NSA: National Security Agency ?

DateLine (1/18/06 – Buies Creek, North Carolina)
Guest Contributor for Reference Point - Tripp Atkins (Yes Tripp is writing this column)

On the December 18, 2005 edition of “Meet the Press” with Tim Russert, there was a discussion with U.S. Secretary of State, Condi Rice. I can call her Condi because, believe me, we’re close. Any way the discussion was about the NSA “spying” on Americans within the U.S. President Bush described a scene where Americans have been communicating with known al-Qaeda groups abroad planning attacks and other treacherous actions.

There are a number of legal and constitutional arguments on each side of this issue, and a number of reasons to continue or discontinue the practice. The main reason cited by Secretary Rice (and probably a good reason at that) to continue the spying was that before 911 there was a “seam” in the intelligence community. The local and state officials had their eyes focused inward (toward the USA) while some federal agencies were focused outward, all the while none of these agencies shared any information. Thus creating a seam that could be exploited by terrorists, a seam between two worlds. The NSA’s action by “spying” on possible American terrorists was to focus some of the federal agency’s attention inwardly and eliminate the seam.

God placed his people in a world much like that described by Secretary Rice. There is a seam in the world for Christians: the spiritual world and the natural world described in John 17: 13. The natural world offers power, money, and more – but the natural world corrupts. Knowing all of this, God chose to leave His son and His people in the world.

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them in the truth; Your world is truth.
As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. (John 17: 13-18)

During these times, and especially since 9/11/2001, people need to feel secure. And the government is trying to provide that security. I’m glad that as a Christian, we do not have to rely on men to protect us, but we are protected far beyond what the government could do. The Christian’s security comes from God and knowing that Jesus prayed that God would protect His people from evil while they worked in the natural world.