"IN A WORLD THAT'S FILLED WITH HATE, HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN RESPOND?
"God bless Great Grandma,, and, Daddy.. Help us to have a good night's sleep. And oh, yah,God, please Bless and protect all those people in Syria and rag that are being killed and terrorized, and please bless and be with those ISIS people, You know that they nare so angry because they don't know You, and don't love You, Amen"
I kissed my 8 year old son, put him to bed, and in shock walked back to my bedroom. As I sat down, my head was spinning. Did my son just ask God to bless and be with terrorists?? Why would God, the Creator of all, be with those who force people to "Convert of die"?
All others in the house were either asleep or otherwise occupied, and I was alone with my thoughts. I kept asking God, "Why would my boy ask You to bless them"
It was the summer of 2014, and the world and I watched with horror as the ISIS terrorist organisation attacked, persecuted,killed, and drove out thousands of people from their homes, just because they disagreed with them. I had asked God to stop them, but I was taken aback by my son's love even for THEM.
Just A few hours before, as mu family sat around the dinner table, and talked about our day. I had given my children, age appropriate version of the day's world events. When we got to the situation in Iraq, my son asked a simple question" Daddy why are these ISIS people doing this"?
My 12 year old daughter- who is convinced she knows everything already, shot back ,"Hurting People, hurt people!" They are doing this because they are very angry and they hurt people, because they don't know Jesus!"
My Son said, "OK" and finished his meal. Relieved, I thought the episode was over. Little did I know that still waters run deep. Fast-forward to his bed-time, and well-- you know how that turned out.
But his prayer kept eating at me. I couldn't shake it. Did God really expect my family and me, to be praying that God would bless ISIS?. This question drove me to deep and prolonged prayers and Bible study. I needed to know what God siad about terrorists--people who purposely and ruthlessly harm and persecute others, simply due to a difference in values, religion, or beliefs. And if God did say something about them, how does it relate toy life?
s I prayed, read, studied and struggled with the cognitive dissonance I felt by being someone who passionately love God and others but one who hates sin. I n all its forms., I came to this conclusion: God addresses terrorism and persecutions in surprisingly clear and plain language. He gave us a principle in an Old Testament story (actually an entire book) and then teases out that principle in several New Testament passages.
MUCH MORE THAN A FISH STORY.
The ols Book's story of Jonah bears a striking resemblance to what's happening with ISIS. Jonah, a prophet of God, was told to deliver a message, to the people of Nineveh, which was the most flourishing capital, of an incredibly ruthless, and evil Assyrian Empire, a kingdom in the northern Mesopotamia, a kingdom of the center of none of the great empires of the ancient Middle East. I was located in today's northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey. Nineveh was built on the banks of the Tigris River, opposite of today's Mosul, Iraq-- which in 2014 was the heart of the very region that was terrorized by ISIS.
The Assyrians, and by extension, the Ninevites, were a wicked, cruel and paga dpeople. They. They pioneered brutal and unspeakable ways to torture others, especially Israel.
NOTE(JB) : There's much agreement among historians and archaeologists, that they "INVENTED" the "ART" of crucifixion, a method of killing, which a strong man may last up to three days before the mercy of death. Remember that Rome, came on the picture of history much latter, by some 1,000 years!
So when God told Jonah to deliver a message of Judgment and destruction, he was thrilled. He was excited that God wanted to destroy the Ninevites, because... well they deserved it, in Jonah's mind.
NOTE(JB): a bit of background here.... Dagon, their "FISH-god," Google it and see pictures of rock carvings, showing his priests in a fish tail, with scales and wearing a fish-mouth hat. The same
"MITER-HATS" we see on the Catholic Church's leaders yet today! The "Prayer-beads" came from the Hindus, as well as their many "Processions".Much of their doctrines came to them from Babylon,, such as eternal souls, die and go to one's reward, Easter from Astarte their Queen of heavens and fertility symbols of Bunnies and Eggs, to which they revere Mary as of 1850's! Mary death is not recorded in the Bible, nor is her resurrection!
1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
Please note ONE MAN, as The Mediator, that excludes their Mediatrix Mary, who is still in her grave along with King David! Learn the Bible and take God's word in place of those of men, whose bloated ego's are too large for mortal to carry, without Satan's help! 2 Thess. 2:1-15 and Revelation's 13: 2 and 18:4. Yes men say Revelation's is not for us to understand but they then ignore Rev.1:3 and besides read John 1L:1-3 and 14 and ask "Why would Jesus, "The WORD" write Revelation if he did n't want men to read and study it? Besides much of this book borrows from the Old Book words phrases and whole verses, especially Daniel which without it one can't understand the symbolics, of "The Revelations of Jesus Christ"!
SO when the Holy Bible's "fish" spewed up Jonah on the beach, he was a living messenger of their god Dagon, and they ALL headed his words, and collectively repented, as their king demanded and God relented and chose NOT to destroy them, then! When this happened Jonah decided, wrongly, to put God i n His place by whining and complaining to Him about his frustration.. The book ends with Jonah seemingly not getting the message that God is kind and compassionate and seeks to extend mercy to all--- the same mercy He extended to Jonah and his fellow Israelites.
Jonah's stubborn, uncaring attitude smacks uncomfortably close to the attitudes of many Christians as we see the atrocities of ISIS unfold right before our eyes. If was say we love God and others, shouldn't we respond and pray for God to bless and to bring them all to repentance--- not just to destroy them?
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.
Look at how the following verse expands upon the principle of the Jonah story.....in Christ's words.....
Matthew 5:38-48 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, 39. That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.40 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"
WHAT! Did Jesus really mean what He said?? That we are blessed when we are to love those who seek us to do things that are hurtful and not good? That we should give to others all that they ask of us by demand? We should walk with them Vs. 40-41? Plus to love, and pray for them, and not to resist an evil person Vs. 39.
Did Y O U make note of His stinging rebuke at the end? "Be ye perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect" Vs. 48.Jesus is here telling us not only that these "strange" actions are mandated but that they are possible only through His powers at work within uis and in our lives.
Here's the more troubling question: "Does Jesus want us to be Christian Carpets and let all others, who seek to do us wrong, just walk all over us?"
Well, YES and NO! Let me explain.
The apostle Paul, writing to the church in Rome, clarified Jesus' instructions through his unique perspective. Let's not ever forget that Paul used to be called "Saul" and he had persecuted Christians to the point of death! Paul reminded the Roman Christians that they shouldn't take revenge on others, but instead should let God take care of that.....
Romans 12:9 " Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."
Hebrews 10:30 "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people"
Paul ended his counsel with this.unbelievable zinger: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" Vs,21.
THE THIRD OPTION.
Paul, --like Jesus--- made it abundantly clear that we are not to seek revenge when persecuted. This emotion follows anger, and its perfectly normal for all humanity, but as Christ men and women, we are not to respond in this way.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 " Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."
Note(JB) : ever notice when anger enters the hearts of people, wisdom departs? People do and say things they'd never do or say otherwise! The culprit? Most often it's self-pride! IT is this very emotion that changed Lucifer into Satan! Get the connection???
So, if we shouldn't 'pay-back' evil for evil, should we do nothing? That's not right either, now is it?
That's why Jesus and Paul recognized that the best option is the third one: To let God take care of it. If we truly love Him, and believe in His Word, and we trust Him because we know that HE has all the powers, and is the perfect and ultimate Judge, then we can leave those wrongs in the safest place of all: in HIS hands.
Hebrews 10:30 " For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people."
NOTE(JB) : If the Hatfields and the McCoys had followed Christ's advice, this feud would not ever take n place.
WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD.
The simple truth, there's nothing more difficult that dealing with one whose sole purpose for living is to torment and persecute us and those whom we love. Yet Jesus did not give us a pass on this. If...if...we call ourselves His followers--- if we seek to be like Him--- we must by necessity, act as He acted, agree?
Today,, I want to challenge Y O U to do five things for those who purposely persecute you in order to respond to that persecution as Jesus would:
1) PRAY FOR YOUR PERSECUTORS. Commit to praying for them each, and every day. At this point, don't inform them th.at you're praying for them. Remember, this IS NOT about YOU, jit's about them! It's been my pleasant experience, that after a few or more prayers, it's very difficult to remain angry with them, and still hate them.
2) FORGIVE THEM. Yes, forgive before your Father-God, in Christ's name and for sake! AND YOURS! Look at the example Jesus set before us at the Cross!
Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
Therefore if we want to be like Jesus, we must also do and act as He, agree?
3) DO SOMETHING FOR THEM. Several years ago my daughter was singled out for verbal bullying and abuse by an older girl. After my daughter spoke with her mother and me, she prayed about it and felt strongly impressed to begin praying for this girls every day. She also picked some flowers and gave them to her. The next week my daughter was pleasantly surprised to see a positive response from this young lady, and the bullying stopped. Pray, and take the time to listen to God's Holy Spirit, and then give a kindness to your persecutor.
4) ATTEMPT TO EMPATHIZE. Remember what my daughter said about ISIS? "HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE" They are doing this because they know not Jesus, and the fact that they've been brought up with this kind of thinking, "All who do not believe as we do, are to be killed" This is all most of the living members of this faith, have known since birth, for generations i n fact, look.......
Genesis 16:11-12 "And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."
NOTE(JB) : Yes Ismael and his Mom got a raw deal from Abraham, by sending them away empty- handed, yet this region will not ever see true peace until Jesus returns! How many have seen the news file, about the interview of a two year boy, who was asked, "What do you want to do, when your are grown up? He shouted "KILL JEWS!" Would YOUR two year have given such an answer? NO!
Thus, trying to understand where the other person is coming from, and how that colors his or her actions.
5). BE OPEN TO BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP.
YE,S IT'S TRUE, THAT YOU MAY NOT EVER WANT TO BE BEST FRIENDS, with that person, who makes it is or her purpose in life to to make your life miserable. However, we are here, to fulfill our main purpose,, to make disciples for Jesus! You may not like it, nor enjoy this, but people are watching you how you handle this situation, even the one who hobby is making you miserable!
Note(JB) : They will be the most impressed with your Christ-like dealings with them, and that they may have a change of heart
"I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU....REALLY!
Hebrews 13:5" Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
THIS IS hIS promise TO EACH ONE OF US! Claim it every day in prayers. WHY?
Living on this earth in these bodies of flesh, humans all, are subjected as Christians to Satan's and the world' anger. Persecutions, and torment, and deceptions galore! However, things SHALL get much, much worse to closer we come, in time to His Second Coming! The closer we get, to that point in time, the faster events will progress.However, we can be fully assured that no matter what happens, God will not ever leave those who claim Him through Christ Crucified yet lives to intercede on our behalf.. In full truth...
Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
This is the very reason that we MUST turn the other cheek, and allow God to guide and protect us, and for HIM to judge and recompense us! Let's all make up our collective minds to not be as knuckle-headed as Jonah, who has not as yet learned about God's grace! Remember His promise.....
John 14:1-4 " Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know."
How can Y O U know? read His 66 Love Letters to Y O U His child! The Holy Bible!
All quotes ar3e from the King James Version (John B)
Thanking Y O U for your time, Questions? Comments? John at servant@frontier.com or bazenj@gmial .com
NEED/ WANT more? Visit you Seventh-day Adventist Church, knowing that ONLY Y O U can fill the place your Father has set aside for you, forever, in heaven.
OTHER SITES: EDW@CENTERFORONLINEEVANGELISM.ORG ; blbn.ORG: AFTV.org:
Amazingdiscoeries.org : itiswritten.com : redeen.international servantsite@wordpress.com
cc/jb
