background image
Sometimes people say to me words like, "Never
has the Gospel of Christ been needed more. We
live in the darkest of times." I understand the
sentiment behind such comments, but we only
have to look briefly at the unfolding of human
history to know that always, through all eras, the
Gospel of Christ has always been needed. Have we
forgotten the Dark Ages? The light of God as seen in Jesus,
has always been needed to dispel darkness. Always the
message of the Gospel is needed by people; by all people.
We hear John testifying in the opening verses of his
gospel, about Jesus, that He was "the true light, which
gives light to every man" (John 1:8).
May we be witnesses to that Light which is the light of
the world, the light which "darkness cannot comprehend"
(John 1:5).
So my friends, Commissioner Silvia and I exhort you to
prayer. In troubling times, our knees must bend more
than ever.
People in Paris, and many other places, are experienc-
ing multiple trials of the sort which most of us cannot
really comprehend. For them we pray that somehow, a
multiplication of peace, through the Holy Spirit, will be
their experience. If not today, then soon. God's grace be
with you.
General Andr� Cox, international leader of The Salvation
Army since 2013, directs the Army's work in 127 countries.
General Cox's
Open Letter
Following The Paris
Terrorist Attacks
5
The War Cry | JANUARY 2016
by General Andr� Cox
I
find myself writing just hours after hearing,
and observing through the media, the
horrific terrorist attacks in Paris. Some of
you will have seen my urgent call via twitter for
Salvationists to join in prayer for all those
terribly impacted by such senseless slaughter.
I exhort you to pray, deeply, for the grace of God
and the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit, to be
felt and experienced, in some manner, by the
hundreds of family members personally devastated by the
senseless loss of life in these hours. Death comes to all, but
how it comes and in what circumstances, can add layers of
added grief and pain. These circumstances, wherein people
were simply enjoying life and friendship on a Friday night,
would have seemed the most unlikely for the terrible carnage
which took place. The evil of terrorism reached into Parisian
cafes and concert halls to strike its innocent victims.
And I urge you to pray for the Church, the Body of Christ,
of which our Salvation Army is a vital part. Pray that we will
have the courage and the wisdom to fulfill our mission in
these times, a mission given by Christ to be both proclaimers
of His Gospel and also ministers of His grace and love to
all--regardless of their culture, race or creed. We are brothers
and sisters of one humanity. One humanity created, and
loved, by God.
There will possibly be strong voices within the public
sphere calling for vengeful retribution against those who
had nothing to do with these atrocities. In some small way
the voice of the Church, of you and I, can call for added
grace and care in these days. We can bring light into the
gloom.
Frontlines
02-07_FrontMatter_WC_Jan16_Werk7.indd 4
12/7/15 1:29 PM