Should Christians Love, And Pray For, Terrorists?
Praying for Terrorists
by: Jan Markell
A prominent Christian recently asked, “What is the Christian response to terrorists?” He chastises Christians for seeing them as alien beings who have taken human form to torment mankind. Are we capable of loving them? Can you imagine doing good to them? Was Jesus referring to a jihadist when he said, “Love your enemies”? (Matthew 5:44).
I wrote an article months ago citing the victims of the Beslan, Russia disaster where small children were killed by Chechan terrorists. I admitted that it would be difficult for most parents to stop at the scene of the carnage and pray not only for their dying children, but for the terrorists that perpetrated the atrocity. Yet they did.
We are in the midst of WWIII. In part we “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, against rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 612). The leaders of the Islamic jihad movement have sworn to raise the flag of Islam over the entire world and take it back to the 7th century—and not through peaceful means.
Could we lose this war if we love these enemies and not treat them with maximum harshness? We could have Sharia Law across the free world if we don’t fight this war correctly and deal with the jihadists in a firm manner. The Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh had a note attached to his slain body that read, “Islam will be victorious through the blood of the martyrs who spread their light in every dark corner of the earth.” Will this change if we suddenly start loving them?
There are practical ways to pray, however. Here are a few suggestions. We can pray the following:
That their deadly attempts will fail.
That supernaturally God would soften some of the hardened hearts.
That they would start to disbelieve some of the propaganda they have been fed for decades.
That they would be divided and confused as they plan attacks again innocent people.
That missions to Muslims would be more effective in proclaiming the Gospel to Muslims and that Muslim hearts would be open to receiving the message.
That God would continue to have mercy on America and continue to be our “Homeland Security Director.” Hundreds of terror plots—large and small—are stopped before they occur.
That the terrorists would have some kind of understanding that they do not go to Heaven when killing innocents, but rather, to hell.
That they just become disillusioned with a lifestyle that has no other meaning or purpose than killing innocent people.
Now may not be the time to “beat our swords into plowshares” and turn the other cheek or the mosque near you may dominate your city sooner rather than later. We are clearly in the “perilous times” of II Timothy 3. To do battle with them is no different than stopping the Third Reich before they took over the world a generation ago.
Jan Markell is founder/director of Olive Tree Ministries.
Shalom!!!
by: Jan Markell
A prominent Christian recently asked, “What is the Christian response to terrorists?” He chastises Christians for seeing them as alien beings who have taken human form to torment mankind. Are we capable of loving them? Can you imagine doing good to them? Was Jesus referring to a jihadist when he said, “Love your enemies”? (Matthew 5:44).
I wrote an article months ago citing the victims of the Beslan, Russia disaster where small children were killed by Chechan terrorists. I admitted that it would be difficult for most parents to stop at the scene of the carnage and pray not only for their dying children, but for the terrorists that perpetrated the atrocity. Yet they did.
We are in the midst of WWIII. In part we “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, against rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 612). The leaders of the Islamic jihad movement have sworn to raise the flag of Islam over the entire world and take it back to the 7th century—and not through peaceful means.
Could we lose this war if we love these enemies and not treat them with maximum harshness? We could have Sharia Law across the free world if we don’t fight this war correctly and deal with the jihadists in a firm manner. The Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh had a note attached to his slain body that read, “Islam will be victorious through the blood of the martyrs who spread their light in every dark corner of the earth.” Will this change if we suddenly start loving them?
There are practical ways to pray, however. Here are a few suggestions. We can pray the following:
That their deadly attempts will fail.
That supernaturally God would soften some of the hardened hearts.
That they would start to disbelieve some of the propaganda they have been fed for decades.
That they would be divided and confused as they plan attacks again innocent people.
That missions to Muslims would be more effective in proclaiming the Gospel to Muslims and that Muslim hearts would be open to receiving the message.
That God would continue to have mercy on America and continue to be our “Homeland Security Director.” Hundreds of terror plots—large and small—are stopped before they occur.
That the terrorists would have some kind of understanding that they do not go to Heaven when killing innocents, but rather, to hell.
That they just become disillusioned with a lifestyle that has no other meaning or purpose than killing innocent people.
Now may not be the time to “beat our swords into plowshares” and turn the other cheek or the mosque near you may dominate your city sooner rather than later. We are clearly in the “perilous times” of II Timothy 3. To do battle with them is no different than stopping the Third Reich before they took over the world a generation ago.
Jan Markell is founder/director of Olive Tree Ministries.
Shalom!!!
posted by TIUranta at 3:44 AM
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