Great message to tell...thanks for sharing your honest perspective throughout your walk with this so others may feel inspired to search their own heart & follow God's lead...

yes, it is only as we truly appreciate our own sin, and the forgiveness that we have been given that we can forgive. the evil of terroists, child molesters and others, helps me to see the evil in my own heart. i think a lot of our anger comes from the fear that deep down we are just like them, and we are!

thank You Lord for Your great mercy towards us. help us to never forget the depth of YOur forgiveness for us and then help us to extend Your mercy to others. thank You!

Dear Holly,
You'll have to distinguish before you judge between persons and their acts - Remember: Our "terrorists" are other peolpe's "heroes" - as the folks in New England of 1776 were the King's "insurgents".
My father was badly maimed by a bomb laid for Hitler - just on the wrong train platform. Were those "terrorists"?
Another 9/11 happened in 1973 - in Chile, and was organised by the US Embassy. Were there some terrorists? Some are not - and some are.
The same goes for murderers, rapists, child molesters -male or female, and both exist: some are bad - some are ill, victims themselves. Trying to understand is often hard - but always better than judging.
And even judgment needs, to be just, facts and truth in full, and absence of anger and prejudice. That is even harder -which makes it easier not to judge, but to seek to find ways to forgive.

I have recently completed the book, American Fascists, The Christian Right and the War on America by Chris Hedges. It details the encroachment of Religious Right literalists into the political arena, the media, the schools and entertainment. The entire book outlines the intolerance that some Christians have against their brothers and sisters.
I decided to heed the call expressed by the opening lines of his book, a quote from Karl Popper's book, _The Open Society and Its Enemies_.
"... if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them."
I feel no remorse nor any vestige of guilt for wanting to the worst happen to those who have no regard for those outside their own self-justified community. Those who want to impose their will on others, considering themselves inviolate leaders of the Truth need to be marginalized and forgotten.

“I have said these things to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world†(John 16:33).

Looking at the brokeness of the world, of the lives around us can be disheartening and / or angering. Thank you, Holly, for sharing with us your wrestling with this very human issue. In truth it is one that all of us face on a daily basis, be it forgiving terrorists, people who have hurt us, violent offenders, intolerance in all it's shapes and sizes...

There are things that should make us angry, especially if that anger often provides the impetus to change the world for the better. I'm glad to be reminded to pray for my enemies, to ask God to change their hearts and mine.

Who are the terrorists: Joh:8:44: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Their future: Re:21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Solution: Ac:8:22: Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
We forgive when: Lu:17:3: Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
Lu:17:4: And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
God is waiting: 2Pe:3:9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

To God, who is our Father, it is of paramount importance that we forgive. Have you ever noticed how we pray a condition on ourselves everytime we pray the Lord's prayer? "Forgive us as we forgive." Jesus underlined it with the verses following the prayer, as you quoted in the article. In Matthew 18, when Peter asked how often he should forgive, Jesus more or less said 'Keep on forgiving.' (70 x 7) Then he told the parable of the ruler (v.23-35) who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. The servant who did not forgive his fellow servant lost the forgiveness he had received from the ruler.
Also, the Lord showed me that to really forgive, we can do what Jesus did from the cross (Luke 23:34) when He said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do." When we pray that prayer, we are asking according to God's will, and it lifts from us any feeling that by just our forgiveness, the ball is now in God's court for Him to deal with them. When we ask Father to forgive them, there is nothing left to be held against them. Forgiveness is the most complete then. I wonder if this frees the Lord to work in their lives, because unforgiveness keeps them bound. "Whatsoever we bind or loose on earth is bound or loosed in heaven." Matt 16:19. When you look at it, we have quite a responsibility to be obedient to the Lord in forgiving. This is most certainly not weakness, but the strength of the Lord.
Holding anger and bitterness damages ourselves; forgiving sets us free. The most important thing is for us to be obedient to our Lord's commands. In our position stuck on this globe, we think of sins as having degrees. But in God's eyes, a lie is as great a sin as murder. There are no degrees. Sin is sin.
That is why Jesus came - to set us free. Let us be thankful, and be forgiving as He requires of us. Then we will be learning how to be holy as He is holy.

One thing we need to remember is that God decides who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, not us. Second, we need to pray for these terrorists because you never know when they'll have a "Damascus road experience" with God and become another Saul turned Paul. If a Fox News video clip is to be believed, the son of the leader of Hamas in the Middle East has turned to Christ. So we should be praying for Osama bin Laden, the leader of Hamas, and all the others who persecute Christians in the name of religion. This is a good month to be praying for them - the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan - as Muslims seek to draw near to the God of Abraham as they know Him.

Do we pray for forgiveness willy-nilly? That they be forgiven evn though non-repentant? Or do we pray that they receive forgiveness as they come to regret their actions - a bit difficult as they were smashed to pieces in the aircraft that they turned into missiles.

What about the thousands killed as result of their actions? Many of them were probably guilt-ridden at the time of their unexpected deaths. Should we not pray for their souls too? Many of them were killed before being able to make peace with their Lord.

Is forgiveness available for the unrepentant? Should we be asking God to do this? Christ came to save sinners such as us, but isn't something expected of us, that we should turn from our wickedness? If we don't, can we expect mercy? As they piloted those aircraft into the buildings carrying the innocent passengers to their death and condemning many in the buildings to instant death, were they thinking - "Forgive me Father!"? I doubt it!

Indeed pray for the terrorists that they should lose their fanaticism and seek the love of God to share with mankind. To forgive them their actions before they change and continue to kill seems odd. When Christ on the cross prayed, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do." was he asking that they be given the chance to consider their actions and be received by God in love, or that they should continue to harbour the hate they had for Jesus and still be received by God into his loving arms?

excuse me .. dear , i also dont like to forgive those who planed and ececuted 11\9 , but please ask yourselves and your government how much 11\9's the executed all around the world ? and please ask the victems if they like to forgive you or not ? .

I'm glad to hear someone say that it's not sinful to be angry. I appreciate that (in context, of course). However, it's a mistake to think anyone is supposed to forgive everyone who does wrong. We are called to forgive "as we have been forgiven." There is no forgiveness without confession of sin, repentance and faith in Jesus. Over and over there are examples of forgiveness for the repentant and humbled heart before a loving and merciful God. But forgiveness is not offered to those hostile to grace.

Yes, we should pray for terrorists, like we should pray for everyone and never wish for their destruction, but to call people to forgive without repentance is not even something God Himself does.

Thanks for this article and the opportunity to share! :)

So, you didn't really come to any conclusion or tell us anything. What do you want us to do? We should really ask if Christianity is feasible or desirable in foreign policy. If we were Christians, we would all have sat down and prayed after 9/11, not fought back.

Do we really need to forgive those who don't want forgiveness? I've always been taught forgiveness requires, first of all, for the sinner to want forgiveness. But if we asked the terrorists, they wouldn't want our forgiveness. So why give it to them?

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and mysterious things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

Daniel 2:20-22

How many Christians pray for discernment?

How many Christians actually ask God to open their eyes to what is really going on?

How many Christians really want to know?

Christians are among the most gullible people on the planet, believing most - if not all - of the things that our so-called leaders spew from their lying lips.

Until Christians wake up and acknowledge the wickedness that resides right here in our midst, I wonder if the Father is really interested in our prayers for "terrorists."

The Bible warns us about deception: about people claiming to be Christians, but aren't: about falling away from true faith.

The government of this USA is involved in human trafficing, has carried out flase flag attacks against US citizens, and promotes wholesale slaughter of virtually defenseless nations.

Deal with it. Stop wringing your hands about the "terrorists" and open your eyes. Ask YHWH to show you the truth about our world: about our own nation.

I dare you...

And the liberal, left is tolerant? And the Muslims. And the Chinese communists?
I will not arge that there is intolerance among some that name themselves as Christians, but the view that you present is one obtained with the best tunnel vision.
Jay

Jesus said we must forgive our enimes in order for his father to for give us forgivenness is a great thing it can hold you prisoner if not given or it can set you free when given if we want GOD's forgiveness we must first learn to forgive the world that crusified his son as he has for given us all.After all is'nt forgiveness showing GOD's love

I just read your story on forgiving terrorists. I agree that we should forgive them and pray for their salvation. They say that they are eager to die for Allah. I would like to help them fulfill their desire. I would like to hunt them down and in love cut their throats as they would everyone who does not agree with them. As general Schwarzkoph said when he was asked if he forgave the Iraq invaders of Kuwait, “God forgives, I only arrange the meeting.â€

The Bible tells us to forgive individuals who have wronged us. That does not mean an enemy in war. We should not personally hate them, because that only hurts us. But we should not hastate to confront them spiritually, mentally, and physically. We say that God can use, well, He can use us to eliminate terrorists. He used many Christians to defeat Nazis and the Japanese Empire and He can use Christians to defeat terrorists.

This article is so ridiculous that I am ashamed that Christianity Today printed it. Please remove me from your e-mail list.

Why won't God forgive our sins if we don't forgive others their sins? It is because our lack of forgiveness comes from setting ourselves up as righteous enough to judge and condemn.

It is hard to admit that we could commit the worst sin imaginable. It is even harder to admit that the evil we recognize in ourselves is as worthy of God's condemnation as the evil of those who commit acts of heinous sin. Yet any sin is still sin, and we are sinners. The infection of sin kills me sooner or later. There, in their shoes, but for the grace of God, go I. I am condemned, judged for the same problem as theirs -- sin. On what basis, then, can I call down judgment on those who sin?

I think we have two problems: 1) we forget our righteousness comes only from God's mercy, and 2) we equate tolerance with mercy. First, we must swallow our sense of entitlement (pride) in knowing what is good and what is evil. Terrified humility is the only logical response to awareness of our own naked evil, and profound thankfulness and love the only logical response to being clothed in the righteousness of God. Second, God never tolerates sin nor compromises justice. He demands punishment for sin! Let us never belittle His holiness by thinking He would ignore acts like 9/11, or by thinking He will for an instant forget what punishment for that sin cost Him! That cost, the immense act of His love (grace) taking our punishment on the cross, set us free from our deserved condemnation. He will not ignore either the love or the cost of the cross in working justice and meting out judgment.

On our part, anger without mercy often leads to retribution without justice. Retribution is God's province. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." After all, He is the one sinned against! While God's justice and mercy are perfect, we reflect them imperfectly, but we must learn to reflect them both. That means we must neither compromise justice nor be unwilling to accept (submit to) the price of mercy.

Then we will humbly say, "Here, by the grace of God, I stand, not naked and condemned, but clothed only in His righteousness." And add, in attitude and action, "Thy will (not mine) be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

I felt that way too about the white people. At first I couldn't forgive them for what they did to my people but God told me to forgive them too. I am Native American if you haven't figured that out yet. There were so many of us but now we are a dying people. I keep praying that God will save, heal, and deliver my people but they hold on to their traditional ways. I went to schools that were all white and it was not easy and I just went home but when I got home things were no better over there either. Alcoholism, drugs and other things were prevalent in our culture. I keep praying that God will do what He said in Isaiah 35 and Joel 2. I keep remembering also where it says in the Bible to bless and love your enemies. Anyway, I know that God is going to do something and I just
keep believing and hold onto Him.

God forgivess and He is undoubtedly merciful. Your article is a great challenge for Americans to forgive their tormentors.

Although on the part of man, he must forgive, on the part of God, I think , the forgiveness of God is conditional: The Ninevites were repentant of their violent ways and so God forgave their sins. In Luke 17:3 our Lord said regarding a trespassing brother that "if he repents, forgive him."

Yes, we need to pray for the Terrorists to be born-again. If they repent God will forgive. If they don't God will punish them.

2 Thessalonians 1:6,7 says "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels."

I was there on 9/11. I was a journalist in Washington, DC and happened to be across the street from the Pentagon when it was struck. The gory details aren't necessary here but suffice it to say I was diagnosed with PTSD four years later. While I was angry at the terrorists - and still am - I never had a problem forgiving them. I did, however, have a problem forgiving God for allowing it to happen and for my subsequent pain. Thankfully that's no longer the case. I never thought of adopting a terrorist to pray for them, but it's something everyone should consider as we're told to "pray for our enemies." Thanks for your post!

Do you want this to happen to America? Well, obviously not, because you have no sympathy for the terrorists who feel like you do. They see America's past and present sins, many of them real although some of them imagined, and felt no remorse or any vestige of guilt for Americans.

Remember that the USA once supported Saddam Hussein and the Taliban, played a key role in supporting the overthrow of a democratic government in Iran in 1953 and installing a tyrant, has been key in overthrowing democratic governments in several other countries, has a long history of military intervention for economic power, etc., has killed many times the number killed in 9-11 in its wars of aggression, etc.

Just like Israel of old, America is called to repent and turn from its evil ways. If it continues to follow the road of empire, it will fall like all empires do. Those who truly love this country will call on it to confess its manifold sins and turn from its ways of domination and mass killing.

We are not obliged anywhere to just toss forgiveness at people, especially at serial killers. We are taught to forgive those who trespass against us personally who have also asked us to forgive them. That is the "transaction" of forgiveness that Scripture talks about. If you are going to just toss forgiveness at people who do not want your forgiveness, especially when they are not even aware of it, you are truly wasting your time and probably leaving Jesus scratching head. The "Day of Discovery" people have some good teaching/clarification of this topic of forgiveness. Sometimes I am embarrassed to be a Christian when I read articles like this - I know the intention is good but we have to be wiser about how to spend our time.

Thanks for this TIMELY ARTICLE! I feel strongly that by ungodly attitudes toward people unlike ourselves, we who claim Christ's name have often blasphemed Him. And terrorism may be the result of our own failures. God have mercy on us all.

In wanting to understand Islam I recently read a book titled Islam and Terrorism. It was written by a former history professor from Egypt. He has converted from Islam to Christianity and of course is no longer welcome in the Islam world. As a matter of fact he will always be hunted by his former brothers and sisters. The Quran (via our own symbolism) misleads Muslims about true Christianity. They trully believe Islam (and therefore jihad) is the way to heaven the way we believe Jesus is the only way. Educating myself about true Islam helped me to be able to understand the spiritual fight we are in, in this world. Are there Islams who are for peace? Yes, like there are Sunday morning Christians. I am free to pray for those trapped in Islam, because I see where their perspective comes from.

I am in Iraq trying to help soldiers behave with respect towards Iraqis who sometimes harbor their enemies. The terrorists incite fear which leads to anger. The antidote for fear is love. Soldiers enter fearful situations because they love their country. Parents courageously face down tantrums because they love their children. Praying for enemies is one way to love them. It seizes the initiative and defeats the power they wield over us. And it enables soldiers to have a proportionate rather than vengeful response.

In regards to this earlier comment:
"If you are going to just toss forgiveness at people who do not want your forgiveness, especially when they are not even aware of it, you are truly wasting your time and probably leaving Jesus scratching head."

...It seems that Jesus offers forgiveness to innumerable people who do not want his forgiveness, nor are many even aware of it. Was that a waste of his time?

Number one, my wholehearted praise to this Christian Lady! However, and I will use a personal experience of mine, of all things about skunks. You all well know, that stink power this animal posseses. Yes, one night forgetting to close the garage door one of them ended up in the garage as I almost morning quickly close the door. Yes, if terrorists took down the NY Towers and killing about 3 thousands with it, I hereby declare that our Federal Government, from the Commander in Chief and on down the line have actually willingly prepared the way for it to happen. Did those evil guys not actually enter the United States of America, along with millions of other illegals that have been actually invited, so to speak, by even Christian to come and work for them and therefore gettings things done for less, than otherwise? Yes, while still our borders are open for more illegals to come, but our Government going after terrorists all over the world. Yes, if Christians are asked to pray for terrorists, it is high time that Christians must demand from their Government to do its mandated job, otherwise praying for terrorists will only please the devil himself. But saddly presently conservative Christians are actually making Satan happy as they support a Mccain fellow for his decidedness to keep going after terrorist all over but really not demanding that the USA borders be fully restored and the laws of immigration follow to the last dot. By the way, I am a legal immigrant of 52 years and a staunch conservative Christian Republican, but greatly disturbed as to how Christianity fails to truly be Christians in all things, as in the case of illegals, etc. By the way I early close the garage door but do not spend time searching and trying to kill skunks in all the hills sorrounding our smal city, in California. It truly works!

"Forgiveness is setting aprisoner free...
and then discovering the prisoner was me."

Regarding the post on skunks and illegal aliens. I suppose it would be good to pray for them too, however, I am also sure many illegal aliens are already Christians. I myself was an illegal immigrant in a foreign country at one time. Not every wild animal is a skunk. Jesus explicitly tells us to love and pray for skunks! WOW! If we're suppose to love and pray for our enemies, just think of what that means for how we're supposed to treat our friends!

Sometimes when bad things happen to "good or bad" people, i.e. 9/11, it is so easy to be angry. I myself was angry. But the Lord, while I was in prayer, showed me something that I had not realized before...He asked me, Who are the REAL terrorist? Why should you be angry, frightened, and moved over someone who can only destroy the body?

I know there were a LOT of bodies destroyed and probably many who did not get the chance to know Christ as their Savior and will have an eternal home with those same people who murdered them. But a nation trying to push its weight around against another nation is not terrorism. The real terrorist are those who try to kill the Word of God and all it stands for. What do I mean? We can make excuses for not praying for our enemies. We can say don't pass out forgiveness willy nilly. We can say We don't want IN GOD WE TRUST on our money. We don't want to be reminded of the truths in God's Word. However, that Truth still stands. When we throw God out of the country - ANYTHING can come in. That is why it IS so important to pray for our national leaders that they follow God's edicts and if they don't that the people with one heart will vote them out! It is also important that we pray for our enemies...that gets God on the scene on our nation's behalf. There is NO separation of church and state...either God is in or He's out.....Our very laws and constitution were built on Judeo-Christian foundations.

So what is true terrorism? It is leaving God out of the picture. When He goes out, so does the light and with no light nothing grows, and sin - all sorts of sin and acts of terrorism abound.

God knows everything . There is nothing that we can say or do that will alter that fact. Do you think God is unaware of the condition of the terrorists heart or of the condition of your heart? So why pray? And how should we pray for our enemies?The answer is summed up in God's word,'Pray for those who despiteful use you'. 'Overcome evil with good'. Doesn't really make sense does it? But because God is all powerful and knows all things He has the right to instruct us how to overcome evil. This is a spiritual war and must be fought in the spiritual realm.
In my own life, I have seen how God has proved His word to be thee most effective and best way to overcome ones enemies. His way is best, so for me I go along with God's way and I will pray for terrorists whose actions I loathe and I will pray for terrorists who are a bunch of human beings whose minds are so full of hate and misunderstanding.Let us trust God in this matter. Let's leave terrorists in God's hands. For any who are searching for forgiveness and want to know how to change go visit: www.powertochange.com
God bless all nations.