On June 6, 8 and 17, I flew through the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. About two weeks later, three suicide bombers blew up themselves and killed over 40 other people at that airport. The bombers were in the arrivals, departure and security areas of the airport when they triggered the explosives. I had been in all three areas where they were. I am not sure how I am feeling about that. On June 7th, I was 15 minutes away from a bomb that killed nine policemen, also in Istanbul. I am not sure how I am feeling about these two experiences.
The odds are still low about being killed in a terrorist attack. But, it is not about that. If I have faith in God, that God will be with me. God has not prevented others from being killed, so there are no guarantees about being saved from an attack or anything else for that matter. I do not have faith in God because I believe that I will be saved from all calamities. I do not only have faith to get into heaven either. I have faith that God is here with me, just as God was here with his son, Jesus of Nazareth. But faith is not certainty.
So, at this point, I will return to Turkey and Greece to lead tours exploring the world of Paul. Paul being that theologian, church planter, scholar and letter writer from the first century who led the early church. It would seem to me, if Paul could travel to dangerous places, and have faith, then I should also do it. I am not into being a martyr. I do not think that God, or Jesus or Paul demands that any of us be martyrs. We need to be faithful.
So, at this point, I will travel to Istanbul airport again, because if I do not go there, then the terrorists win, or at least I lose some part of my faith. Again, I am not wanting to be a martyr. During my recent trip to Turkey, I went by two other places where the terrorists had killed people. I do not want to live, or die, or travel in fear. I struggle with fears every day, so I want to meet them head-on. Maybe traveling to Turkey or other places is a real statement of my faith in God, Son and Holy Spirit.
And, if I do not return to Istanbul, what does it say to our Turkish partners. The guides and the bus drivers have to go to the airport every week to pick up tourists and business people. They will live their lives the same way they have done for many years. They have faith, and if I write to them that I think it is too dangerous to come to see the sights of Turkey next year, what am I saying about my faith. What would Paul have done? He continued to travel despite the risks.
And the terrorists are not Muslim. They are terrorists. For whatever the reasons, they have lost faith in themselves, in the future and they have no hope. Their faith is misguided, so they believe that their acts of violence will bring them into the presence of Allah or God. I cannot believe that about God at all. Ever.
Jesus of Nazareth was at risk all his life. He was a refugee as a baby. They had to move from his hometown because a violent leader was nearby. He was threatened with death after he spoke at his home church (synagogue). One of his best friends conspired to kill him. The religious leaders saw him as a threat. The political leaders did not understand him, but they had him beaten and eventually killed. Jesus’ life must have meaning for me, for my life in the here and now. Life is a dangerous occupation, and I will try to not live in fear. Istanbul, I will come to visit you again.