A Christian's response to ISIS
A Christian's response to ISIS
The Bible tells us the difference between us and those who don’t love Christ is love in action.
We are called to pray for not just those whom we love, enjoy, get along with, agree with, etc.
Instead we are told that we are to pray for those with whom we don’t agree, with those who wish us pain.
Matthew 5:44Amplified Bible (AMP)
44 “But I say to you, [a]love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Message version states it this way: v.43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
We are called to pray for not just those whom we love, enjoy, get along with, agree with, etc.
Instead we are told that we are to pray for those with whom we don’t agree, with those who wish us pain.
Matthew 5:44Amplified Bible (AMP)
44 “But I say to you, [a]love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Message version states it this way: v.43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
Footnotes:
Matthew 5:44 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.
Matthew 5:44 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.
So here is my question, comment, concern.
How are we as Christians responding to I.S.I.S.?
Are we taking the time to pray for them? To deliberately, specifically, effectively pray for them. Do we pray “God destroy them”? Or, are we praying for them from a place of love?
Are we taking the time to pray for them? To deliberately, specifically, effectively pray for them. Do we pray “God destroy them”? Or, are we praying for them from a place of love?
That they see the light we see? To find the loving God we know? That they hunger for the truth we have found? Do we pray that those Christians who are becoming martyrs show God’s love in such a way that these radicals are haunted by them and become changed from the inside out? Do we pray that they see signs and wonders that show forth the hand of our Living God? Do we ask God to heal the deep life hurt that is drawing them to this radicalization? Do we pray for them at all?
So, I am asking the family of God to pray for them – specifically, deliberately, with the concerted purpose of calling on God to turn their hearts towards him. Can we do this? Can we show the difference to the world that Jesus required of us? Can we in our daily prayer time follow through with the teaching John gave about showing our love of God by loving others when they despise us?
I do not think we should share this publically on Facebook; we end up with critics and misunderstanding and cannot share our hearts effectively. So I ask we share this prayer request only with those we know are living for Christ and will choose to pray. So please either send to closed groups or message to the family.
I ask that we not use this as a platform to vent our outrage about the evil prevalent in the world today, that we not utilize this as a chatroom about our personal views or situations, nor that we use it as a way to pray in written form on this thread. Instead that it is just a call to prayer.
Here are my requests for them:
1. They begin to hunger after righteousness with a deep hunger that must be satisfied.
2. They desire truth.
3. They see the difference between their lives and those of the Christians with whom they interact.
4. They see God’s hand in their lives in a real, practical, physical way. Undeniable Power.
5. They open their heart to hear the voice of God and answer his call to come to him.
6. They find others who can assist them in becoming mature believers of Christ.
Paul became a Christian after persecuting Christians; so can they. Just look at how much he was able to accomplish for Christ. Let us change the world. Please join me in prayer.
Vyanna
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