family and the agony down the years that one instant will cause.  Multiply that by eleven other victims.  Then think of all the fears that will be generated around the world.  NONE of that is from God, who says "fear not".

Isaiah told us a long time ago that in all our suffering, He also suffers...so in love and mercy, He saw our helplessness and came down to redeem us.  This world was never intended to be the way we have chosen to make it, and one day it will return to God's way in a grand makeover.

Romans says that God has a fixed opposition to sin and His wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness.  Some of that wrath may be expressed now because the latest news is that the killers are connected to a Yemeni terror cell and police may know them by name.  But certainly justice will be fairly carried out when they stand before the Lord in judgment.  The usurpers say they avenged their prophet's name, but God says vengeance belongs to Him.

We see the terrorists' ungodliness (as they display none of God's characteristics of love or kindness or patience or mercy) and the terrorists' unrighteousness (as they break God's laws).

Their day is coming, but in the meantime we pray.  We ask for comfort for the French families and a sharp mind for the French police.

And while we're at it, we should pray for our own leaders that they would clearly understand what America faces.

This deadly worldwide threat certainly has no concept of "empathy".