Tag: Islamic Militants

Blessed are the Peacemakers… Part 2

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,”(Matthew 5:9).

The CrossHolySpirit And The Crescent
The Peacemaker:  The CrossHolySpirit And                                             The Crescent

Jesus taught His followers to strive for peace always. Being the Prince of Peace, Jesus  abhorred violence.

Albert Einstein said, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”

  • Attacking people rather emphasizes people’s perception that you are not a peacemaker.
  • People will see you as evil and your cause as inimical when you attack and kill their loved ones. They will hate you.
The Charlie Hebdo attack

On the morning of 7 January 2015, Islamist terrorists armed with assault rifles and other weapons forced their way into the offices of the French weekly, Charlie Hebdo, in Paris. They fired up to 50 shots, initially killing 11 people and injuring 11 others, shouting “Allahu Akbar” as they shot and killed.

Though the satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, was wrong in provoking Muslims, the Islamist terrorists, too, were wrong by attacking and killing.

The attack on Charlie Hebdo rather made the paper sell millions

Before then the paper had never sold in enormous quantities.  The paper had even closed down and reopened. The response by the Muslims won sympathies around the world for Charlie Hebdo; although Charlie Hebdo was wrong in caricaturing other people’s faith. The attack  failed to stop the Atheist weekly from mocking religions.

Across the world (particularly in Europe and Africa) Muslims reacted violently to express their anger. In Niger,  Muslims burned churches that had no relation with Charlie Hebdo, simply because they are Christian churches.

The BBC carried the reported attack on its website.

See the BBC report

Why did Muslims attack the Christian churches when an atheist newspaper mocked them?The Atheist Charlie Hebdo had caricatured Christians, Jews, and other religions; they too are victims just as the Muslims.

In France, people not related to Charlie Hebdo were taken hostage. Some  people even died in rescue attempts.

Muslims tell us that Islam is a religion of peace and that there is no compulsion in religion. Yet Islamist militants continue to attack and kill in the name of a peace-loving God. They slit the throats of people they have captured while reading the Qur’an and shouting praises to Allah.

Religion should be used to promote peace and love

We ought to portray the peaceful attributes of our religions. We should make people see our prophet or mission as good and not evil.  The attack on Charlie Hebdo, the killing of innocent people and the destruction of churches rather painted a negative picture of the religion the militants promote.

Jesus told His disciples not to compel people (Luke 10:5-12)
  • When a deity directs innocent people to be massacred…
  • When a deity instructs that children be abducted…
  • When a deity instructs that  women be kidnapped and forced to marry others…

That cannot be the way of Peace

  • The Islamist militants, Boko Haram, continue to devastate communities in Nigeria in God’s name…
  • In Pakistan, militants attack schools and kill innocent people in God’s name…
  • In Iraq, people are killed by suicide bombers, etc.,  in God’s name…

These mass killings are done by people who claim they promote a God of peace…

No religion or ideology can wipe out all other religions

  1. The Islamic Jihad (or Holy War), which started in the 7th century, could not wipe out Christianity and the other religions.
  2. The Crusades, coming 400 years later to stop Islam being forced on Christians, could also not wipe out Islam.
  3. Hitler tried to exterminate the Jews from the face of the world… and he failed.

Only the Almighty God has the power to wipe out all things that He does not want to exist.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace said,
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,” (Matthew 5:9).

Read Rockeybell’s testimony

Power of Persuasion… Part 2

There is power in persuasion

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“..yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.” (Jesus – John 16:2)
Persuasion has power to win without inflicting harm.

Religious Militants do not know the art of persuasion. They force people to accept their views.

Rockeybell at BarCamp Mentoring Program October 2014
Rockeybell at BarCamp Mentoring Program October 2014

Learn to win without attacking

Learn to present your message effectively without using physical force.
Present your facts; do not attack your opponents’ beliefs.

When you attack them, you make them hate you.

The Christian church was established through the power of persuasive speech. (Acts chapter 2)

Peter, on the day of Pentecost, stood before a hostile crowd, and used the power of persuasion to convict the hearts of listeners. The followers of Jesus Christ were only 120. For fear of being arrested and killed, they hid themselves in the upper room, and prayed.
Thousands of devout Jews from every nation had come to celebrate the Jewish religious festival in Jerusalem; just as millions of Muslims go to Mecca every year for the Hajj.
As the disciples waited on God and prayed, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they started speaking with other tongues. People who heard them mocked, because they  thought they were drunk.

Peter stood up and spoke persuasively, testifying about Jesus. He exhorted them, and convinced them to abandon their wrong ways and follow Jesus.

Peter did not use physical force to make people believe in Jesus. His words cut their hearts, and they asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Peter replied,

“Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:37-39; New King James Version)

About three thousand souls believed and became followers of Jesus Christ that day through the power of persuasion; not by the sword.
(We shall continue to examine the power of persuasion in subsequent discussions)

Read Rockeybell’s testimony:

History records wars between Muslims and Christians... A book by Rockeybell
History records wars between Muslims and Christians… A book by Rockeybell

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The Almighty, Peaceful, Loving and Compassionate God does not force people to love Him. When we attack people physically and compel them, we make them hate us. One does not have to kill people if one’s message has substance to convince.
Jesus told us  to warn people, but not to attack them. He said we should leave them to God; God will deal with them on the Day of Judgement. (Luke 10:8-12)
Jesus commaded His followers to  love their enemies; not to hate them.

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” (Luke 6:27-29; New King James)

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Christians are allowed to defend themselves; they are not to be aggressors.
Jesus asked,

“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” (Luke 6:32-33; New King James Version)

Jesus Christ told His followers  to be different from others. He told them to demonstrate their beliefs by persuading people; no force and no violence.
People who attack and kill innocent people are not true followers of God. They do not have the Spirit of the Compassionate God in them. At a certain time, the disciples were angry with some Samaritans. They remembered Prophet Elijah had called down fire to consume people who had come to arrest him (2 Kings 1:9-12). They asked Jesus to allow them also call fire to consume the Samaritans.

“But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’ And they went to another village.” (Luke 9:55-56; New King James Version)

Jesus said He did not come to destroy people’s lives. He came to save. True and saving religion does not destroy innocent people’s lives.

You may need a copy of the book, “How To Make People (Hostile and Friendly) Listen To You.”
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To be continued

Power of Persuasion…. Part 1

The Power of Persuasion: How and Why

Islamic Militants may not know that  persuasion has tremendous power to convince listeners.

  • Jesus taught His followers to use persuasion
  • He showed them how to win without attacking their opponents

(We shall discuss how to win without attacking as we progress.)

WINNING WITHOUT ATTACKING
Paper (Hard Copy) version of “Persuasion is Better Than Force.”

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Jesus demonstrated the power of persuasion when He communicated with hostile or difficult people.

The Samaritan woman had lived with several men. She needed salvation. However, because of the hostility  between Jews and Samaritans, Jesus knew she would not accept the truth from Him, a Jew. Jesus, therefore, started a friendly dialogue to make her talk to Him. She was surprised that a Jew would ask a Samaritan water to drink. Jesus ignored her remark and dealt directly on her spiritual need.

He led her patiently to the point where she could assimilate the truth and admit her  sins. With enmity out of the way, and Jesus now a friend, she could ask for the living water that Jesus said He had.

Abraham Lincoln said, “I conquer my enemies when I make them my friends.”
Proverbs 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.”

Coercion, hate and violence do not win people’s sympathy.

Militants use violence to promote their religion, and yet they claim they promote a peaceful God and a peaceful religion.

  • The Bible presents a tolerant and peaceful way
  • Jesus told His disciples to use persuasion

Jesus gives true peace…

” Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27: New King James Version)

Christ’s Spirit makes us tolerant

Before he became a Christian, Paul persecuted Christians. But when he became a Christian, he learned the way of the Master Jesus – persuasion.

Why militants can’t tolerate others

They were trained from childhood, by their parents, peers and community leaders, to express themselves through violence. They were not allowed to exercise their own freewill to accept God, but were forced to do so.

Growing up in such environments, they copied the violent behaviors of those who influenced them, and became violent. When they fail to convince people, they become frustrated and end up attacking people. They call their violence ‘peace,‘ because that is how they know peace to be.

John Locke said,
“…true and saving religion consists in the inward persuasion of the mind, without which nothing can be acceptable to God.” (John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration. Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books, 1990; page 20)

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Read Rockeybell’s testimony…http://www.peacemakersteam.com/rockeybells-testimony.html

Jesus exhibited a perfect spirit of tolerance.

The disciples were angry with some Samaritans who would not allow Jesus into their city. They wanted to call fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans just as Elijah did in 2 Kings 1:9-12. Jesus rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” So they went to another village.” (Luke 9:51-56)

Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43-45; New King James Version).

We hear of Boko Haram killing innocent people – destroying towns and villages. Yet we know that the Almighty God is peaceful and loving. They abduct women, and rape some of them. Can the victims accept that Boko Haram presents peace?

People will, therefore, continue believing that Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, and all militants are violent.

To be continued

God’s Executioners: Killing In God’s Name… Part 2

Killing in God’s Name

Jesus Christ taught his followers the way of peace; not to kill, but to express their views or beliefs without violence
  • Jesus did not come to kill; He came to promote a new order, modifying the Old Testament way of doing things.
  • He told His followers they should not compel people to accept their message. He said,

“But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.” (Luke 10:10-12… New King James Version)

When we attack people to promote our cause, we make them to see us as violent

God does not compel people to love Him

God sent Jonah to go and preach to the people of Nineveh so they would change from their wicked ways, else He would destroy them. It was not because they did not worship Him.
Jonah fled to Tarshish in a ship. God sent out a great wind on the sea and created turbulence. Jonah told the frightened mariners that he was the cause. He said they should throw him into the sea for the turbulence to cease.
All that while, God had not killed anyone. Innocent people did not suffer because of Jonah.

They threw Jonah into the sea, and the sea ceased raging. The result was a profound impression on the people; they offered sacrifice to God and took vows.

God did not use force to make them obey, and He did not kill them because Jonah was around them.

In spite of Jonah’s behavior, God spared his life. God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. No mention of what particular fish it was. After three days and three nights, Jonah realized God did not intend killing him. He prayed to God, and God made the fish vomit Jonah on the shore. Jonah went to tell people to change their ways and they did.

God forgave them and turned His anger away from them.

That is the way of a peace-loving God

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God’s Executioners: Killing in God’s name… Part 1

Does God need executioners?

Does the Almighty God, who has the ultimate power to do what He pleases, need human beings to force other people do His bidding?

Can’t the Almighty God fight His own battles?

How can we really tell who is fighting on God’s behalf, since many different religious organizations or sects claim to be fighting for God’s cause?
Can all the different religious people, with their differences in doctrines, be fighting for God?
God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints (New King James Version). So how can God instruct all the different groups to go out and kill in His name, with their contradictory doctrines?

Murder in God’s  Name

  • In Nigeria, the Islamic militants, Boko Haram, stormed a secondary  school in Yobe and killed 29 boys and burnt the school to the ground. The Police reported that some of the student’s bodies were burnt to ashes.
  • In Maiduguri, fighters killed 90 people in an early morning attack on a remote village. Gunmen surrounded the village of Izge, near the border with Cameroon, sprayed it with bullets, and set off explosions to burn down houses.

These brutalities are done in the name of the Almighty God, “The Compassionate One,” the “Ever Merciful God.”

Jesus taught His followers to conquer by persuasion; not by force

Jesus Christ taught his followers to express their views or beliefs by love. He told His followers they should not compel people to accept their message, (Luke 10:10-12.), because He came to promote peace. That means, Christians who indulge in violence and brutalities are not obeying their Master Jesus.
Using persuasion may take time; that is why violent-minded people do not want to take that course. However, that method is devoid of the deaths, pain and sufferings that follow violence and suicide bombings.

If you are patient, you can use persuasion to get people to accept your suggestions or views.

(You may want to read “Conquering without being violent.” Visit our Website)

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Welcome to “Conquering Without Being Violent.”

Conquering Without Being Violent  WIN WITHOUT ATTACKING  Conquering Without Being Violent 001

Can Violent Militants Change?

Daily we read of Islamic militants (Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, ISIS, etc.), The Lord’s Resistance Army, and suicide bombers using violence to press home their demands. They attack and kill innocent people as they force their decisions and beliefs on them.
School pupils explode in anger and shoot their colleague pupils and teachers.
Islamic militants abduct girls from schools in rural African communities, claiming their religion does not allow females to have education. They rape some of them, impregnating them in the process, and eventually sell them or compel them to marry men the girls do not love.

A loving God does not use hate to make people love Him

“Conquering Without Being Violent” discusses how persuasion convinces people rather than force.
Abraham Lincoln said, we conquer our enemies when we make them our friends.
Jesus told His followers never to use force to make people accept their views. He told His followers to love their enemies; not to hate them.

Topics to discuss on this platform include:

  1. Engaging  people in peaceful dialog
  2. Disagreeing without being offensive
  3. Defending without being polemical

You can conquer by persuasion without being violent

Do you get angry easily?
Are you violent in your reactions?
Do you want to form a new loving and patient habit?
Do you want to turn enemies into friends?

Discussions will include:

  • Using gentle ways in presenting views.
  • Training our angry emotions to calm down in angry situations.
  • Helping the brutish husband to learn to listen.
  • Helping a disrespectful child to learn to listen and obey.
  • Helping the cantankerous wife to learn to listen.
  • Helping the opinionated boss to learn listen to other views.

Truth should be able to persuade and draw people to one’s cause

A person who is persuaded to abandon his or her position voluntarily, will see it as his or her own decision; he or she does not feel coerced.

Is there hope for the chronically angry person?

Why do some people get angry easily?
Can the violent person change?
Can the hot-tempered person change?

Can we control our emotions?