The core human values and beliefs in this great country (e.g., like the sanctity of human life and the rule of law) are based on a Judeo-Christian foundation from the Bible. In a post-Christian society, we may have lots of citizens who no longer believe this Bible is the word of a living God. However, even most of these folks would admit accepting the relevance of a basic moral code and/or code of ethics that guides their behavior and influences their view of the world. This is due to people accepting a morality that is similar to the 13 attributes of God mentioned in the Bible.
Now, there is a certain mood and desire for war in this country. This is a war of revenge and vengeance, which permeates the air in certain circles. And a war that is to be executed quickly without much delay (except perhaps to gather the troops logistically for the attacks on Afghanistan).
But the United States needs to be cognizant of, and respond to, the need to win two wars. The first win has to be on the military front. But the second win has to be on the public relations and moral front. And that is why I support President George W. Bush in being wise and prudent enough to have the intelligence community working overtime to gather the actual evidence which will demonstrate the veracity (truth) of the allegations against Osama bin Laden.
We are, after all, a country that believes in the rule of law. Our civil code comes from the common law of England, which was brought here by our founding fathers. And that common law is based on the ultimate law book of the Hebrew Bible. So, it is very important that we in America don’t plan indiscriminate attacks against a country whose only crime (so far) is in giving asylum to a man whom they believe to be innocent of the charges against him.
Some people ask: “Where was God” in everything that happened two and a half weeks ago. The more accurate question is: “Where was man?”
The Bible (Gen. 1:27) says that mankind was created in the image of God. So how can mankind, in the image of God, have displayed such cruelty and brutality? And I’m not speaking only of the guerilla soldiers who planned the destruction. But also American businesses, which had refused to allow for proper security at our airports (under the warped thinking that a few lives lost could be seen as a “cost of doing business” which was lower than the anticipated costs of the security).
In Deuteronomy 4:12, Moses reminds Israel that they saw no form for God at Mt. Sinai when the Torah was given to them as a constitution for the fledgling nation of Israel. So Judaism (and early Christianity following after it, see also John 4:24) has always taught that God the Father has no physicality. Therefore, what can the “image of God” mean?
It means human beings have the reasoning power and the choice of will to act or behave (potentially) in a manner similar to how God Himself acts and behaves.
This image is beautifully expressed in the Book of Exodus (Ex 34:6-7), when Moses asks to see God and God reveals to Moses what are called the “13 attributes of God.” These attributes are things like love, mercy, graciousness, compassion, longsuffering, slow to anger, forgiveness, abundance of goodness and truth.
These 13 attributes are a major theme of the High Holy Day season. First of all, when we sin, it is because we are acting in a manner opposite to these attributes of God. But we can change ourselves, and people are relying on God’s stated desire to forgive sins, for those repenting of them.
The “image of God” is also a theme for the upcoming month of October, during the Feast of Tabernacles. At this time, people will be thanking God for his love and graciousness toward sinners. People will express their thankfulness to God that we can change our lives for the better, with His help. It is at this time that many people will start up again the annual cycle of reading the five books of Moses, beginning with Genesis, and be reminded, again, that mankind is made in the “image of God.” But reminded also that we only display that “image” by our individual and/or collective free-will choice to do so.
Editor’s note: For a schedule of the readings of the five books of Moses, from October of 2001 to September of 2002, write to Yaffah with your request and allow up to several weeks for a response.
