Pastor David Rathel

‪#‎PrayForParis #PrayForMe‬  – Sunday Morning November 15th

‪#‎JeSuisParis‬  ‪#‎JesusParis‬

At first glance to my english-reading eyes, #JeSuisParis and #JesusParis look miraculously identical. 

I needed to discover these words tonight. I had an emotion without a meaning; A feeling without a phrase to set it free! This word play isn’t play at all, but a revelation to the calloused part of my heart that has trouble digesting yet another terrorist attack.

“Je Suis Paris” means “I AM PARIS” in the beautiful language of the French people and their capital.

It was originally the call to arms “Je Suis Charlie!” It was used as a slogan and a logo created by French art director Joachim Roncin and adopted by supporters of freedom of speech and freedom of the press after the 7 January 2015 massacre in which twelve people were killed at the offices of the French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo. It identifies a speaker or supporter with those who were killed at the Charlie Hebdo shooting. (Wikipedia)

On the night of the attacks, I felt what others are feeling: “Paris Is Too Much!” The blood, carnage, and pitiful disgrace of this senseless act of evil, religious hatred is simply too much. My mind and heart have been churning the same words over and over again:  

I Am Angry!
I Need Jesus!
Paris Needs Jesus!
Jesus Is Paris!
I AM PARIS!

At the beginning of World War II, the terrible reign of Hitler’s Third Reich trampled the French nation in terror. Images of the black Nazi Swastika looming on giant red flags draping the Arc De Triomphe were emblazoned in the minds of our grandparents generation. The same satanic spirit that inhabited the Nazis and led them to ravage Paris and all of Europe is on the rise again. This evil spirit’s human work is being done under a different religious deception and a new terrorist name, but it’s brutal anti-christ nature is all too familiar.

There is something about attacking a city as historic, alluring and beautiful as Paris that strengthens worldwide resolve. France played a great part in supporting the American Revolution and is our oldest ally. Near the end of the 18th century, events in the streets of Paris were the original seedbed of revolutionary democracy in Europe. France gave America The Stature Of Liberty in honor of our shared democratic ideals and revolutionary spirit. We have a lot of reasons to say #JeSuisParis, or #IAMPARIS!

The good news we treasure as Christians is that every time the nations have truly united to fight tyranny and and seek the Face Of God – HE HAS DELIVERED US! 

Jesus loves Paris. As we weep over this loss and destruction, let us never lose sight of Christ our Messiah saving up every tear and adding his own. The Christian faith has always been the faith of desperate people throughout the ages. The power of Jesus is the power of a heroic redeemer who sets his people free from tyranny, terror, evil, sin, and the grave.  

Jesus wants to be accepted as the great warrior and protector that the Parisienns and people everywhere long for. He laid down His life for you so He could become the love of our lives. May all of us see the terror alive in our world and turn our hearts to Jesus Christ as our leader in love and hero in battle!

Join us tomorrow morning at RiverTown Church as we look into the word of God for His power and hope in times of danger and fear.

Pastor David Rathel.