For Thursday, September 11, 2014 We will not forget. We choose to remember. Innocent lives snuffed out without warning, or worse, lost after burning or falling agony. Sad too, the lives of the perpetrators gone in seconds for the purpose of a ‘glory’ that will not be theirs. And most of all, the tragedy of this and more done in the name of religion. These were not the only persons misguided by religion, nor theirs the only group. The great fault does not exist in the positive contributions such a faith could make. Rather it lies in grievous distortions made by interpreters of that faith for purposes far removed from the spiritual and moral designs of its founders. There is a kind of ‘fundamentalism’ that clearly and distinctly rejects the fundamentals of a faith, and these distortions give rise to drastic-- even satanic behaviors like flying planes into occupied buildings, or making videos of horrid executions in order to “bring fear to the enemy,” and put an end to ‘non-believers.’ It’s clear that all religions are not the same. Those that believe in a God who creates and oversees creation, also believe that there is a great battle between good and evil. When those who do not see or agree with the distorted teachings of that religion are deemed evil and “not worthy of the gift of life,” then whoever they are, and by whatever name they call themselves, their faith and practice has fallen into the pit of evil. One great ‘aspect’ of war when you think you are the good and your enemy the evil, is the power of the purpose such thinking creates. Could this be a reason that people with no decent work to do, or others unmotivated by the world around them, choose to do ‘holy war?’ Isn’t it that sense of purpose (however distorted or misguided) that prompts men and women to actually leave their own country to join ‘the cause,’ and fight in another land? September 11 becomes even more sobering as we learn that such religion is active in planning and doing evil and attempting to win others to its cause. Evil interpretations of religion and politics have come and gone, and so will each of those that exist today. Christians slaughtered for no reason other than their faith, will give strength to other Christians to seek out and work their understanding of God and the world. In some ways, Christians are at a disadvantage. If our faith is not distorted or redefined by willful or ignorant persons, then we must pray for our enemies, (even ‘love’ them,) and pray for those who persecute us “that we may be children of our Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:44-45) You are right, “I just can’t do that.” Not on your own and without God. But when we incarnate the heart of God in Christ, we can. We also become that secret weapon more powerful that all the world’s hate and evil. That sun and rain sent on ‘good and evil’ will set, and drought will fall upon all who would hurt instead of help in the name of God. As we remember, let’s also remember that. Always love, always Keith
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:46:53 +0000