I am not sure whether or not I think I understand people such as the many young Muslims who have left our shores to take part in the conflict in countries such as Syria and Iraq. Of course understanding is not the same as sympathising. I certainly do not sympathise with any aspect of what they do. I guess that the process of radicalising someone must begin with eliciting sympathy for a cause. What I have been thinking about is the significance of actually having a cause that you want to fight for, or possibly die for.
The recently published video of young men urging others to join in the jihad was entitled "There is no life without jihad" and in it the concept of taking part in jihad was offered as a cure for depression. This is clearly marketing something to people who feel that their life has no real purpose. Once religious fervour and political ideology combine the result is scary, and we have far too many examples of this in history, including some that involve Christianity. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to extract parts of the Bible or the Koran that would seem to justify violent action, but this is an abuse of Scripture.
For Christians, the supreme example of a life with a purpose would be Jesus. Here is a man with a cause. It is impossible to read the gospels without becoming aware that there was a reason for his life. From the moment of his baptism and throughout his earthly ministry the focus of his life is clearly in serving others. Luke records Peter's description of Jesus in Cornelius' house (Acts 10) as "...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.". But Jesus also preached and taught in an uncompromising way even if he had critics in his audience. As he was later to say to Pilate, "In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37)
That statement also reveals something of the character of his teaching. The power lies in the content of his teaching; not in the style. The apostle Paul, another clearly driven person, also states the same thing about the gospel. It is the content of the message that has power not the way in which it was delivered. See Romans 1:16,17 and 1Corinthians 1: 16-18 where Paul makes this clear. So both in the life of Jesus and the life of Paul the purpose is about caring and compassion, about helping and serving. It is not so much about a purpose to fight for as it is a purpose to die for - and in both cases that was literal.
As a young boy in Sunday School one of my biblical heroes was Daniel. He committed himself in the service of his captors but refused to compromise his faith, even in the midst of great danger. We used to sing a Sunday school hymn that went "Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone, Dare to have a purpose firm, And dare to make it known". PP Bliss wrote this around 1873 and there are a number of hymns from this period that can seem to reflect an aggressive image of Christian service. But Daniel did not adopt an aggressive stance. References to spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 are about defence against the devil not aggressive evangelisation.
To seek any form of world peace by means of aggression or coercion is to deny the aim by the means adopted. Those who carry the burden of political responsibility or the responsibility to maintain law and order have to determine what is an appropriate response to aggression, but within the context of religion any cause that has to be advanced through violence is not worth following.
But I am left wondering whether we have bored Christians, people without a passion and a sense of purpose. It is time to wake up and realise that we do have a purpose to which God is calling us in which we do not need to use worldly weapons and where the battle ground starts within our own hearts. So let us follow our Master's example and go around doing good and speaking words of life whenever and wherever we can. People of other faiths or none are not the enemy. The kingdom of God will not come through violence but by taking on the battle with our own propensity to sin and then being and sharing good news lovingly with others. It's time to "Stand up, stand up for Jesus" but to do it in HIS way.
From the diary
School Assemblies. Last week in one school I was asked to speak on forgiveness. This week in another school on Tuesday I am asked to link the theme "adventure" with the Acts of the Apostles. Both situations are Primary Schools (Key stage 1 and 2) and I have only a few minutes to say something useful and memorable.
Prison Ministry. This Wednesday our choir has the opportunity to offer a service in song and drama to fellow prisoners and some invited guests. Our final practise is on Tuesday afternoon and we are probably half prepared. It has been challenging as for several weeks now we keep attracting others. They must like the hard work I give them! Working through music is a real ministry to and through the men as part of rehabilitation.
Sundays. 22nd at Yelvertoft. 29th at HMP Gartree in the morning and Husbands Bosworth Methodist in the evening.
Rural Mission leaders. a group of five 'CEOs' from rural mission organisations meet periodically. I am hosting a meeting on Thursday morning in Market Harborough.
There is plenty of other activity through the week and I need your prayers each day please.
Thank you.
Barry
The recently published video of young men urging others to join in the jihad was entitled "There is no life without jihad" and in it the concept of taking part in jihad was offered as a cure for depression. This is clearly marketing something to people who feel that their life has no real purpose. Once religious fervour and political ideology combine the result is scary, and we have far too many examples of this in history, including some that involve Christianity. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to extract parts of the Bible or the Koran that would seem to justify violent action, but this is an abuse of Scripture.
For Christians, the supreme example of a life with a purpose would be Jesus. Here is a man with a cause. It is impossible to read the gospels without becoming aware that there was a reason for his life. From the moment of his baptism and throughout his earthly ministry the focus of his life is clearly in serving others. Luke records Peter's description of Jesus in Cornelius' house (Acts 10) as "...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.". But Jesus also preached and taught in an uncompromising way even if he had critics in his audience. As he was later to say to Pilate, "In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37)
That statement also reveals something of the character of his teaching. The power lies in the content of his teaching; not in the style. The apostle Paul, another clearly driven person, also states the same thing about the gospel. It is the content of the message that has power not the way in which it was delivered. See Romans 1:16,17 and 1Corinthians 1: 16-18 where Paul makes this clear. So both in the life of Jesus and the life of Paul the purpose is about caring and compassion, about helping and serving. It is not so much about a purpose to fight for as it is a purpose to die for - and in both cases that was literal.
As a young boy in Sunday School one of my biblical heroes was Daniel. He committed himself in the service of his captors but refused to compromise his faith, even in the midst of great danger. We used to sing a Sunday school hymn that went "Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone, Dare to have a purpose firm, And dare to make it known". PP Bliss wrote this around 1873 and there are a number of hymns from this period that can seem to reflect an aggressive image of Christian service. But Daniel did not adopt an aggressive stance. References to spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 are about defence against the devil not aggressive evangelisation.
To seek any form of world peace by means of aggression or coercion is to deny the aim by the means adopted. Those who carry the burden of political responsibility or the responsibility to maintain law and order have to determine what is an appropriate response to aggression, but within the context of religion any cause that has to be advanced through violence is not worth following.
But I am left wondering whether we have bored Christians, people without a passion and a sense of purpose. It is time to wake up and realise that we do have a purpose to which God is calling us in which we do not need to use worldly weapons and where the battle ground starts within our own hearts. So let us follow our Master's example and go around doing good and speaking words of life whenever and wherever we can. People of other faiths or none are not the enemy. The kingdom of God will not come through violence but by taking on the battle with our own propensity to sin and then being and sharing good news lovingly with others. It's time to "Stand up, stand up for Jesus" but to do it in HIS way.
From the diary
School Assemblies. Last week in one school I was asked to speak on forgiveness. This week in another school on Tuesday I am asked to link the theme "adventure" with the Acts of the Apostles. Both situations are Primary Schools (Key stage 1 and 2) and I have only a few minutes to say something useful and memorable.
Prison Ministry. This Wednesday our choir has the opportunity to offer a service in song and drama to fellow prisoners and some invited guests. Our final practise is on Tuesday afternoon and we are probably half prepared. It has been challenging as for several weeks now we keep attracting others. They must like the hard work I give them! Working through music is a real ministry to and through the men as part of rehabilitation.
Sundays. 22nd at Yelvertoft. 29th at HMP Gartree in the morning and Husbands Bosworth Methodist in the evening.
Rural Mission leaders. a group of five 'CEOs' from rural mission organisations meet periodically. I am hosting a meeting on Thursday morning in Market Harborough.
There is plenty of other activity through the week and I need your prayers each day please.
Thank you.
Barry
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