How do we help nurture and grow religious militancy and violence?

How do we help to nurture and grow religious militancy? We do that by our inactions and actions! We help to nurture and grow religious militancy by our covert and overt encouragements!

Conquer Without Violence... June Blog

 

Edmund Burke said,

“All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.”

When religious leaders say nothing against the violence and evil that is perpetrated by some of their fellow believers, they are indirectly helping to perpetrate evil. Some religious leaders do not speak against violence perpetrated against other people because they share the same faith as the perpetrators of the violence and evil.

Some even covertly help with funding, because they know the violence is perpetrated against other religions. They fail to know that, by their inactions and actions, they are indirectly supporting and nurturing militants who perpetrate evil, and that they are training militants who will become a problem in the future.

Under the guise of serving God, militants use their power and control to inflict pain and suffering on helpless people

When they secure power, they turn against their own people whom they regard as not radical. They do not differentiate any more between people of their own faith and people of other faiths.

They claim God has given them the mandate to wipe out every other person who does not share in their way of beliefs.

(Please, make time to visit The Peacemakers…)

We are inundated daily with horrifying news reports of religious militants who claim they are serving a loving God by attacking and killing people.

They claim they are fighting God’s battle. They claim they are proclaiming a God of peace and a compassionate deity who loves people; yet they unleash suffering on people.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, said that, such people do not know God. They are not promoting the God of peace. He said,

They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.  And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.  (John 16:2-3; New King James Version)

God is Peace and Love; He hates violence
God is Peace and Love; He hates violence

A group of armed terrorists, the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab, forcefully entered the Westgate Mall in Nairobi and unleashed senseless violence upon customers and workers, killing some in the attack …Boko Haram continues to attack and kill people; they abduct women and girls, and force them, as if they are slaves, to marry people they don’t love…   ISIS groups are attacking and killing people… Al-Shabaab militants are invading, attacking schools and killing innocent people… The Lord’s Resistance Army are recruiting child soldiers to engage in senseless wars. All these claim they are fighting on behalf of the peaceful and merciful God!

How can a merciful deity be so unmerciful?

How can a deity who is behind the violence and the pain inflicted on innocent people be seen as peaceful and compassionate? How can a merciful deity be so unmerciful as to instruct people to rape innocent girls?

Why would a powerful deity send terrorists to attack helpless people? How can one perpetrate violence and expect people to see one as non-violent?

This is happening because good people refused to speak when the violence and evil started!

Now we see and hear much violence perpetrated through religion. Religion that is supposed to bring peace and happiness is now unleashing terror!

Why should much of the violence we hear and experience come from the religious quarter? And why is it that one particular religion is noted for that?

Could it be that the leaders failed to educate their people about the true nature of the Creator God? That a merciful and compassionate God does not delight in killing people and making families miserable?

Jesus told His disciples to preach peace and demonstrate peace. He said if people refuse to receive them, they should let them be and go elsewhere. He said they should never use force. They should leave them for the Day of Judgement, (Luke 10:5-12).

He said He came to save lives … not to destroy lives, (Luke 9:52-56).
(Get a copy of “Questions Muslims Ask Christians” by clicking here)

(Persuasion Is Better Than Force)

Do You Preach The Militant God (Or The God Of Peace And Love)?

Some preach the militant God, while others  preach the God of peace and love. Do you preach a militant God or the God of peace and love?

Workshop... Ghana Christian University
Rockeybell teaching

 

I Preach the God of Peace and Love, because I believe in peace and love

(Visit the Peacemakers)

I believe in Yahweh God, because He is kind and does not hurt people.
I believe in Yahweh, the God of Peace, because He loves and He is patient. He helps us to understand Him; He helps us decide to want Him as our father and teacher.
Yahweh God is not militant; He is not a tormentor; He is not an unmerciful persecutor; He does not make people’s lives miserable.

Workshop on Islam-Christian dialogue
Workshop: Islam-Christian dialogue; University of Minnesota

He will not force people to come to Him. He will not force people to listen to Him. He is not like militant deities who compel people to worship them.

It saddens Him when we take the wrong road and walk away from Him.Yet He will not compel anyone to return to Him. It is His divine attribute not to use force. He is love; He is peace. He is the compassionate one. He persuades and explains how and why His way is the Life. That is why I love Him and that is why I preach Him.

When we reject Him, He does not leave us to the evil one, but whispers His loving words to direct us to the right way. He is constantly telling me, “Come now and let us reason together… Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson they will be like wool,” (Isaiah 1:18).

He speaks lovingly and peacefully to everyone

He does not use violence to make people listen to Him. He does not force people to love Him. He speaks to our conscience and shows us how we can enjoy life in Him. In a loving and peaceful way He makes us see how our way is not the way of peace and happiness.

(See some of our books)

He stretches His loving arms, offering peace, joy and life to anyone who is willing to accept. He restores our souls and leads us in the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3). He forewarns us of any evil waiting to destroy us, and helps us to escape the traps of the evil one.

The evil one deceives us with enticements that lead to destruction

But Yahweh God of peace and love stretches His loving arms to rescue, without compelling people to accept the salvation He offers. Softly and gently He tells us,

“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword,” (Isaiah 1:19-20; Holman Christian Standard Bible).

He is the God of Peace and Love

He is the God who persuades and will not force anyone. He is merciful; always demonstrating His attribute of compassion.

Indeed He is the God of Peace and Love

He tolerates views even when the views are against Him. He provides peace. He is not vindictive.  He is willing to forgive and wipe away our sins.

He tells us to live in peace with fellow humans. He says,

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7; New King James Version)

He sent the Prince of Peace (His Son) to preach peace and love

He sent Jesus to preach the good tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captured, to open the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of His vengeance, and to proclaim comfort to all who mourn, (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:17-21).

I preach the God of Peace and Love
My God does not order decapitation of people who do not accept Him. Instead, He articulates His purposes convincingly and explains why all should accept Him as Lord and Master.

He does not spread hate, anger, violence or death
My God of Peace and Love will always be peaceful and loving

(Read the testimony of one who found peace in this God)

He loves always …  He will not hurt you.

That is why I preach Yahweh, the God of peace and love.