Jesus, Love and ISIL

In today’s world it is not unreasonable to ask as Christians, what our response to ISIL should be. Now I do not pretend to have all the answers, nor could I begin to explore all the point and counter points that could arise from such a question. However, that being said, I do think there are a few considerations worth mentioning. Let me begin by asking you a question, would you invite Satan to dinner? Now, let me ask you another question, do you think you would have opportunity to see him converted as a result of your invitation. You may be saying to yourself that this represents an extreme, but that is the issue, what we see with ISIL is an extreme. In Scripture, the argument can be made to love your enemies on one occasion, and to destroy them at the same time in another, like with Joshua or David. I think the question we must ask today is, is what we see happening in the world a final congealing of the forces governed by the principalities and powers Paul warned us of. Evil has always been with us, but Scripture speaks of a coming great deception and darkness, which over time will consume all of mankind. I think what we see happening in the middle-east, due to the vacuum left through the over throw of numerous dictators, is the reforming of a new and expanded empire, which will be headed by Iran very shortly. In Scripture, Iran is Persia, and it is from Persia that many scholars believe the beast of Revelation will arise. Now I do not want to get into a discussion about those matters as much as I do a key aspect concerning the outlook we as Christians should have. If what we are witnessing in the world today is prophetic and eschatological in nature, nothing but God Himself is going to stop it! There are unseen forces in this world whose nature and origin are so malignant and malevolent that trying to convert them is simply futile and naïve. We must at some point admit that there are those who hate our Lord and hate us as a result. They will not be converted, they will not be swayed, but on the contrary they will advance their hatred of the God of the Bible, our God, whenever opportunity permits. This is precisely what I think we see going on presently in the world. Now, although it is true that the cause of Christ has benefitted in the past by the reaction to persecution, the scriptures also speak of a time of persecution that will continue unabated in the future, and that will not cease until Christ returns. As a believer, I am compelled to pray and love my enemies, but these are God’s enemies, with no inclination to do well, or to desire mercy. Now we can argue, let God sort it out. I would suggests there comes a time like while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, when one kept watch with a spear in his hand, while the other worked on the wall. We should ask does that serve as a model for us today. I do believe we should see the possibility for souls to be converted through all this, but I also see a need to cry out for the defense of our brothers and sisters who are dying. I also believe that means bringing to bear whatever means necessary to rescue them now from their present danger. Some argue that Christians should be pacifists and that is why we have the many problems we do today. We are not to bear hatred in our hearts, but we are to recognize evil when we see it, and we are commanded to have the same hatred of evil that God has. Until our Lord returns we are the soldiers in this fight and we should act and conduct ourselves accordingly. We as Christians are at war like never before, and we had better unite and take it seriously or we will soon feel the same dread of our near eastern brothers and sisters.

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

2/28/2015