9/11 Response Letter
September 12, 2001
Dear Friends,
As pastors and leaders of Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends gathered for a study retreat, together we faced the recent terrorist act against our nation. We grieved together, processed together and felt called to express some of our leadings.
Our hearts, as yours, have been shaken. We meet this tragedy with deep sorrow and compassion, for those lives which have been lost or shattered, for those who’s hatred drove them to this act, for those who are lost spiritually and may be further hardened against God.
This incident casts seeds of hate upon the wind. Our natural response is to ingest these seeds and let them grow. Yet this draws us away from Christ and ultimately makes us less of who we are intended to be. Christ’s challenge is to turn our attention and appetite to the often difficult words and example of Jesus: “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven,” (Matthew 5:44-46).
We urge each of us to resist the temptation to use nationalism, retaliation, or demonization of others to rebuild a false sense of security. Rather, let us discipline ourselves to find our true security in Christ, and be merciful to all as we have received mercy. Let us work to respond to the causes of violence and “learn war no more,” (George Fox).
We urge each of us to be aware of the tensions between our natural reactions and the responses to which Christ calls us. These tensions are the fertile ground where God is working and inviting us to deeper Christ-likeness.
To assist us with the tension between the world’s values and God’s values, we offer these queries for personal and corporate reflection:
How well are you making room in your life and the life of your faith-community for the honest expression of grief, fear, and anger, as well as hope and healing?
Are you faithful to pray for those who are among the victims and injured, and their families, those who struggle to rescue and heal, and for the spiritual conditions of all involved?
Are you able to commit to God that area where you are feeling the most tension between your natural response and the way Christ calls you to respond, asking for insight, strength, and healing?
How consistent is your response with the values reflected in the Beattitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and the Truth taught in James 3:17-18… “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.”
In the violence and instability in which we suddenly find ourselves, are you able to keep your ministry and relationships centered in Jesus’ call: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,” (Luke 4:18-19)
May you experience comfort and peace in the loving presence of God and in the compassion and prayers of your pastors and leaders.
The pastors and leaders of Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (Quaker)
