Last night recreation venues in Paris were attacked, bombs were
detonated, AK-47 guns were fired into crowds and hostages were taken, suicide
bombers exploded themselves. We don't yet know for sure who is
responsible for the murder of 200+ and wounding of 600+ people. One
witness reports the gunmen shouting 'God is Great!' in Arabic, and shouting
about Frances participation in Syria. It seems likely this was an attack
by Islamist Jihadists against a soft 'western' target. I anticipate that
IS in its various forms is the instigator.
Perhaps you will disagree, but I think it's necessary to say that
these attackers were Muslims - followers of Islam. I know many peaceful,
law-abiding gentle and wise Muslims. That's not my point. My point
is that these people - were also Muslims, radicalized and
driven by some big idea. We know two things for sure about IS and
radicalized Islam in general: First, they have an apocalyptic vision in which
provoking the west to war is seen as a necessary precursor to bringing about
their understanding of the 'end-times', and therefor s a victory for
universally enforced Islam. (This is understood primarily as a Christian
versus Islam Holy War in their particular framework of apocalypse.); Second,
they want to establish a 'Caliphate' immediately - a single Muslim ruler to
rule all Muslims across the world. This Caliph will enforce unity among
Islam, imposing the Sunni variety of Islam and forcing either the conversion or
death or all Shia Muslims. I don't know what they would do with Sufi Muslims -
I presume kill them.
Last night took careful planning and funding. Imagine the
time and care it took to make those bombs - the slow, attentive process of
packing the explosives, forming the detonator, packing the metals around the
explosives to cause maximum carnage. Imagine the heart that beat in those
chests as they undertook this painstaking and careful work. Imagine the
nurtured hatred, the heart of murder, cold, slow and deliberate. The
westerners they killed were seen by them as sub-human. Yes, I am assuming
this, but how else could any person operate at this level?
Jesus Christ - God born as a human - came with a different
approach. He expected that He and we would be persecuted, insulted,
injured, robbed and murdered. What is His teaching and commandment to us?
Love those who hate you, bless those who persecute you, walk a second
mile if forced to walk the first mile, offer an uninjured cheek if hit in the
face. It doesn't make any sense, and that's exactly why it is the only answer
to murder.
The Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul says the
same in Romans 12, quotes Proverbs 25:21-22. It is written:
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold
fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo
one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in
spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant
in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show
hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not
curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who
weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate
with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil
for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If
possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved,
never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is
written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the
contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his
head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
So, may we, as Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ,
refuse to speak of retribution and revenge.
Let us weep with Paris, pray for Paris and act with honor towards our
enemies and also our Muslim neighbors who live peacefully as a part of our shared
society. Let us work for justice at home
and in the Middle East and shame the men of death with our care and wisdom. May our military work to empower people in
the middle-east with equity and upholding the rule of law. May our leaders carry the sword of leadership
(Romans 13:4) with humility and wisdom. Let
us overcome evil with good.
Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, who
transformed hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, first of all mine. Jesus fulfills not only the Jewish Torah law but also He fulfills and exceeds Shariah law. He alone can change the human condition, transforming us from fear to love, power to service, hate to care, war to peace. 
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