The Broken Vessel: 7 Things I Learned Praying for ISIS.

The Broken Vessel: 7 Things I Learned Praying for ISIS.

7 Things I Learned Praying for ISIS.

When I was kid, my grandmother read to me often. Tales of witches and dragons never caused me any nightmares. Maybe it was because the heroes always win in those stories. Of all the stories she ever read, the only nightmares I ever had came from the story of  "The Three Little Pigs". Depending which version you read, the pigs suffer tragedy and loss before their victory. Through the years, I've lost count of how many dreams where the Big Bad Wolf, with flaming eyes, has been outside my bedroom window, trying to get me to let him in. I'm well into my forties, and still, occasionally, he shows up. Lately, he's been showing up in a new place. In a reality where I am wide awake. It's a real nightmare. It's as if, ISIS is saying, "open the door and let me in." Yet somehow, in this world of ultra tolerance for the bazaar and insane, anyone who replies, "not by the hair on my chinny chin chin" is a racist discriminator of religion. Go figure.
 Despite how you might feel about the Syrian refugees, you'd have to be naive to think there isn't wolves in sheep's clothing among them. Americans, including Christ followers and especially the politicians, as with many other issues, are divided. "Christ has told us a house divided will not stand." As a follower of Christ, I've never struggled so much with how to respond to a situation in my life. How do we do what is commanded by scripture in this case? Clearly, we not only have a responsibility mandated throughout scripture to protect our homes, families, and friends, but also have been commanded to love our enemies,and to live sacrificially and fearlessly. Giving to those in need is certainly required. I've been torn between the two concepts for awhile, prayerfully seeking wisdom to give me peace. Searching the scripture and praying, so as to, not trust my personal feelings to draw a simple conclusion, has been a daunting task. Those times in prayer and scripture, I have been reminded of the simple order of my allegiances. My obedience and obligation lies in order to God, spouse, family, church, community, state, nation, and world. Here's what I've discovered so far.

1. Loving the enemy means praying for them. Even from Christians, there hasn't been much of a call for prayer for ISIS or the refugees. It's important to remember the population of Syria is about 10% Christian. Our brothers and sisters are among the refugees . The Bible tells us to pray for our brothers and our enemies. It won't cost us anything to pray. Pray for their salvation, and our protection.

2. I don't have to separate logic from a spiritual decision. God is the inventor of common sense. It tells me so in Proverbs 2:6. I won't pretend otherwise. Sure, sometimes the Holy Spirit asks us to do what seems crazy to us. That doesn't mean everything He asks us to do should seem like suicide. I can share my resources, but not to the point that I've divided them so thin I, along with those I'm trying to help, perish. In order to help, I must preserve myself. Loving all people makes me find creative ways to help from safe distances whenever possible. There are better ways to help without opening our borders.

3. Never forget what sacrifice is. Never forget what sacrifice does. Every call for self-sacrifice by God's followers has been for the salvation of others, mostly in conjunction with destroying the enemy. Even His own sacrifice. Still, He did so willingly. I believe the litmus test for self-sacrifice is the preservation of life for others by a willing participant. Otherwise, it maybe martyrdom but not self-sacrifice. In the case of our nation, it would mostly be neither. Rarely, if ever, does God ask us to gamble with other people's lives, and or souls. This scenario puts the lives of both parties at risk. I am unaware of any place where God included the unwilling in sacrifice. Likewise, we shouldn't expect those who are unwilling to take in refugees to do so. In weighing the possibilities, our decision should be made by how we can best positively impact all parties. Relocating Syrians to areas with similar culture would best serve and protect the majority.

4. We should not let those without a connection to Christ, being used by Satan, to lecture us on the merits of Christian charity. Here's why: 2Timothy3 1-7" But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth." It's tragically funny, those who have made every decision, based on logic, now suggest we aren't following scripture. Making cautious decisions, to preserve as much life as possible and to avoid conflict, is Christ like.

5. Be true to the teachings and example of Christ. All of it. Christ is so compassionate and forgiving, we sometimes forget, He called His enemies a bunch of snakes. He told His disciples to be "shrewd". Defining enemies as those who are not with Him, Jesus plainly points them out. Moreover, He instructed disciples to value a weapon above clothing. (Luke 22:36) Clearly, a weapon can be used by a Christ follower for noble purposes. Don't forget Jesus ran people from His Father's house. It leaves me little doubt I shouldn't do the same. Don't disconnect from Christian charity but be shrewd.

6. Neither view things optimistically or pessimistically. Be realistic in whatever situation you find yourself in. Ask yourself, what is our best chance for reaching the most lost people already here? Adding an extra 100,000 lost people here will make the task much more difficult. However, if the Church finds itself in that circumstance, we will have an incredible opportunity.

 7. God is in control. I'm trusting not in my ability to build a house of bricks the Big Bad Wolf can't blow in. I stand on a foundation built upon God's promises of a grace I can fall back on. His word will be my lamp, His hand will be my guide. He will cause what comes to work out for our good. Come what may, I will not be afraid.

If you have struggled, with the complexity of this issue, I hope this will give you peace in rejecting a threat. Just to be clear,  we must always be ready to listen individually to the Holy Spirit. I expect there will be exceptions where God will intervene.  I'd never claim we should stay inside of our comfort zone to serve God. I only ask, are you trusting God? Or just your feelings? I hope you join me in praying for ISIS and the refugees as well as for the protection of our nation.

7 Ways To Beat Fear

To date, the scariest thing I've faced since battling cancer has been the dreaded post op follow up. Imagine the relief I felt when my first post treatment MRI came back clear. The bible teaches us to not be anxious over anything. It also teaches us not to lie. I'd be lying if I said this Dr. visit wasn't a source of more than a little anxiety for me. When I'm scared, I do the things you'd expect from a Christ follower. I talk to brothers and sisters in the faith, read the word, meditate on scripture, and focus on things eternal.  I think Jesus and myself have handled the whole Big Bad Brain Tumor pretty well so far.  Still, there have been times where I felt as though I were hiding behind a mask.  At times, I have, if only briefly, faked the whole "brave" thing for my family, friends, and for myself. It seems, battling demons with pen and paper is quite easier than dueling the devil in person. 

Fear, the most primal of all emotions, ironically, is an instinct designed to prevent what we really fear the most. Pain. Sometimes, pain is brought on by another thing many fear, the truth. The truth that whatever fears we succumb to defines us. Physically speaking, fears might prolong your life, while simultaneously preventing you from living abundantly, spiritually.  The spiritual fears we succumb to are the boundary lines where our faith stops. The entertainment industry has made billions on our addiction to fear while derailing truth.  Convincing the populace of a huge lies, such as, evil isn't attractive.  Instilling notions that demons aren't real, but if they were, they could be defeated by superstitious rituals.  Teaching salvation from evil can be obtained from accessing the goodness inside us. I find it strange some actually enjoy being made afraid by make believe while they avoid facing their real fears. Wondering why, in a world filled with suffering, some have convinced themselves of a reality where monsters do not exist. I've tolerated Halloweens year after year, perplexed over the delight some find in being made afraid. While, almost no one wants to talk about the truly scary things. Things like disease, death, heaven, hell, and of course, God's judgment, often create silence. Until fate, destiny, or divine providence forces you to face the music.

Each of us have our own unique fears. God's people have an arsenal against fear found in his word. 

Here's 7 weapons He has given us against fear.

Fear itself. Fear is the first tool God uses.  Since FDR uttered the famous words "we have nothing to fear but fear itself", America has been forgetting how to fear God. He uses fear not only to keep use physically safe but to keep us spiritually safe. Jesus said in Mathew 10:28 " And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" The bible teaches us over 40 times to fear God. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

 Proverbs 9:10

Fear in God is the first step in overcoming all other fears.  Embrace the fear of The Lord.

Belief: apparently a little bit of this goes a long way. According to Jesus, faith in the amount of a mustard seed can move mountains. It is also the prescription  for fear. But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” Mark 5:36

Trust: it goes one step beyond belief in the capabilities to change things. It allows for acceptance with the way things are. It requires knowing God is good, has a plan, and is always right.

When I am afraid,

I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

What can flesh do to me?  Psalm 56:3-4

Praise: is a weapon against fear. I believe it is impossible to overcome true fear without praising God. Consider the words of David

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold and my refuge,

my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 

Praise God, our enemies hates it.

Service: most of us had an early healthy fear of darkness. So much so, that we associate darkness with fear and vice versa. You probably never thought of service as a weapon against darkness .  The bible teaches service creates light  if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. Isaiah 58:10. 

Power: so often we forget the power that created the universe lives inside us. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us: for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.  God gives us power to control and overcome our fears.

Love: causes us to do strange and wonderful things. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. It was love that caused Jesus to leave heaven for us, die for us, and give us the tools to live boldly.

Life is too short to live in fear.

The epitome of someone living in fear is a person unwilling to connect to a creator willing to sacrifice himself for us. It makes you wonder what are they afraid of?