Psalm 10:17-18 — You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror. (NIV)

I was too late last night to reflect fully on the attack on the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo. Tonight though, I’d like to say a few things.
John Peter Lange, in his commentary on these verses, says what I feel about terrorists — any terrorists:

The enemies of the pious are not only strong, crafty, unscrupulous, cruel, and eager to devise the ruin of their opponents, but they are likewise without faith, and godless even to the extent of denying that there is a God. But whilst they rage. scorn, and blaspheme, and in their pride wickedly disregard all Divine commands, and offend against all human order and rights; God sees how they act and how His servants suffer; and God reveals to them both the power of his hand, as the God who is always and eternally King.

That’s how I feel about all terrorists. I don’t care what your cause is — God, country, race, environment — I don’t care. Terrorism offends against God and man.
The way I feel about terror and terrorists doesn’t make me supportive of the virulent anti-Islamic abuse that has followed. One disgusting comment I saw today said “It’s time to start a jihad against Islamic terrorists.” It is not our job to start holy wars! Paul covers the question very thoroughly:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21 NIV)

In other words, hard as it is, It is our duty as as Christians to reach out to Arabs and Muslims, and to resist the easy option of Islamophobia (which, like anti-semitism is on the rise in Europe).
The last thing I want to say is pray! Pray for the victims at Charlie Hebdo, and the staff who remain and are committed to printing 1m copies of next week’s edition. Pray for the families of the victims. Pray too, for the people of France.
These terrible events always ask questions of us. In the face of terror what kind of Christians are we, will we trust that almighty God will defend the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror?