I started writing this a couple of weeks ago after the Paris attacks but then I got sick and my energy and motivation in writing took a serious hit. Feeling better now, and stunned by the news of more terrorist activity in a community not that far from here, I decided it was time to sit down and write.
I’m not here to make a political statement, though what I believe can certainly have political overtones—for me the problems arising from violent acts, not necessarily terrorist related, and the acts perpetrated by terrorists are both moral and spiritual and cannot be contained by denial nor legislation. Jesus warned, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). While some may say that global warming is contributing to this world’s demise, scripture confirms that spiritual cooling is a sign of the earth’s final days.
Along with burgeoning violence all over the world, there is the Syrian refugee crisis, as well as dilemma caused by illegal immigration. For many people, the answers are clear-cut and the media feeds many of those opinions. But for Christians, there must only be one point of reference, one source of truth (not opinion) for how we acknowledge and respond to the fluid morality and evil, demonic activities rampant all around us—and it is the Bible, God’s inerrant Word, and source of counsel throughout the unfolding of history.
As Christians, we are not limited to criticizing governments and condemning leaders because those behaviors solve nothing and they run contrary to scripture: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22); and, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).
Yet it is much easier to express an opinion than study scripture—are we despising prophecies when we don’t take the time to open God’s Word and study for ourselves what it teaches? Are we exhibiting faithlessness when we are criticizing instead of rejoicing? Do anger and fear color our conversations more deeply than gentleness and thanksgiving? I have to ask myself these things because I find it so much easier to speak to others about the evil rampant throughout this nation and the world than approaching God in brokenness and supplication, praying for this nation and the world.
Do my words express faith or fear? Does laziness or an eagerness to pursue what God has to say exemplify my willingness to pick up the Bible to study His Word? Asking these questions is not about generating condemnation; rather, it is about understanding what motivates our lives. The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?…” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Do we need to repent for our faithless, ungodly, lazy attitudes towards our God and our Savior? We have the assurance that God will forgive us when we do—and He will change us! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:9, 10).
We need to pray for those in government, those in authority over us, that God will give them wisdom and guide their decisions—and rejoice that He hears us! “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
Rather than letting fear and “what ifs?” cloud our thinking about the refugee crisis, let us pray that God will give our leaders wisdom on the national level, and willingness within churches and the hearts of individuals to pursue ministry opportunities for the broken and homeless. Involvement in shattered lives is not optional for Christ’s followers; Jesus taught us concerning judgment, “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’…And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36, 40). Although we do not like the word “religion”, the Holy Spirit instructs through James, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).
If you are unsure about how God wants you to be involved, ask Him! Here also, are a few links of ministries actively involved in the Middle East:
Let us pray that we will shine as lights in this dark world!
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