Will Muslims Target Another US Jetliner for Next Terrorist Attack?

In the wake of Thursday’s tragic downing by a surface-to-air missile of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a Boeing 777 carrying 295 passengers and crew, author Alex McFarland offers his deepest condolences followed by a dire warning.

Not only for the Malaysians, but now for the world at large, the scope of this tragedy is magnified by the revelation that this, too, was terrorism. The downing of this plane, and the evil people who would take the lives of 300 innocent people, must serve as a wake-up call to American leaders that we are in times that demand prayer and repentance on the part of all Americans.

America must be the leader in turning to the true God—as an example to the world. As a minister of the gospel, a student of the Bible, and as one who has followed present history and studied the past, let me say that we soon will have similar tragedies on American soil—if we do not turn to God soon.

I have studied Islam for 20 years, and I can say with confidence that terrorist groups are in a race to choreograph a similar bloodletting right here on American soil. For Muslims, it would be the ultimate “trophy” to bring down yet another airliner—as they have done before—full of U.S. citizens exclusively, and to do it on American soil. Think of how demoralizing it would be if, God forbid, terrorists take out one or more of our historic buildings in Washington, D.C.

Our elected officials must step up and take the lead in calling our nation to repent and pray. And by prayer, our officials must have the spiritual and moral courage to publicly call on the name of the biblical God. Not politically correct homogenized prayers designed more to placate special-interest groups rather than garner the attention of the Almighty!

It is time for America to again reassert herself as the moral and spiritual conscience of the world, that for so long she was. During the Reagan years, left-leaning types complained about our perceived role as “the world’s policeman.” But why was America in the position to aggressively fight evil and to valiantly shine forth goodness? It was because we knew the God of our founders.

The ’60s and ’70s took an immeasurable toll, but during the Reagan years of the 1980s, we were still close enough to our Judeo-Christian heritage that people thought it appropriate when a president would invoke words like God, the Bible, prayer, repentance and yes, the name of Jesus!

Citizens—and especially elected leaders—it is time for America to turn to God. Soon, the lost victims will be American citizens on American soil. This is no time to talk about God in politically correct terms. This is the time to turn to God—vocally, visibly and truthfully.

Swift judgment is coming to this nation unless we turn from sin, publicly repent and pray, and we must have the participation of our leaders. Judgment from God, in the form of terrorists increasingly trying to bring the world to its knees in fear, will be our lot if we do not make a pervasive, national decision to follow the true God. And this means politicians will have to “come out of the closet” spiritually. It is very much time that our allegiance must show, and may the God of our founders grant that that allegiance is toward Him, the only true God.

Alex McFarland is a speaker, writer and advocate for Christian apologetics. He serves as director of the Center for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at North Greenville University and is the author of several books, including the best-selling 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity.