Paris attacks: Australian responses

Last Saturday morning in Sydney, I was meeting a mate for coffee and soon after we sat down at 9am (Friday 11pm in Paris), he started receiving messages about the #ParisAttacks. As the news unfolded, we were horrified and shocked with the rest of the world. More than 120 people were killed by Islamic State terrorists shooting Parisians who were out enjoying dinner, drinks and entertainment on an ordinary Friday night. Seven terrorists coordinated their attacks at 6 different city locations and then blew themselves up with suicide belts.

Very soon afterwards on Saturday afternoon, I received an email about a special Sunday afternoon church service in the Sydney CBD open to anyone wanting to pray for Paris. On Sunday evening, it was reported that along with the normal congregation, the Sydney French community, the French Ambassador to Australia and the NSW Premier, there were even “Atheists” attending this service. [1]

When I got home on Saturday evening, I saw on Twitter that a non-religious Australian friend had tweeted me with the hashtag #PrayForParis. This hashtag has been used over 10 million times since Saturday. [2] She also tweeted a picture of the Eiffel Tower stylised into the International Peace symbol. We shared our shock and soon this was retweeted to many others. The next day on a TV news bulletin, I saw a Parisienne holding up a cardboard sign saying “Pray for Paris”.

On that Saturday, NSW Premier Mike Baird responded quickly by arranging the French flag to fly at half-mast on the Harbour Bridge and for the Opera House to be illuminated with the French Tricolour. He shared his feelings on social media and tweeted a photo of the Opera House (see above) with this quote from the Bible [3]:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John chapter 1 verse 5

Soon afterwards, many governments around the world were also illuminating their public buildings with similar coloured lights. I was even prompted by Facebook to change my profile picture to include an overlay of the French flag. I noticed that a neighbour had tied blue, white and red ribbons on a tree near the letterboxes of my building.

The next day, I read in the Sunday newspapers that this was the deadliest violence to hit Paris since World War II and that Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had responded [4]:

“Australians’ thoughts, prayers and resolute solidarity are with the people of France as they respond to brutal terrorist attacks in Paris tonight.” [Emphasis mine]

It was reported in the same newspaper that Mr Turnbull had also said [5]:

“A threat in the name of God, that is truthfully the work of the devil.” [Emphasis mine]

So what are we to make of all this religious language shared by non-religious people and politicians in a secular society like Australia?

Death is a tragedy in anyone’s language and culture. Death robs families of loved ones. As a wider community we need to make sense of these tragic events and often we use religious language subconsciously. Many turn to prayer even if they don’t have a relationship with God.

Normally atheists would steer clear away from religious buildings, but in this instance they were happy to participate in a prayer service. It is often churches that take the lead in helping our secular society mourn and grieve.

Our condolences go to the French. But not only to them, our condolences also go the Iraqis, Kenyans, Lebanese, Russians, Syrians and Sydneysiders affected by terrorism over the last 12 months. Last month, a lady in my bible study group was comforting her believing friend Mrs Cheng, the widow of non-believer Curtis Cheng murdered by a young terrorist in Parramatta. The memory of the Martin Place Lindt Café siege is still fresh in our minds from December 2014.

How else do we respond to terrorism?

With fear, hatred and a desire for revenge.

Sadly on Tuesday, I read online that some shop owners in Western Sydney were copping abuse and receiving threats because they had advertising signs in Arabic [6]. Disgruntled people were bombarding social media with xenophobic comments. It is unfortunate that some fearful and vengeful Australians perceive the whole Muslim community to be our enemies.

[Jesus said] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew chapter 5 verses 43-45

In ancient Jewish and Babylonian cultures when the Bible was written, ordinary people were entitled to retaliate when someone hurt them: “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” [7] In this context, Jesus amazed his followers by telling them something counter-cultural and unthinkable. Instead of taking revenge on their enemies, Jesus told them to love and pray for their persecutors. Jesus continued to say that his Father God was in control of the world occupied by good and evil people.

Jesus’ words are still true today. Even though it seems that our world is out of control, God is sovereign over all people (this includes radical Muslims). Even though the Koran teaches about jihad (holy war), this does not mean that every Muslim believes and practises this. Many educated Muslims take a more liberal and moderate understanding of Islam as their personal faith. [8]

I call for a stop to the hatred against the Australian Muslim community, asylum seekers and refugees.

Instead we need to show neighbourly love by getting to know them and understanding their culture better. We need to pray that their community leaders are successful in preventing their young people being radicalised. We need to pray against Islamic State jihadists feeding lies to their followers that martyrs gain automatic entry to paradise. [9]

[Paul, a follower of Jesus wrote] “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”
Romans chapter 5 verses 8-10

We need to remember that at one time, we were all enemies of God because of our sin. Instead of responding in hatred, God showed amazing love by sending Jesus to die in our place. Everyone now has an opportunity to confidently enter paradise with God and enjoy true peace.

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Listen to a City Bible Forum talk about the Paris Attacks

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[1] Sunday 7pm Television News (15/11/2015) ABC, Sydney

[2] Wendling, M (16/11/2015) BBC Trending Blog, BBC News Online, UK

[3] Baird, M (14/11/15) @mikebairdMP on Twitter

[4] Duff, E (15/11/2015) Sun Herald, Fairfax Media, Sydney

[5] Kenny, M; Gartrell, A & O’Brien, N (15/11/2015) Sun Herald, Fairfax Media, Sydney

[6] Howden, S (17/11/15) Sydney Morning Herald online, Fairfax Media, Sydney

[7] This law is common to both the Torah (or Exodus in the Old Testament) and the Code of Hammurabi

[8] Azumah, J (2006) Light on Islam, Horizon Publications, Australia

[9] Azumah, p18.