Christians and Terrorism

Christians and Terrorism

As I write this it is October 28th 2014. Sadly I watched the funeral of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo the soldier murdered while guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
This man was proud to be a Canadian and serve his country.
The man that killed him was nothing more than a hate filled misguided evil man.
What causes a man to do such a thing?
Chedly Belkhodja, principal of Concordia University’s School of Community and Public Affairs states,
“Radical Islamic groups can appeal both to lonely lost souls and Muslims in Western countries who feel excluded and marginalised,... A lot of young people can be an easy prey,” 
Studies by John Horgan seems to agree.
John Horgan, is a psychologist and professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Centre for Terrorism and Security Studies, who study the minds of terrorists.
He notes foreign fighters are drawn to join ISIS by the need to “belong to something special.”
They want to find something meaningful for their life,” he said. “Some are thrill seeking, some are seeking redemption.”
Max Abrahms, an expert on terrorism from Northeastern University notes that
from most of the terrorism research available,  those who join terrorist groups like ISIS are the most "ignorant people with respect to religion and they are generally the newest members to the religion.... They would probably fail the most basic test on Islam,"  
Christians do have an answer for these terrorist groups but sadly the church here in North America, Europe and the west in general have fallen down on the job so to speak.
Much of the church has fallen into an institution dripping with ritual and out of date methods of reaching the word.
Those who’s heads are turned toward terrorist groups undoubtedly find the church outdated, uninteresting and uninspiring.
You only have to look around at the declining enrolment in churches today. These churches generally have ornate buildings and rituals that are fine for a previous generation and in and of themselves are good at reminding people, if they understand, what Christ stands for.
Unfortunately they mean little to those of the twitter verse or the world wide web.
One only has to take a look around the world at the churches that are truly growing. These churches are “adding value” to the life of those that are coming to them.    The are preaching the same core message that the apostles preached but in a modern way. A way youth and young adults can relate too.
My son is an adult youth leader who attends a large and growing church. This church has been on the forefront of evangelism in out small city for some time.
It encourages its youth to live differently. To make a positive difference in the lives of those around them.
The message they give to these young people is relevant to their generation and it is preached through various social media.
One only has to look back at the first century church to see what needs to be done. The church fathers, the disciples, the apostle Paul and others in the early church used the most modern methods of their day.
Peter and the other disciples preached in the temple, in synagogues and other places. Paul spoke in the Areopagus and at many more venues.  They all sent letters to the various churches.
So prominent was the teaching of the Apostles in Jerusalem that the apostles were brought before the religious authorities of their day.
The book of Acts recoding the authorities reaction,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!” 
                                                                                                          Acts 5:28,29.
The apostles were radicals in their day. They were radical for the Prince of Peace, Jesus. They never preached rebellion or hate.
Jesus who said,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                       Matthew 22:37-40

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  
that you may be sons of your 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 5:43-45.
We in the church need to be looking beyond church buildings, the rituals, and traditions. We need to be speaking without compromise about salvation that can only come from Christ.
We need to be out there in social media showing those who are disenfranchised with society that there is a better way. That violence and hate are not the solution to their problems.
We need to be like the good Samaritan. being there to bandage, not only the physical wounds of individuals, but their psychological wounds also.
It is only when those who feel marginalised or outcasts from our society realize that Christ is the answer to their problems that they will turn from violence.
Think about it.