Jesus on Terrorism: Part 2

Recent terror attacks in Paris, and now in Mali are tragic and a blight against the holiness of God.

Now our President wants to allow refugees into our country, with the very real probability that terrorists will masquerade as refugees with them. 

As I wrote yesterday, my gut response, instinct, is to cry out no. I have even stated as much in some other posts, criticizing our President for knowingly giving aid and comfort to enemy combatants. I do believe that if I engaged in such behavior, I would be considered a traitor and be tried for treason. Personally I wonder why others do not call for greater accountability from our President. 

However, in this writing I am not interested in my opinions. I want to examine the life of Christ and see what he has to say about how we are to interact with others. 

Yesterday, the first day of my study, I examined Matthew 7 and 5, both of which teach principles along the same line. I still struggle with the teaching because it does not fit with how I want to respond. I want to be angry, I want to hate, to see the murderous Islamic terrorists die. I struggle because there is very little room for mercy for them. 

Yet, the message is clear. We are to do good to those who persecute us. We are to bless and not curse. 

So principle #1 is to demonstrate compassion to our enemies. We do this not only with our prayers, but with demonstrable action.

Matthew 7:15-20 teaches us to beware of false teaching. 

I love engaging in discussions with others who say the Bible teaches that we should not judge others. They use this verse in the beginning of Chapter 7 as a way to morally absolve themselves of any type of spiritual accountability. Yet, here in the same breath, Christ says to beware of false teachers. Well, how do we discern false teachers unless we judge their behavior. 

Christ describes false teachers as wolves in sheep's clothing. 

These verses speak directly to applying discernment, judgement, within the body of Christ, but also to anyone who seeks to pervert the teaching of God. This can be applied to Islamic teaching. Islamic teaching is antithetical to the teaching of the Bible. I am not going to go into detail at this time to contrast the two teachings, and there is sufficient already written on this subject. 

Yes, God wants us to demonstrate compassion, even toward our enemies. However, he does not want us to lay aside discernment of situations that can damage the church family, and by extension our families and country. 

This teaching correlates to Christ's instructions for his disciples when he sent them out to teach in all the towns throughout Israel. Matthew 10:16-20 speaks about Christ sending out the disciples as sheep in the midst of wolves. "Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues." Later he gives warning that "...you will be hated by all for My name's sake. "

We will be rejected for our faith. Even with this warning, we are not to go about in fear. Christ encourages us: "do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." 

Principle #2: Compassion needs to be filtered with discernment. We cannot allow false teachers into our congregations, to corrupt the church and our family. 

As I read through Matthew, I do note that Christ demonstrated that heart of compassion time and time again. He heals the leaper, by touching him. He heals the blind, the centurion's servant, the woman with an issue of blood, he feeds the thousands, not just once but twice. If we need an example of someone loving his neighbor, of doing unto others as we want done to us. 

Again thank you for reading and may God bless you. 

Jesus on Terrorism: Part 1

Recent terrorist attacks in Paris, France and the United States' desire to provide shelter for refugees got me to thinking if the Bible and more particularly, Jesus has anything to say on this matter.

Just as a prelude, I make no apologies in saying that the Bible is the source of my world view. Its teachings are the basis of all that I hold dear. While I wish that all could know the joy and peace that I have in Christ, I understand that I cannot force anyone to accept this. Like any gift, the receiving of he gift is not in the hands of the giver but the recipient. 

Please note that my personal desire is to block the refugees from entering the United States. I want to protect our country, our families, our friends, our liberty. However, I am trying to look at this issue honestly, even if it is painful to my own desire. For my feelings should not shape the truth of God's word, but God's word should shape my feelings.

So what does Jesus say regarding terrorism and accepting refugees?

Jesus does not address the issue directly. You will not find chapter and verse indicating that you should or should not take a refugee into your home, figuratively speaking. However, we can draw some conclusions from principals that he taught during his earthly ministry.

The Golden Rule

Many of us are familiar with Matthew 7:12; 12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." ‑ ESV

This verse can be paired with verses found in chapter five.

Matthew 5:43ff: 43  You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

WOW! When I read this I cannot help but pause with conviction.
I don't like it. It does not align with my feelings to shelter and protect.
Please take a moment to read this a few times and let it sink in.

Lord, did you really mean this? Perhaps it only means people we do not regularly associate with; it is those to whom we should be nice, right Lord? Certainly we can exclude those who seek to do us harm? This is my line of thinking as I read these verses.

However, Christ is very pointed in his teaching. I must apply this teaching to those who 'hate', who are 'evil', who 'persecute' us.

I don't know about you, but this is a hard teaching. Christ does not insert an exclusion clause here. He says we are to pray for those who spitefully use us, who persecute us. This certainly sounds like what is happening internationally and even here on our shores. I must confess, I have not prayed for those who seek to do us harm, at least not in a positive manner.

What breaks my heart even more is the fact that he explains why we should do this. When we behave in the manner Christ describes, it is then we are demonstrating we are his children. Even God sends blessings on the just and the unjust. When I fail to act in this manner, I am not demonstrating that I am his child. This is a humbling, a sobering, thought. My attitude to ISIS, to Islamic terrorists, has not been one of compassion and love but hate and anger. These are not qualities of our Father in heaven. These are not the qualities demonstrated by Christ, even when he hung on the cross. Lord forgive me for my sin in this area.

So Christ teaches us to do what for our enemies? Clearly we are to pray for our enemies.

I am certain Christ is not talking about praying 'imprecatory' psalms, prayers of cursing; rather he couples this with the concept of blessing.

Now, praying seems safe. I am willing to pray for my enemies. I think of the movie, 'Fiddler on the Roof', when the people ask the Rabbi if there is a blessing for the Czar? He replies that there is a blessing for everything, including the Czar and goes on to say 'May the Lord Bless thee and Keep thee .... far away from us.' We feel comfortable with this part of the instruction because it still keeps the enemy away from us. It is a 'safe' thing to do.

But he calls us to 'bless' our enemies. What does he mean to 'bless' those who curse us? He says we are to do 'good' to them. When we do good, we bless. Here is where the rubber meets the road, where God's word collides with our humanity. This part 'costs' me something. It is not a popular teaching, and frankly I would expect that some will ridicule me for behaving in this manner.

So principle #1 is to demonstrate compassion to our enemies. We do this not only with our prayers, but with demonstrable action.

I am going to continue this study later. I think this is enough for tonight to contemplate.

May God bless you and thank you for taking the time to read.