As of this moment, Mr. Terry Jones, the leader of a tiny sect called Dove International 'Outreach' Center in Gainesville, Fl (emphasis mine), has called off his plan to burn 200+ copies of the Koran to mark the 9th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks against America. While there is confusion over the agreement reached yesterday between the local Imam and Mr. Jones, the world is breathing a sigh of relief over this matter (though protests in Afghanistan over this event have turned deadly).
But what if Mr. Jones decides to go ahead with it? What if someone else takes up this charge and burns Korans publicly but in a different location? What if this ignites the Muslim community domestically and abroad?
What if we were simply Christians and TRUSTED God?
Is God moving Mr. Jones to do this thing? No.
Is God moving someone else to commit this disrespectful thing? No.
Is God causing the violent temperment of radical Islam? No.
But what God IS doing is working through these things.
"And we know that for those who love God, everything works together unto good for them who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28).
Paul explains throughout his letter to Rome the fact that God works through both righteousness and unrighteousness in order to bring about the best for His people. He would so much rather work through righteousness (Romans 3:1-8 and elsewhere), but He works through both just the same. God in His foreknowledge has already seen what will happen, and for the sake of His people (Rom. 8:29-32), He has decided what He will do and and how He will do it to accomplish His purpose. It doesn't mean man's free will is negated for fate; it just means God already knows what man will choose.
Will God reveal to us what will happen and how things will turn out? He already has (read the Revelation to John). Specifically to this instance, we do not know if this one event will lead to the ultimate demise of this country. We do not know if this one event will lead a vast majority of those caught up in the Islamic religion to come to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. In whatever injustice, oppression, etc., that happens, what we can know for certainty is that God is working, and God will ultimately triumph over the minions of the Adversary.
And that's where our FAITH comes into play. Faith is just a fancy word for trust--and faith in God simply means trust in God--trust that God is in control, trust that God is rebuilding all things through Jesus Christ, trust that God has saved us for a purpose on this Earth. And that purpose is to continue the mission of Jesus in extending the love of the only true and living God and the invitation to join us in submission to Jesus Christ in God's mission to rebuild a creation ravaged by sin. Where will our trust be tomorrow? In our nation's leaders or clergymen who will try to keep the peace with political rhetoric? Or in the only true and living God who is so much greater than anyone, any nation, or anything that happens on this Earth?
We don't need a gun by our side to protect us from threats. We don't need bodyguards or the like to keep us safe from invaders. The Psalmist says, "You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield."
In God we trust on the 9th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Blessed are the Peacemakers
"The peacemakers are happy because they will be called the sons [or children/sons and daughters] of God." Matthew 5:9.
The State Department calls it "un-American" and "inflammatory".
Senator Hillary Clinton calls it a "disrespectful, disgraceful act".
General David Petraeus says it will jeopardize all efforts at peace in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
But Mr. Terry Jones, the leader of a tiny sect called Dove International 'Outreach' Center in Gainesville, FL (emphasis mine), believes he is entitled to illegally burn copies of the Koran this Saturday (illegal because the local Fire Department has refused to issue a permit for it).
I watched Harry Smith this morning on the Early Show on CBS ask Mr. Jones, "Do you consider the extremist your enemy?" Mr. Jones replied, "Yes," and the follow-up question from Mr. Smith was, "Didn't Jesus say to love your enemy?" Mr. Jones replied with an answer to the idea that this was a different matter," indicating his need to do this regardless of what anyone says. He shared with America the story of how a Muslim woman came onto the property of the Dove Center and denounced his plan to burn a Koran, saying he would face severe judgment for his deed. He used this story as an example of WHY HE NEEDED TO BURN A KORAN! Why did the Muslim lady pay him a visit to begin with?
Mr. Jones is going to do what he thinks he needs to do regardless of what the Scriptures say (the very Scriptures he discarded in front of America this very morning, so he showed he really has no use for them). My point in this blog post is this: are YOU a peacemaker in your community? Being a peacemaker doesn't mean you have to condone injustice, oppression and sin. We as Christians carry the sword of the Spirit (the word of God) with us into battle against the minions of the Adversary every day. But, as the Holy Spirit tells us, our war is not with flesh and blood--"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph. 6:12, NASB). We are not fighting against man and his wicked deeds. The one thing we as Christians are called to do is "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Notice what love is in 1 Corinthians 13:
Love is patient, kind, non-envious, non-boastful, non-arrogant, does not behave unbecomingly (out of character), non-self-seeking, not easily provoked, does not dwell on evil, does not delight in sin but rejoices in the truth. Love believes, bears, hopes and endures all things. Love never comes to an end.
Our love toward our fellow man is an attack against the forces of the Adversary. Consider Matthew 5:43-48 as well as Romans 12:17-21. We aren't called to burn books that others respect as holy. We are called to show them the love of God and through that, standing alongside the Master Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Let's make every effort to show our neighbor the love of God just as God showed His love (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10). And in this way, not in vengeance and retaliation, we are peacemakers who will be known as children of God.
The State Department calls it "un-American" and "inflammatory".
Senator Hillary Clinton calls it a "disrespectful, disgraceful act".
General David Petraeus says it will jeopardize all efforts at peace in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
But Mr. Terry Jones, the leader of a tiny sect called Dove International 'Outreach' Center in Gainesville, FL (emphasis mine), believes he is entitled to illegally burn copies of the Koran this Saturday (illegal because the local Fire Department has refused to issue a permit for it).
I watched Harry Smith this morning on the Early Show on CBS ask Mr. Jones, "Do you consider the extremist your enemy?" Mr. Jones replied, "Yes," and the follow-up question from Mr. Smith was, "Didn't Jesus say to love your enemy?" Mr. Jones replied with an answer to the idea that this was a different matter," indicating his need to do this regardless of what anyone says. He shared with America the story of how a Muslim woman came onto the property of the Dove Center and denounced his plan to burn a Koran, saying he would face severe judgment for his deed. He used this story as an example of WHY HE NEEDED TO BURN A KORAN! Why did the Muslim lady pay him a visit to begin with?
Mr. Jones is going to do what he thinks he needs to do regardless of what the Scriptures say (the very Scriptures he discarded in front of America this very morning, so he showed he really has no use for them). My point in this blog post is this: are YOU a peacemaker in your community? Being a peacemaker doesn't mean you have to condone injustice, oppression and sin. We as Christians carry the sword of the Spirit (the word of God) with us into battle against the minions of the Adversary every day. But, as the Holy Spirit tells us, our war is not with flesh and blood--"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph. 6:12, NASB). We are not fighting against man and his wicked deeds. The one thing we as Christians are called to do is "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Notice what love is in 1 Corinthians 13:
Love is patient, kind, non-envious, non-boastful, non-arrogant, does not behave unbecomingly (out of character), non-self-seeking, not easily provoked, does not dwell on evil, does not delight in sin but rejoices in the truth. Love believes, bears, hopes and endures all things. Love never comes to an end.
Our love toward our fellow man is an attack against the forces of the Adversary. Consider Matthew 5:43-48 as well as Romans 12:17-21. We aren't called to burn books that others respect as holy. We are called to show them the love of God and through that, standing alongside the Master Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Let's make every effort to show our neighbor the love of God just as God showed His love (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10). And in this way, not in vengeance and retaliation, we are peacemakers who will be known as children of God.
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