(DISCLAIMER: Long, theological, slightly political, personal, and emotional. Please dont start any comment wars, I simply wanted to bring some thoughts to attention) I was in middle school when the tragedy of 9/11 occurred. The time in life when youre starting to make sense of the world around you, and realizing there is both good and evil at work. I WILL never forget that day. I am thankful for my freedom, I am thankful for so many who have given their lives for it, and I am afraid we take it for granted. Which has brought me to so many thoughts regarding theology, politics, and my own emotions. That same evil from 9/11 is occurring in the Middle East as we speak. As I decided to turn on the news, this is what I discovered....It is being referred to as a Christian Genocide. There is unspeakable atrocities being committed; crimes against humanity. Christians are being told to convert or die, children are being beheaded, fathers killed, and women raped. Until last week, I have been ignoring the events, keeping my head in the sand, living in my own bliss. But now as Ive become aware, I cant help but feel convicted. Throughout scripture we are told to pray for our brothers in need, to feel what they feel, and to hold them in our thoughts. So, with a heavy heart I pray, and I attempt to raise awareness so others will do the same. The fact that this is occurring to so many followers of Jesus should not surprise us. Jesus himself said that we will experience persecution and that the world will hate us, but to take heart, for he has overcome the world. He did not say to take heart because you will be blessed. Which brings me to my next point of dismantling the prosperity gospel. No where in scripture are we told we will be given earthly riches for following Christ, instead we are told we may experience suffering. And if you look at the Middle East, you will see exactly what Christ was talking about. There is too much theology to get into all of this now...but to make it clear, it does not mean God does not love his children, but merely that His plan may not be to see us as happy blessed people in this life. Holiness is more on his mind. Lastly, I am no politician, but it seems to me that our government is not doing enough to protect our borders or resolve this crisis and stand with those being persecuted in the Middle East. ISIS has publicly claimed that they will enter the US through our open borders, and president Obama claimed that he has no plan to counteract ISIS. Something needs to be done. So again, I pray for our country and leaders. All of this has reminded me again of Truths so evident. There is good and evil, and I wholeheartedly choose good. Anyone who is not for me is against me -Jesus (Luke 11:23)
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 22:26:32 +0000
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