Shepherd's Pie

Islam and the Coming Challenges

2008-10-12T22:40:00.005-06:00

I recently participated in an online discussion on the rise of militant Islam. A convert from Christianity to Islam was trying to defend the killing of innocents, insisting that Islam 'forbids the killing of innocents' but adding that perhaps all people on a random bus are not innocent. Another poster, John, expressed frustration that Muslims refer to Allah as a "merciful god", while to him this Allah seemed to be fairly bloodthirsty...

But therein lies the rub, John. The God of Islam is required to be merciful only to Muslims. ... As someone else pointed out, Islam does not define Christians and Jews as "innocents". Contrast this with Christ, who sought out the greatest sinners as his companions, and poured his energy during his brief time walking on earth toward their spiritual nurturing. The beauty of Christianity, the love reflected in it, is that no one need be lost, no one is beyond redemption, no one beyond God's love.

I often think that much of the issue of conflict between the Judeo/Christian world and the Muslim, is one of culture, and that is reflected in the semantics used in the argument: what is the meaning of "innocent" to a Christian as opposed to a Muslim? What is the meaning of "merciful god"? When the way the religions - and thus cultures - view the world is so fundamentally different, discussion often seems a moot point. If two sides don't even view the same moral reality as the context for discussion, where does that leave us?

For me, here is the fundamental difference: as Christians we are called to embrace a sinner, and to reflect on our own sins. Muslims are called by the very Koran to annihilate, hate, abuse the non-Muslim.

We live in a western society that encourages "diversity" - but does that mean that we condone that which we find morally destructive? Such an idealogy cannot survive because it is at its very core impossible. If we are to participate as responsible members of mankind and as Christians, we will have to eventually take a moral stand -something supremely unpopular in our PC culture. I have come to believe over time and study that some moral truths are and must be universal in order for mankind to advance culturally and spiritually. We will all be called upon to give voice to that universal moral truth - it's going to take clear-sightedness and great courage.

I often fear that, as I watch militant Islam wreak its havoc across Europe and creeping into the U.S. - that the day for individual moral courage is very near at hand. It will be forced upon each of us. Imagine. . . would you deny Christ with a sword to your throat? Would you? The tales of early martyrs, when you consider them in the modern context of Islamist terrorists, don't seem like far away fairy tales anymore, but take on a menacing immediacy and realism.

How does an individual identify universal moral truth? Isn't it arrogant to do so? To presume for oneself that one knows the truth of God's morality?

I believe that Christ told us how . . . with LOVE. If Love is the criterion, and we seek truth through prayer, not simply our own personal self-important intellect, we can't go wrong. A bloodthirsty God who wishes the annihilation of non-Muslims - has nothing to do with the Love of Christ. Beheading one's enemies, stoning people to death, locking up women and handicapping their social mobility with excessive veiling and travel restrictions, denying them education - do not reflect Christ's love. Flying planes into skyscrapers to make a point is not reflective of anything having to do with Christ's love (although only a handful did that deed, millions openly cheered it).

On a lesser scale. . . plotting to overthrow governments in the name of religious ideology is not about Love. Taking freedoms and education from people is not about Love. Totalitarianism and fascism is not Love. Deceit is not Love. Spreading ideology through bloodshed of innocents is not Love.

And so, I think we have to rely on constant prayer asking for clear vision, and that our decisions about morality are guided by Love and Christ's true will, not our own.

The challenge for us in coming times will not only be defining and standing for moral truth ourselves, but to strive to offer Christian love to a militant Muslim - despising the evil ideology in which they are imprisoned without despising the people themselves. For as Christ teaches us - each of them belongs to God. And Christ tells us to love each of them as we do ourselves.

Teen Dies in Oregon After Faith Healing Fails

2008-06-18T19:14:00.003-06:00

This story is from the Associated Press for June 18, 2008. Yet another child dead because the family relied on prayer instead of medical intervention in an emergency. ...

GLADSTONE, Ore. - A 16-year-old boy whose parents rely on prayer instead of medical care has died after an illness marked by stomach pains and shortness of breath. Gladstone police say relatives and church members told them Tuesday that the teenager refused treatment for the illness, as he was entitled to do under Oregon law.

"All of the interviews from last night are that he did in fact refuse treatment," said Sgt. Lynne Benton. "Unless we can disprove that, charges probably won't be filed in this case.

She said state law allows minors 14 and older to make such decisions.

Benton said officers and a deputy medical examiner were called to the house of Neil Beagley about an hour after his death late Tuesday afternoon.

Benton said the boy was surrounded by family members when he died, and a board member of the Followers of Christ church contacted the authorities.

The boy got sick about a week ago and - like all members of the religious order - did not receive medical attention. His condition worsened Sunday and members of the church gathered for prayer, Benton said.

An autopsy was scheduled.

In March, the boy's 15-month-old cousin, Ava Worthington, died at home from bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection. Her parents, Carl and Raylene Worthington, also failed to contact a doctor and are awaiting trial on criminal charges in her death.

Oregon lawmakers passed new laws striking down legal shields for faith-healing parents after several children from the Followers of Christ church died in the 1990s.

The Oregon City church is not associated with a mainstream denomination.

A Little Book of Great Wisdom. . .

2008-04-09T17:34:00.007-06:00

"When the ones you lead do not confide in you, take a very long time before concluding that they have poor judgement...
(when the little monk had to deal with a few numskulls in his monastery)"
- from The Little Monk

If you are not acquainted with Madeleine DelBrel's "The Little Monk", you should be! Subtitled "...Wisdom from a Little Friend of Big Faith" it is full to the brim of Christian wisdom and a little humor. ... It's very inspirational when you're down, and makes a great little gift for someone who needs encouragement. Its language, although Christian in philosophy, is not laced with blatant neo-Christian lingo, making it friendly for the believer and non-believer alike.

Writer Madeleine DelBrel was born in a small town in the south of France in 1904. She was an avowed and vocal aetheist at 15. But then when she was 20, personal tragedy - including her father's blindness and her fiance's abandonning her for monastery life - made her reconsider. She resolved to explore why her Christian friends could maintain joy in life, even in the face of adversity...she thereafter referred to 1924 as the year of her conversion.

The Little Monk is a compilation of little thoughts that were circulating amongst her friends, at the time of her death. Her friends saw to it that these pearls were published for the world's benefit. There are many other books by Delbrel, most with Christian subject matter.

"If you don't have a particular burden to carry, you might be meant to help others carry theirs...
(when the little monk was quite content with having few responsibilities)"
- from The Little Monk

The Mystery of the Faith

2008-04-09T09:17:00.010-06:00

Some thoughts as I go into the day. . . . in this era of anti-Christian feeling in so many quarters, it seems that to admit you are Christian is to invite senseless bombardment from so-called "aetheists". They question every detail they have heard second-hand about Christ. They hurl at the Christian every frustration from a too-strict childhood. They pick apart the Bible and quote out of context every verse they can use to insult. . .How do we respond to this?

One way is to be as educated as we can about our faith . . .that means reading sources besides the Bible, and learning from educated Biblical scholars. Not everyone in the course of a busy family life has time for that! ...

Another way is to stay calm. Our faith is one of mystery. Not even the most sophisticated Christian theologian pretends to have all the answers. Christianity is in many ways a big, vibrant puzzle! The wonderful thing is that it has never been stagnant. . .through centuries, man has come to greater and greater understanding of the events surrounding Christ's life, the things he tried so hard to teach us, messianic prophecies and how they were fulfilled by his coming to us. But the faith continues to evolve - we continue toward greater understanding.

The concept to impart to the aetheist is that ours is a complex, many-layered faith that depends not on science and concrete provable fact, but on faith. We can point out that centuries of the most learned minds (including many in the scientific community) have embraced Christianity, despite its lack of earthbound logic. Unless the challenger is as educated as those minds were, they really are in the argument way over their heads!

You don't have to defend what is beyond understanding with the mind. You can - through daily prayer - remain close to that which is in your heart. Your calm and unshakable faith in the face of the pounding questions of one who is lost and searching - will make a greater impression in the end than anything you might have said in the heat of frustration or anger. . . .

We teach by our conduct - we show the depth of our faith, and its joy, by the way we treat those who are most difficult to love. We would do well to remember that the rudest questioner is simply searching - floundering to find the understanding and faith in the utterly illogical, that we have found in Christ.

I have learned through the years not to get caught up in these ridiculous conversations. Sometimes, simply explaining that the faith is complex and that you don't feel qualified to explain it all - but still you know what you know. . . . is enough. You don't have to prove Christ. You only have to know it, and live it. The rest will follow through His grace. And in this case, perhaps your silence - and the way you live your life - will solve more for the questioner than a pointless argument between you ever could.

For the Fool, to keep silent is Wisdom...Proverbs, 24:7

No Bibles at Beijing Olympics?

2008-03-26T23:24:00.002-06:00

Beijing, Oct. 12, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The Chinese government reportedly will not allow visitors to bring religious objects such as rosary beads or holy water when they travel to Beijing for the Olympic Games next year.

The report on restrictions did not clearly indicate whether visitors would be allowed to bring Bibles into China. Nor was there any indication whether the host nation would allow Olympic teams to bring chaplains-- a practice that many countries have followed regularly. http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=54133 ...

Boy, if this report is accurate, I can't imagine the behind-the-scenes arguments that are going to happen; President Bush has been active in insisting that China back off its systematic hunting down, torturing and execution of Christians. If China insists upon this ban, it will be interesting to see the reaction from athletes, never mind tourists. Amazing bit of audacity. . .I suppose the Chinese government is afraid we will influence their population, which is no doubt practicing Christianity behind closed doors anyway - since Christianity has been present in China since the early 7th century.

Other sources are indeed reporting that Bibles will be banned at the ceremonies and in the Olympic Village http://www.christiantoday.com/article/china.bans.bibles.from.2008.olympics/14452.htm as well as the sporting of any Christian symbols. Does this mean that an athelete - already forbidden to have a Bible with him or her - cannot so much as wear a cross around the neck?

It is interesting that although the Chinese government insists that there are a mere 14 million of the 1.3 billion Chinese are practicing Christians, independent estimates suggest that the true figure is upwards of 54 million, and may be as high as 130 million, as of 2007.

Reports from inside the closed society reveal a marked increase in persecution of Christians in the last decade. The New York Times reported in a 2002 article: "One of the ironies of Christianity in China is that in the first half of the 20th century, thousands of missionaries proselytized freely and yet left a negligible imprint. Yet now, with foreign missionaries banned and the underground church persecuted, Christianity is flourishing in China with tens of millions of believers."

We are lazy, aren't we? Free to worship as we please, we often neglect it...at least in the formal sense. I know I do. I do think that - with the world as it is, and the rise of radical Islam in Europe - that one day we will be forced to stand up for what we believe as we never have been asked to before.

At any rate, as the Olympics approach, it ain't gonna be pretty, Folks.

....Those Who Help Themselves

2008-03-26T21:02:00.005-06:00

The news media was abuzz this afternoon with the news of an eleven-year-old girl, dead in Wisconsin from treatable diabetes, because her parents chose to pray over her and neglected to call for help. The parents are under investigation by local police, pending charges of criminal negligence. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-wi-prayerdeath,1,5890474.story

It brings to mind a similar story years back, in which a child died under identical circumstances and the parents were convicted. I want to follow this new story closely. ...

The book at left is worth your time, if these social issues, as they pertain to Christianity and Christian ethics, are of interest to you. It is a realistic look at the issue of domestic violence, and is based upon the author's own experience. Jocelyn E. Andersen left her violent marriage, and it was a spiritual struggle to come to grips with that decision as a Christian who had promised before God to honor the sacred commitment of marriage. The book is excellent as a study of the issue from a social standpoint, and even better in the points it makes regarding Christian thought. It should be a must read for clergy, and all those who work as counselors with Christians. Many kudos to Jocelyn for writing it, and having the courage to share her story with others in the Christian community...

Questions From a Teen . . .

2008-03-25T21:56:00.002-06:00

We often fail our young people who seek real answers about Christianity. Sometimes we alienate them with our use of pious terminology; sometimes we condescend, leaving them the (intended) impression that their questions are inappropriate; sometimes we convey a sugary concern for their conversion - which feels to them, justifiably, disingenuous. All may fall short of what Christ calls us to do.

I wanted to share the following questions, because they are typical ones, and require thoughtful answer. They came from a teenager. They are honest and valid questions, within the context of the exploration of Christian faith. ... So here is my humble take on it, trying not to get too deep into doctrine, but focusing on what scripture teaches,keeping it simple. . . How would you have answered?

1 - If you had a son and you were able to defend him ....would you let people humiliate him and crucify him and kill him ?

2 - If Jesus was God ..... how come he was not strong enough ?
Shouldn't God be the most one with powers?...

3 - Why would God send prophets then send his son?.....why didn't he send his son in the first place ?

4 - Isn't death the end of every life ?....how will Jesus come back?

5 - Why don't Jews follow Christ? ... and why do Muslims have, in the Koran, a lot about Jesus while their prophet never knew about him? (he was illiterate... I need your answers please!

This person is asking some good questions. . . the same ones we all asked once? I know I did!

1 - I wouldn't if I were a human parent. But God is not us, and as the Bible says, his ways are not ours. He had a plan that was so important . . . . don't you see that God's mind is so much bigger than we can imagine? How can we begin to understand His ways?

There is a Bible passage that says . .. "for now, we see through a glass darkly, but then (when we die and meet God) we will see face to face. . . " We understand so little now, in this life. . . . and yet being intelligent beings, we strive and stuggle to make sense of it all. But that is impossible. You can understand a lot of it, with study and prayer, but full understanding? I don't think so. . . . it isn't a simple story (although some people will insist that it is). Jesus asked us to try to understand with "faith", not always intellect.

2 - He was strong enough. That is the point. He CHOSE it. He chose to go through with it knowing what would happen, because he knew that was the only way to wake up the human race to God's love and purpose. The scriptures tell us that before he was arrested, in the Garden of Gethsemene, he prayed to God and said he was frightened and couldn't go through with it; he wanted to change his mind. . .and Christian tradition holds that God offered him the choice until the end. . .

But as he prayed he realized why he had to complete God's plan, and of course then he did in fact go through with it. He chose it, and gave himself, for all of US.

Have you ever seen the film or play, "Jesus Christ, Superstar"? In it, a disciple asks the same questions. He says in the song, "...Did you mean to die like that, was that a mistake? or did you know your messy death would be a record-breaker?"

3 - The prophecies concerning a messiah came hundreds of years before Christ - and I imagine before the time was ripe for the whole story to happen. (The prophecies are found in the Old Testament.) God no doubt waited until for example the Romans were at their peak of power. Some prophecies regarding the messiah are fascinating. . . for example that he would be from Nazareth, which he was.

4 - Death is the end of life ON EARTH. And Jesus DID come back. That was the resurrection. . . he came back on the third day, after his burial. Christians believe that when the world ends, he will come again to us. (Islam is an invention of the 7th century - after Christ. They needed to discredit the Christian faith at the time, which was increasingly powerful.)

5 - The Jews believe much of what Christians do. Remember that Jesus and his followers WERE Jews. Some of them believed that Jesus wasn't just a man or just a prophet/teacher, but was in fact a manifestation of God. These Jewish believers came to be known as Christians. Today, many Christian churches hold the Jews in high respect and even celebrate Jewish rituals.The Koran was written by the Prophet Mohammed, according to the Muslims (he was illiterate as you say, and dictated the Koran. . . but it is his work in fact). I think Mohammed probably knew about Christ. . . he couldn't have helped but know Christians.

It has always struck me as meaningful that Jesus taught first and foremost that we love our fellow man. People became followers because they chose to. Mohammad was a soldier, and converted quite often, entire regions, by the sword. He killed people with his own hands, and ordered people killed by his own orders. Jesus never did. Something to think about. . . I have only touched upon these things for you. For more answers, get a Bible that is written in modern English, that you can understand easily. Don't read from the beginning, but start with the New Testament, with the "gospel' which is made up of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The books in the New Testament which immediately follow the gospel. . . like Acts, Galations, Ecclesiastes, etc. will further explain who Christ was to his followers, and what modern Christians believe.

Christians, if they are honest with themselves (and you), never stop struggling with many of these questions. It is a lifelong effort to understand God's mystery . . . because it is about Faith and Mystery. It isn't about logic and science and earth-bound rules of existence.