Jesus and Terrorists tagged: , , ,

Jesus and Terrorists

Posted by in Bible & Theology, News & Culture

I often read the Holy Scriptures and find myself considering one of the characters an idiot or a madman or sinful or worse. That is good, we need to be able to recognize what is good and bad in a story in the Bible and whose example to follow. The problem I often have is figuring out how my life or current events relate to that idiot, madman or sinner. One of the reasons this “application” of the Holy Scriptures to my life is so difficult at times is due to the ideas, thoughts, biases and prejudices I have carried around for my entire life. I say all this to say that my view of terrorists has changed dramatically since 9/11. Read on…

Terrorism: The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence to intimidate or coerce societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons. – The American Heritage College Dictionary

Zealot: Zealot opposition to Roman rule was rooted in zeal for the Torah and for God the only King. The Zealot regarded himself as an agent of divine judgment and redemption, resolutely and fearlessly contending against idolatry, apostasy, and collaboration… As hostility between Rome and Judea sharpened, the religious motivation was channeled by nationalist feeling into a “holy war.” – Tyndale Bible Dictionary

And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he names apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. – Luke 6:13-16

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. – Paul in Galatians 1:13-14

I have had a major paradigm shift. Mostly due to studying the Bible, but also partly due to interacting with Muslims (and yes, I am certain that I have interacted with some radicals) throughout the Arab world. Following are three of my perspectives that have changed over the last few years:

First, I once viewed terrorists as our enemies. Now my perspective is slightly different:

1. I was once in bondage to Satan and far from God. I was once an enemy of God and just as sinful and vile as any terrorist who breathes today. However, I have been brought near to Him and now enjoy His magnificent Kingdom not because war was waged against me, but because it was waged against the powers of darkness on my behalf.
2. While terrorists may be political enemies to our earthly government, my allegiance is to an everlasting Kingdom of which I am a citizen. And this Kingdom has for its enemy Satan. As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we wage war against Satan and his evil on behalf of the rest of humanity (including terrorists).

Second, I once thought that retaliating to terrorists with force would solve the problem of terrorism. Now I see our options, as God’s people, from a slightly different perspective:

1. Political entities and earthly kingdoms will all pass away. But His Kingdom is everlasting and it is our inheritance. We should labor, in His power, on its behalf.
2. God not only reconciles us to Himself when He brings us into His Kingdom, but He also reconciles us one to another.
3. There is NO other solution to the hatred in this world, emanating from any socio-political-religious group, than Jesus. If the terrorists will die on behalf of their cause, we will never win a war against them with guns. I’m from the South and we have the same mentality. One of my favorite t-shirts growing up said, “They can have my gun(s) when they pry it out of my cold, dead hand.” Terrorists will continue to be zealous for their cause, even to death. Only the Prince of Peace can reconcile their hearts to God and to the rest of humanity. We need to see God’s heart for reconciling zealots, radicals and terrorists like Simon and Saul to Himself and to the rest of humanity.

Third, I once thought that since I am not a soldier, I could play no role in the war against terrorism. My perspective is now slightly different:

1. I am an ambassador of the greatest and only everlasting Kingdom. I have been entrusted with the Good News of reconciliation with God and with one another. Light must be taken to the darkness if the darnkess is to be dispelled. I needed to quit cursing the darkness and go light a candle!
2. God loves terrorists. They are enslaved to Satan and their allegiance is to the wrong kingdom. This can only be changed if we genuinely love them, act upon our love and go to war on their behalf.

Please understand that this is not some kind of anti-American article. I love my country and the people who comprise it. So does God. But He also loves those of other nationalities, ethnic groups, political persuasions and even those who are held captive by Satan through hatred. In closing, I would like to offer two passages from the Holy Scriptures for reflection and meditation:

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” – Jonah 3:10-4:4

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. – Acts 9:10-17

Whose example will we follow?