Extremism - Two Articles:
1 - The Origins of Extremism
2 - Is "Religion the Root of all Evil?
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1 - The Origins of Extremism
by Dave Brown
This is a long article, but we hope you will take your time in reading it. Please consider it, and give us your opinion of it. The article itself will demonstrate that we are not trying to push any political agenda – we would not be following Jesus if we did, because Jesus never promoted the truth by political means, nor did he attempt to make changes in the political powers of his day (Mt. 22:21) other than those that come from individual righteousness. This article presents what we believe the bible teaches are the best actions that individual followers of Jesus can take to help solve this world’s problems. It may not seem like much, but neither did the actions of a man named Jesus. Click to read “A Solitary Life, by James Allen Francis.”
In his book A Fundamental Fear: Eurocentrism and the Emergence of Islamism, Dr. S. Sayyid describes five arguments that attempt to explain the spread of what is commonly called Islamic fundamentalism or militant Islamism (start of quotation):
We can neither confirm nor deny the details described above – it is not scripture. But we do trust Dr. Sayvid’s scholarship and the fact that his book underwent extensive review by scholars of experience and reputation comparable to his. Dr. Sayyid’s arguments show that what we are seeing now in ISIS/ISIL, and the vast array of other radical Islamic sects, are centuries of perceived repression to which the only resolution that the extremists can conceive of now is to force all others to follow their radical leaders, both to kill and to be killed for the type of Islam that has been brainwashed into their minds from infancy.
It really does not matter in what direction or how far we look in our world today – it is a mess, and we can say with virtual certainty that it is not going to get any better. We know, not because we claim the gift or prophecy, but because the solutions that are being proposed are precisely what have failed in the past, and in some cases they have caused many of the problems in the first place. Let us first explore some commonly proposed alternatives, and then we will look at what the bible has to say about the faithful followers of Jesus’ responsibility toward these issues.
Alternative 1 – Islam.
Can anyone who has the minimal sense of civilization contemplate a world totally subjugated by those who are currently being quite successful in conquering and dominating the Middle East? The response we often hear is that ISIS/ISIL does not represent the large majority of the Islamic world. This must be true, for if it were not, we would all be in as much fear for our physical lives as Christians are today in most of the Middle East. Despite this moderate majority, can we find one country in the Middle East where a moderate form of Islam has led to a government that has not had to practice gross oppression in order to stay in power? The exceptions are too few for us to believe that they could ever constitute a model for the future. There may be one or two exceptions, but for the most part we have seen recently that even the first steps toward democracy have generally led to tremendous political instability and economic devastation for the common people.
Can you perceive of a time when all of the Islamic states and factions are at peace with one another? It seems very likely that the recent beheadings were calculated to get the U.S, and other Western European countries involved – they would love nothing more than to see all Western powers launch an all-out war against Islam per se because a common enemy is the only way that they can hope to overcome their own differences. It is a blessing – perhaps God’s hand of restraint – that this is not taking place. One deterrent of Islam unity is that the Koran is most often used to suit the purposes of the tyrants to subjugate the masses. Unless there is a massive attack from the outside, the various sects of Islam will never be able to resolve their differences, and there is every reason to believe that the current situation within Islam will continue to persist indefinitely.
[Comment: we will not deny that at times the bible has been similarly perverted by false teachers to teach hatred – but its theme of love has generally overcome this depravity, providing one of the greatest evidences of its truthfulness and validity, and that its source is the only true and living God.]
Alternative 2 – Military Power.
Completely destroy ISIS/ISIL. This alternative is tempting and it appeals to many. Does the civilized world and especially the Western powers have the power to wipe out ISIS/ISIL? There is little doubt that they do. But what happened when they wiped out Saddam Hussein’s army? What happened when they so decimated al-Qaeda that the U.S. president could come out and say with some credibility that al-Qaeda was “on the run?” We also have to recognize that with the militants’ tactics of hiding behind innocents, to wipe them out would require Japan-like collateral destruction and deaths of the helpless. No follower of Jesus wants that.
Even the idea of totally wiping them out is problematic, for after that the victorious nations world have to leave forces in place to assure that the militants do not regroup and come back again in a different form, like they have so many times in the past. It is highly questionable that we would have both the will and the resources to sustain the victory. If so, it would be the first time.
Throughout history God has brought the greatest military powers to their knees and made fools of them all. The minute we think it cannot happen to us, it will happen – we expect it is only a matter of time. Faith in military power has never proven to be of lasting value.
[It is amazing how they use our strength in this regard to prove how we are evil “crusaders,” while at the same time proclaiming that their brutal murder of innocents proves that God is with them. No, what is amazing is the number of people who are duped by such distorted reasoning.]
Alternative 3 – Christianity.
I am using the term Christianity in its broadest sense to include all those who through practice or family heredity claim a belief that Jesus is the Christ. No one can doubt that the collective force of the examples of all of those who consider themselves to be Christians has had a profoundly positive impact on our world. Try to imagine a world without it. Surely the basic teachings of Jesus (e.g., “do unto others, … love they neighbor,” etc.) reflected in the lives of individuals has made this world is a far better place. We cannot say for sure, but perhaps without these altruistic teachings, all of the world would consume itself much like the Middle East is doing today. So, is “Christianity” the answer? (Remember, we are speaking in the populist meaning of the word “Christianity,” which has often been used in ways unrelated to the bible meaning of the word “Christian” that is used in Acts 11:26, 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16.).
We do not see Christianity (by this definition) to be the solution. Since we expect many will find this surprising, let us stop and give some reasons for our answer:
Truly the difference between Christianity and Islam is most pronounced in this regard, and that tells you much about the differences in the God (or gods) that are being served. If it were the goal of Christianity to physically annihilate all evil organizations such as ISIS/ISIL, then we would probably have as much physical internal strife within our ranks as they do debating about how to best accomplish this evil goal. The fact that we are called to a much higher calling than slaughtering one another demonstrates the myth that we are worshipping the same God.
Let us thank our God that He has not given us a military task, and that most (although certainly not all) religious leaders within Christianity recognize, at least to some extent, the separation of the spiritual from the political (see the discussion of Mt. 22:15-22). While our nations have the right and obligation to protect us (see Romans 13), our role as individual Christians in this regard is to support them to the extent that we can without violating God’s laws for us. We should have no concern because all is in the hands of the loving and just God that we serve; 2 Chronicles 20:6 “… O LORD, the God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and art not thou ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations ? and in thy hand is power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee.”
Where does this leave us?
So, is there no solution to the ISIS/ISIL and other militant Islamic aggressive actions against peace-loving people? If we are looking for a solution in the various political and religious organizations created by men, then the answer is no. God has made fools of them all, since clearly there are a host of unfathomable dilemmas that stand in the way of any solution they might offer. With the best of intentions they seem to cause far more turmoil than any of them can ever resolve.
But then should Christians just give up? No – those of us who have studied the bible know that God has always been on the side of those who appear to have no hope. Look at Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses and Jesus. Reread the article on comfort about Paul. While we cannot imagine any of the above alternatives solving the worlds sin-caused problems, it is possible to imagine a world in which this problem is solved. Imagine a world in which everyone was following the teaching of Jesus – forgiving and loving their neighbors regardless of past wrongs, and not capable of being motivated by covetousness, envy or hatred. If you need help in imagining such an existence, take time to read Revelation 21 and 22. This is the world that faithful followers of Jesus will inherit.
The fact that we CAN imagine this makes it far more feasible than those alternatives above that are beyond credibility. If all men served Jesus Christ in HIS way it would be heaven on earth. There would be enough resources to solve all of the hunger, health and all other problems caused by poverty and greed throughout the world. This cannot be said about any other philosophy or religion. Surely Christians should pray for this solution.
But we are not under any delusion that the world is about to wholesale adopt the teachings of Jesus. In fact, the majority of those who would identify themselves as Christians (by the definition given above) do not practice the teachings of Jesus. Many of them do not even begin to know His teachings, which is certainly a prerequisite for doing them. This in itself has given the militants much of the psychological ammunition that they use against all Christians. They misunderstand the true nature of what Jesus wanted his church to be just as the world misunderstood Jesus himself 2000 years ago. Very little has changed.
But was the rejection of the world ever a concern of Jesus? I am sure that it was, because he loved all people everywhere (there are no more loving and touching words to this effect than Matthew 23:37-39). But their rejection of the teachings that he brought from the Father (Jn. 7:16) never deterred him from doing what he knew to be God’s will. And neither should it deter us today.
Our expectation is not that this world will ever solve its problems, because we know that without the general acceptance of the teachings of Jesus, these problems will never be solved. Our hope is in the eternal that is described in Revelation 21 and 22. As for those who are faithful Christians, we are pilgrims in this world. Just like the Old Testament heros who were faithful to God unto (and until) death that are described in Hebrews 11:13: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” And what about us today? See how similar the description is given in 1 Peter 2:11: “Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul; …”
Does this mean that we just give up on this present world? Not at all. Where would we be if Jesus had given up? While it might not seem to be much, the bible teaches that following Jesus has a very significant impact, whether we recognize it or not. It is important that we understand what our role is, and how much impact it has. Remember fellow follower of Jesus: “Ye are the salt of the earth …” (Mt. 5:13).
It is impossible to know all of the ramifications of just one proclamation of the truth. Jesus said (John 8:32): “… and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Free from what? Nothing other than sin and the oppressive slavery that it creates. Romans 6:22-23: “But now being made free from sin and having become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life. For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What we see all around us in the world today is “the wages of sin.” Do you want this to be the wages for your way of life?
By faith we will recognize that although the foe seems invincible, God has always been on the side of those who love and honor Him by doing His will (1 John 5:3). Let us follow the example of Jesus and the apostles, and even if it leads to our deaths, we can be assured that we have done all that we can do to solve the problems of mankind. Jesus and His Way – the ONLY solution as far as our lives are concerned.
Discussion of another extreme view:
2 - Is “Religion the Root of All Evil?”
By Dave Brown
I am sure that you have heard some say that this world would be much better off without religion, and many go so far as to say that religion accounts for all wars and most of the other ills of this world. We have had very popular songs, like John Lennon’s 1971 “Imagine,” that picture the idealized world as being one totally devoid of all religious beliefs, and essentially blaming all of the world’s problems on religion.
I expect you would think that we would totally disagree with our title. Disagree yes, but totally disagree no. It is hard to disagree with a statement that may be true over 90% of the time. The statement is only false in that it lumps all religion (true and false) together. Even if it held up 99% of the time, it would still be classified as a hasty generalization, which always results from lazy thinking (a failure to take the effort to learn all of the facts). Apart from hatred, hasty generalization is the root of prejudice. Let us take a precise look and not be so lazy as to mindlessly bundle all similar things into one simplistic judgment.
Assuming that they are honest, those who condemn all religion cannot possibly understand the full and accurate teachings of Jesus Christ. Usually they are looking for those teachings in the wrong place – e.g., at those who claim to represent “Christianity.” Jesus’ teachings are not learned from any book or writing of man. They are not learned from any church discipline or recognized priesthood. There is only one source for understanding the teachings of Jesus Christ, and that is the bible. All writings of man claiming to be religious truth can only be validated by comparing them with the standard of the scriptures. There is no other standard – all other religious writings today, (e.g., ecumenical councils, conferences, disciplines, and yes, articles including what you are now reading) are second hand at best. Making an honest comparison to the scriptures, you will find that most religious writings and teachings have very little in common with the complete truth of God’s word. If you have not discovered this it is because you have not looked deeply enough into the teachings of the bible, and especially, the New Testament, which is the part of the bible that we are subject to today.
That said, to blindly throw the pure teachings of Jesus into the false religious mix is just plain wrong. The condemnation comes from evaluating Jesus based on the behavior of those who CLAIM to be living by faith in Jesus. Why not evaluate Jesus teachings based on Jesus’ words and his behavior – would that not be the fair thing to do? This should be obvious, especially when we see such a diverse set of faith systems being attributed to those claiming to be Christians.
Our goal in this article is to show the difference between the teachings of Jesus and that of all other religions. This might seem to be a daunting task, but it is really quite simple. Let us begin with the bible definitions of true (pure) and false (vain) religion. While many passages could apply, there is only one that we have found in the bible that comes right out with explicit definitions, and that is James 1:25-27.
James 1:25-27
25 But he that looks into the perfect law, the (law) of liberty, and (so) continues, being not a hearer that forgets but a doer that works, this man shall be blessed in his doing.
26 If any man thinks himself to be religious, while he bridles not his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, (and) to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Can anyone look at this definition of pure religion and honestly state that it is causing any of this world’s problems? If they do, they are either not being honest or they have lost all sense of morality. The problem is not in misunderstanding what pure religion is; it is the failure on the part of people who claim to believe in Jesus Christ to practice what He taught.
Notice how James sets the stage for defining pure religion. The honest and good person will look into the perfect law (the scriptures, see 1 Corinthians 13:10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). This law is a law of liberty – not the old testament law of enslavement, but the New Testament law (of Christ, see 1 Cor. 9:21; 2 Cor. 317 and James 2:12). This is the law that was delivered by the very Son of God, who died on the cross in the process, but before that he promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all things (John 14:26) after he was gone.
Looking into this law is not enough. Hearing it and forgetting it is not enough. Even having the perception that you actually believe it is not enough (James 2:14-26). It is essential that the one considering God’s law believe the author of it (Jesus – Hebrews 5:9), and in believing puts it immediately into practice – that he stop being a “hearer only” and immediately become a “doer that works.” (Reread James 1:25 above.)
With this backdrop James defines pure religion. Pure implies that it is not tarnished or polluted by anything that has been added by men, nor has anything been taken away from it (Revelation 22:18-19). Recognize that James (inspired by the Holy Spirit who was sent by Jesus – John 14:26) is using the figure of speech of synecdoche to define an extremely profound concept that cannot be explained as effectively in any better way. Synecdoche uses a part of something to refer the whole. We use it commonly today, e.g., “hired hands” for employees, or “wheels” for automobiles. In this case he illustrates: (1) vain religion with some examples of evil, and (2) true religion with some examples of good. The examples may seem trivial at first, but when we contemplate and meditate upon them, their sublimity in representing the entirety of these concepts emerges. Let us attempt to think them through one at a time, starting with vain religion:
The above two examples do not encompass all possible evils, but they sure give us a perfect idea of what vain religion is. Such a religion cannot save, and it will lead many to thinking that they are right with God when they are not. Now let us consider the definition of pure religion, which is:
Again, recognize that (by using synecdoche) these are partial examples that illustrate the whole. This is not the entire gospel (i.e., the New Testament), and there are many other things that go into pure religion. However, what feeling do you get when you contemplate these things? Is it a feeling that the writer was talking about something disgustingly evil? – the scourge of the world? Of course not. For that matter, keeping “oneself unspotted from the world” would certainly involve an effort on our part to learn and do all that Jesus has given us in the New Testament. How else could we hope to even come close to keeping ourselves unspotted from the world?
A good test for the righteousness of a belief system is to ask the question: “what if everyone believed and practiced this teaching?” Let’s apply that test to one of Jesus’ most counterintuitive teachings regarding our relationships with one another:
Matthew 5:43-48
43 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:
44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
45 that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
46 For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more (than others?) do not even the Gentiles the same?
48 Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The teachings of Jesus are so much more highly elevated above the teachings of false religions that it is a sin to even think of lumping them together. This sublimity is to be expected, as Isaiah 55:8-9 said: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
If everyone DID practice the type of love that Jesus taught, would there be any more wars? Just think of how all of the resources wasted on the military could be used to feed the hungry, cure the sick, and advance all of our standards of living? We would no longer even need police, nor the bureaucracies that some believe are essential to counter poverty and prejudice. We are describing heaven on earth. John Lennon’s “Imagine” never contemplated anything like this.
So, are you still willing to throw Jesus under the bus along with all of the vain religions of this world? That is what you do when you remain silent when you hear this error uttered. If you believe that Jesus is different, don’t allow others to go unchallenged when they say “religion is the root of all evil.” Memorize James 1:27: “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, (and) to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
Jesus gives his conditions for eternal life: God's Plan of Salvation
Return to the Pilgrims' landing page
by Dave Brown
This is a long article, but we hope you will take your time in reading it. Please consider it, and give us your opinion of it. The article itself will demonstrate that we are not trying to push any political agenda – we would not be following Jesus if we did, because Jesus never promoted the truth by political means, nor did he attempt to make changes in the political powers of his day (Mt. 22:21) other than those that come from individual righteousness. This article presents what we believe the bible teaches are the best actions that individual followers of Jesus can take to help solve this world’s problems. It may not seem like much, but neither did the actions of a man named Jesus. Click to read “A Solitary Life, by James Allen Francis.”
In his book A Fundamental Fear: Eurocentrism and the Emergence of Islamism, Dr. S. Sayyid describes five arguments that attempt to explain the spread of what is commonly called Islamic fundamentalism or militant Islamism (start of quotation):
- [Militant] Islamism is a response to the failure of Arab leaders to deliver meaningful outcomes to their people.
- Lacking opportunities for political participation, Arab citizens turned to mosques as public spaces for political discussion. As a result religion became the language of politics and of political change.
- Post-colonialism also failed the Arab middle class, as [a perhaps different] ruling elite continued to hold power and wealth.
- Rapid economic growth in the emerging Gulf States increased the influence of conservative Muslim governments. At the same time, the expansion of the oil-based Gulf economy brought about uneven economic development, the response to which was growing support for [militant] Islamism as a mode of expression for internal grievances.
- Finally, the spread of Islamism has also been due to the effects of cultural erosion and globalization contributing to a Muslim identity crisis. (end of quotation)
We can neither confirm nor deny the details described above – it is not scripture. But we do trust Dr. Sayvid’s scholarship and the fact that his book underwent extensive review by scholars of experience and reputation comparable to his. Dr. Sayyid’s arguments show that what we are seeing now in ISIS/ISIL, and the vast array of other radical Islamic sects, are centuries of perceived repression to which the only resolution that the extremists can conceive of now is to force all others to follow their radical leaders, both to kill and to be killed for the type of Islam that has been brainwashed into their minds from infancy.
It really does not matter in what direction or how far we look in our world today – it is a mess, and we can say with virtual certainty that it is not going to get any better. We know, not because we claim the gift or prophecy, but because the solutions that are being proposed are precisely what have failed in the past, and in some cases they have caused many of the problems in the first place. Let us first explore some commonly proposed alternatives, and then we will look at what the bible has to say about the faithful followers of Jesus’ responsibility toward these issues.
Alternative 1 – Islam.
Can anyone who has the minimal sense of civilization contemplate a world totally subjugated by those who are currently being quite successful in conquering and dominating the Middle East? The response we often hear is that ISIS/ISIL does not represent the large majority of the Islamic world. This must be true, for if it were not, we would all be in as much fear for our physical lives as Christians are today in most of the Middle East. Despite this moderate majority, can we find one country in the Middle East where a moderate form of Islam has led to a government that has not had to practice gross oppression in order to stay in power? The exceptions are too few for us to believe that they could ever constitute a model for the future. There may be one or two exceptions, but for the most part we have seen recently that even the first steps toward democracy have generally led to tremendous political instability and economic devastation for the common people.
Can you perceive of a time when all of the Islamic states and factions are at peace with one another? It seems very likely that the recent beheadings were calculated to get the U.S, and other Western European countries involved – they would love nothing more than to see all Western powers launch an all-out war against Islam per se because a common enemy is the only way that they can hope to overcome their own differences. It is a blessing – perhaps God’s hand of restraint – that this is not taking place. One deterrent of Islam unity is that the Koran is most often used to suit the purposes of the tyrants to subjugate the masses. Unless there is a massive attack from the outside, the various sects of Islam will never be able to resolve their differences, and there is every reason to believe that the current situation within Islam will continue to persist indefinitely.
[Comment: we will not deny that at times the bible has been similarly perverted by false teachers to teach hatred – but its theme of love has generally overcome this depravity, providing one of the greatest evidences of its truthfulness and validity, and that its source is the only true and living God.]
Alternative 2 – Military Power.
Completely destroy ISIS/ISIL. This alternative is tempting and it appeals to many. Does the civilized world and especially the Western powers have the power to wipe out ISIS/ISIL? There is little doubt that they do. But what happened when they wiped out Saddam Hussein’s army? What happened when they so decimated al-Qaeda that the U.S. president could come out and say with some credibility that al-Qaeda was “on the run?” We also have to recognize that with the militants’ tactics of hiding behind innocents, to wipe them out would require Japan-like collateral destruction and deaths of the helpless. No follower of Jesus wants that.
Even the idea of totally wiping them out is problematic, for after that the victorious nations world have to leave forces in place to assure that the militants do not regroup and come back again in a different form, like they have so many times in the past. It is highly questionable that we would have both the will and the resources to sustain the victory. If so, it would be the first time.
Throughout history God has brought the greatest military powers to their knees and made fools of them all. The minute we think it cannot happen to us, it will happen – we expect it is only a matter of time. Faith in military power has never proven to be of lasting value.
[It is amazing how they use our strength in this regard to prove how we are evil “crusaders,” while at the same time proclaiming that their brutal murder of innocents proves that God is with them. No, what is amazing is the number of people who are duped by such distorted reasoning.]
Alternative 3 – Christianity.
I am using the term Christianity in its broadest sense to include all those who through practice or family heredity claim a belief that Jesus is the Christ. No one can doubt that the collective force of the examples of all of those who consider themselves to be Christians has had a profoundly positive impact on our world. Try to imagine a world without it. Surely the basic teachings of Jesus (e.g., “do unto others, … love they neighbor,” etc.) reflected in the lives of individuals has made this world is a far better place. We cannot say for sure, but perhaps without these altruistic teachings, all of the world would consume itself much like the Middle East is doing today. So, is “Christianity” the answer? (Remember, we are speaking in the populist meaning of the word “Christianity,” which has often been used in ways unrelated to the bible meaning of the word “Christian” that is used in Acts 11:26, 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16.).
We do not see Christianity (by this definition) to be the solution. Since we expect many will find this surprising, let us stop and give some reasons for our answer:
- If what is commonly called Christianity (i.e., organized Christians religions) were called upon by God to solve this problem, they would have done so by now – it has had about 2000 years to accomplish the task, and clearly, if this were one of its goals, the accomplishment of it must be considered an obvious failure.
- The bible indicates that this is NOT one of the goals that Jesus has given to His church (Mt. 16:18). This is most clearly stated in John 18:36: “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world : if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.’” Nothing in the teachings of the Holy Spirit that followed indicated any change in this until Jesus returns in judgment. Recall that the Holy Spirit revealed to them all things (Jn. 14:26; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
- Do we ever see him or his apostles using armed force or trying to influence political power at all, except by the force of their examples? They preached the gospel with the purpose of saving individual souls (Mt. 28:18-19), but they also recognized that there would be many who would never obey the gospel (2 Thes. 1:8; 1 Pet. 4:17). This realistic view was more than just a lucky guess – even the corruption of the church was prophesied (2 Thes. 2:1-5; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; Revelation chapters 6-20). If eliminating the problem of militant Islam were the will of God, it would have been accomplished long ago.
- Organizationally, Christianity (as defined above) is as divided in its governmental structures and doctrines that is Islam. But let us not go too far with this analogy. When was the last time that you saw a member of one Christian sect murder a member of another because of the differences in their beliefs? But within Islam it happens all the time (this might not be hyperbole). We surmise that ignorance of the bible makes the ignorant Christian an easy target for the charlatan who would exploit this ignorance for their own financial and political gain – the examples are all around us for those who are willing to open their eyes (and their bibles). It is also caused by men looking for physical brute force solutions – the very thing that resulted in the crucifixion of Jesus.
Truly the difference between Christianity and Islam is most pronounced in this regard, and that tells you much about the differences in the God (or gods) that are being served. If it were the goal of Christianity to physically annihilate all evil organizations such as ISIS/ISIL, then we would probably have as much physical internal strife within our ranks as they do debating about how to best accomplish this evil goal. The fact that we are called to a much higher calling than slaughtering one another demonstrates the myth that we are worshipping the same God.
Let us thank our God that He has not given us a military task, and that most (although certainly not all) religious leaders within Christianity recognize, at least to some extent, the separation of the spiritual from the political (see the discussion of Mt. 22:15-22). While our nations have the right and obligation to protect us (see Romans 13), our role as individual Christians in this regard is to support them to the extent that we can without violating God’s laws for us. We should have no concern because all is in the hands of the loving and just God that we serve; 2 Chronicles 20:6 “… O LORD, the God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and art not thou ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations ? and in thy hand is power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee.”
Where does this leave us?
So, is there no solution to the ISIS/ISIL and other militant Islamic aggressive actions against peace-loving people? If we are looking for a solution in the various political and religious organizations created by men, then the answer is no. God has made fools of them all, since clearly there are a host of unfathomable dilemmas that stand in the way of any solution they might offer. With the best of intentions they seem to cause far more turmoil than any of them can ever resolve.
But then should Christians just give up? No – those of us who have studied the bible know that God has always been on the side of those who appear to have no hope. Look at Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses and Jesus. Reread the article on comfort about Paul. While we cannot imagine any of the above alternatives solving the worlds sin-caused problems, it is possible to imagine a world in which this problem is solved. Imagine a world in which everyone was following the teaching of Jesus – forgiving and loving their neighbors regardless of past wrongs, and not capable of being motivated by covetousness, envy or hatred. If you need help in imagining such an existence, take time to read Revelation 21 and 22. This is the world that faithful followers of Jesus will inherit.
The fact that we CAN imagine this makes it far more feasible than those alternatives above that are beyond credibility. If all men served Jesus Christ in HIS way it would be heaven on earth. There would be enough resources to solve all of the hunger, health and all other problems caused by poverty and greed throughout the world. This cannot be said about any other philosophy or religion. Surely Christians should pray for this solution.
But we are not under any delusion that the world is about to wholesale adopt the teachings of Jesus. In fact, the majority of those who would identify themselves as Christians (by the definition given above) do not practice the teachings of Jesus. Many of them do not even begin to know His teachings, which is certainly a prerequisite for doing them. This in itself has given the militants much of the psychological ammunition that they use against all Christians. They misunderstand the true nature of what Jesus wanted his church to be just as the world misunderstood Jesus himself 2000 years ago. Very little has changed.
But was the rejection of the world ever a concern of Jesus? I am sure that it was, because he loved all people everywhere (there are no more loving and touching words to this effect than Matthew 23:37-39). But their rejection of the teachings that he brought from the Father (Jn. 7:16) never deterred him from doing what he knew to be God’s will. And neither should it deter us today.
Our expectation is not that this world will ever solve its problems, because we know that without the general acceptance of the teachings of Jesus, these problems will never be solved. Our hope is in the eternal that is described in Revelation 21 and 22. As for those who are faithful Christians, we are pilgrims in this world. Just like the Old Testament heros who were faithful to God unto (and until) death that are described in Hebrews 11:13: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” And what about us today? See how similar the description is given in 1 Peter 2:11: “Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul; …”
Does this mean that we just give up on this present world? Not at all. Where would we be if Jesus had given up? While it might not seem to be much, the bible teaches that following Jesus has a very significant impact, whether we recognize it or not. It is important that we understand what our role is, and how much impact it has. Remember fellow follower of Jesus: “Ye are the salt of the earth …” (Mt. 5:13).
It is impossible to know all of the ramifications of just one proclamation of the truth. Jesus said (John 8:32): “… and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Free from what? Nothing other than sin and the oppressive slavery that it creates. Romans 6:22-23: “But now being made free from sin and having become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life. For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What we see all around us in the world today is “the wages of sin.” Do you want this to be the wages for your way of life?
By faith we will recognize that although the foe seems invincible, God has always been on the side of those who love and honor Him by doing His will (1 John 5:3). Let us follow the example of Jesus and the apostles, and even if it leads to our deaths, we can be assured that we have done all that we can do to solve the problems of mankind. Jesus and His Way – the ONLY solution as far as our lives are concerned.
Discussion of another extreme view:
2 - Is “Religion the Root of All Evil?”
By Dave Brown
I am sure that you have heard some say that this world would be much better off without religion, and many go so far as to say that religion accounts for all wars and most of the other ills of this world. We have had very popular songs, like John Lennon’s 1971 “Imagine,” that picture the idealized world as being one totally devoid of all religious beliefs, and essentially blaming all of the world’s problems on religion.
I expect you would think that we would totally disagree with our title. Disagree yes, but totally disagree no. It is hard to disagree with a statement that may be true over 90% of the time. The statement is only false in that it lumps all religion (true and false) together. Even if it held up 99% of the time, it would still be classified as a hasty generalization, which always results from lazy thinking (a failure to take the effort to learn all of the facts). Apart from hatred, hasty generalization is the root of prejudice. Let us take a precise look and not be so lazy as to mindlessly bundle all similar things into one simplistic judgment.
Assuming that they are honest, those who condemn all religion cannot possibly understand the full and accurate teachings of Jesus Christ. Usually they are looking for those teachings in the wrong place – e.g., at those who claim to represent “Christianity.” Jesus’ teachings are not learned from any book or writing of man. They are not learned from any church discipline or recognized priesthood. There is only one source for understanding the teachings of Jesus Christ, and that is the bible. All writings of man claiming to be religious truth can only be validated by comparing them with the standard of the scriptures. There is no other standard – all other religious writings today, (e.g., ecumenical councils, conferences, disciplines, and yes, articles including what you are now reading) are second hand at best. Making an honest comparison to the scriptures, you will find that most religious writings and teachings have very little in common with the complete truth of God’s word. If you have not discovered this it is because you have not looked deeply enough into the teachings of the bible, and especially, the New Testament, which is the part of the bible that we are subject to today.
That said, to blindly throw the pure teachings of Jesus into the false religious mix is just plain wrong. The condemnation comes from evaluating Jesus based on the behavior of those who CLAIM to be living by faith in Jesus. Why not evaluate Jesus teachings based on Jesus’ words and his behavior – would that not be the fair thing to do? This should be obvious, especially when we see such a diverse set of faith systems being attributed to those claiming to be Christians.
Our goal in this article is to show the difference between the teachings of Jesus and that of all other religions. This might seem to be a daunting task, but it is really quite simple. Let us begin with the bible definitions of true (pure) and false (vain) religion. While many passages could apply, there is only one that we have found in the bible that comes right out with explicit definitions, and that is James 1:25-27.
James 1:25-27
25 But he that looks into the perfect law, the (law) of liberty, and (so) continues, being not a hearer that forgets but a doer that works, this man shall be blessed in his doing.
26 If any man thinks himself to be religious, while he bridles not his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, (and) to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Can anyone look at this definition of pure religion and honestly state that it is causing any of this world’s problems? If they do, they are either not being honest or they have lost all sense of morality. The problem is not in misunderstanding what pure religion is; it is the failure on the part of people who claim to believe in Jesus Christ to practice what He taught.
Notice how James sets the stage for defining pure religion. The honest and good person will look into the perfect law (the scriptures, see 1 Corinthians 13:10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). This law is a law of liberty – not the old testament law of enslavement, but the New Testament law (of Christ, see 1 Cor. 9:21; 2 Cor. 317 and James 2:12). This is the law that was delivered by the very Son of God, who died on the cross in the process, but before that he promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all things (John 14:26) after he was gone.
Looking into this law is not enough. Hearing it and forgetting it is not enough. Even having the perception that you actually believe it is not enough (James 2:14-26). It is essential that the one considering God’s law believe the author of it (Jesus – Hebrews 5:9), and in believing puts it immediately into practice – that he stop being a “hearer only” and immediately become a “doer that works.” (Reread James 1:25 above.)
With this backdrop James defines pure religion. Pure implies that it is not tarnished or polluted by anything that has been added by men, nor has anything been taken away from it (Revelation 22:18-19). Recognize that James (inspired by the Holy Spirit who was sent by Jesus – John 14:26) is using the figure of speech of synecdoche to define an extremely profound concept that cannot be explained as effectively in any better way. Synecdoche uses a part of something to refer the whole. We use it commonly today, e.g., “hired hands” for employees, or “wheels” for automobiles. In this case he illustrates: (1) vain religion with some examples of evil, and (2) true religion with some examples of good. The examples may seem trivial at first, but when we contemplate and meditate upon them, their sublimity in representing the entirety of these concepts emerges. Let us attempt to think them through one at a time, starting with vain religion:
- Bridles not his tongue – this is not just talking of inconsiderate men who would say harmful things to hurt peoples’ feelings. More importantly, it is directed at the blatant liar who has no concern about who his lies might hurt. The worst, most hurtful lie convinces people they are saved eternally when, in truth, they are lost – no greater harm can be done to a person than this. The spiritually lethal “faith-only, once-saved-always-saved” combination would be a good example of such a harmful teaching.
- Deceives his own heart – the most convincing liars are those who believe that they are telling the truth. Usually they have lied for so long that it is inconceivable to them that what they say is not reality. They perceive that they have the Godlike characteristic of being able to speak things into existence, i.e., if they say it, it must be true. The epitome of this in our day are the radical Islamists who totally believe in their hearts that they are destined to inevitable and imminent victory and ultimate heaven. Hopefully the world can see from this quintessential example just how evil and abominable false religion can become. There is nothing more dangerous than a false teacher who is totally convinced that he is speaking the truth for God.
The above two examples do not encompass all possible evils, but they sure give us a perfect idea of what vain religion is. Such a religion cannot save, and it will lead many to thinking that they are right with God when they are not. Now let us consider the definition of pure religion, which is:
- To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction – an example of the mercy that all true believers will show toward those who are suffering and in need of help that they can provide; and
- To keep oneself unspotted from the world – look around … you know what this is talking about. This is the negative aspect of it – what we should NOT be doing … allowing the sin that so easily besets us (Hebrews 12:1) to divert us from giving ourselves totally to the Lord – or, as Jesus put it, “take up his crosses and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
Again, recognize that (by using synecdoche) these are partial examples that illustrate the whole. This is not the entire gospel (i.e., the New Testament), and there are many other things that go into pure religion. However, what feeling do you get when you contemplate these things? Is it a feeling that the writer was talking about something disgustingly evil? – the scourge of the world? Of course not. For that matter, keeping “oneself unspotted from the world” would certainly involve an effort on our part to learn and do all that Jesus has given us in the New Testament. How else could we hope to even come close to keeping ourselves unspotted from the world?
A good test for the righteousness of a belief system is to ask the question: “what if everyone believed and practiced this teaching?” Let’s apply that test to one of Jesus’ most counterintuitive teachings regarding our relationships with one another:
Matthew 5:43-48
43 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:
44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
45 that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
46 For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more (than others?) do not even the Gentiles the same?
48 Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The teachings of Jesus are so much more highly elevated above the teachings of false religions that it is a sin to even think of lumping them together. This sublimity is to be expected, as Isaiah 55:8-9 said: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
If everyone DID practice the type of love that Jesus taught, would there be any more wars? Just think of how all of the resources wasted on the military could be used to feed the hungry, cure the sick, and advance all of our standards of living? We would no longer even need police, nor the bureaucracies that some believe are essential to counter poverty and prejudice. We are describing heaven on earth. John Lennon’s “Imagine” never contemplated anything like this.
So, are you still willing to throw Jesus under the bus along with all of the vain religions of this world? That is what you do when you remain silent when you hear this error uttered. If you believe that Jesus is different, don’t allow others to go unchallenged when they say “religion is the root of all evil.” Memorize James 1:27: “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, (and) to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
Jesus gives his conditions for eternal life: God's Plan of Salvation
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