The Myth of the Tiny Radical Muslim Minority

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by shazeep

so just don't be surprised when your retirement plans all become flush with war and defense stocks, and your economy becomes further disconnected from reality, and your cities all start looking like Michigan.

I'll admit you have a point Shazeep. Especially when in recent news, it has become obvious that the US has been the underlying support for the very terrorists we are supposedly fighting against.

Stepping back a bit from the little puzzle piece we are looking at, I believe God is somehow using the Islamic extremists to bring about a greater good for this world. God used barbarians to judge Israel many times, and I wonder if the same is happening here, I don't know, and don't claim to know.

But, I am struggling with the "love your enemies" because it fits here.

Our family supports Gospel for Asia and Tortured For Christ. We get many newsletters from them. Over and over, the recurring theme is Christians being persecuted, and martyred by Islamic extremists in the name of Allah. But what is the most amazing thing, is that these people who have survived the attack speak of their love for those who tortured and brutalized them... and how some of those extremists who terrorized have been brought to Christ, and turned from their evil ways because of the love shown to them in spite of their evil deeds.

I think of Saul/Paul - who himself was a terrorist... at least he would have been by our terminology today - going around and killing Christians, pulling them out of houses, stoning Stephen. And yet... when Ananias heard that he wanted to come see him, he didn't meet him at the door with a sword, but instead listened to God, invited the terrorist Saul in, and see what a transformation took place.

So yes... you have a point Shazeep. Love is the greatest force ... even when faced with terrorists who want to kill you. If we didn't believe that, we would never have had Paul... in our day... he may have been killed by the Christians for his evil deeds before he ever had a chance to repent.