Unbelievers have begun to accuse Christians of bigotry once again. This time because of the attacks in Paris by Islamic Terrorists and the sobering truth spoken from pulpits that Islam is an ungodly and therefore devilish religion. This is the truth. Islam from it's beginnings has sought to overwhelm the world through violence. It is mandated by it's scripture to kill all infidels that do not convert or pay the steep price for freedom. The question becomes what do we do?
I believe the answer is found in the Word of God, the Bible, for all answers are found here. In Ephesians 6 God tells us that our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against principalities. This word principalities has to do with deeply held beliefs that have permeated a society of people forming their culture. There is no society that has not been tainted by the sin of man and the craftiness of the devil. Islam has been shaped starting with Mohammed and then men who ascribe to his teachings. Another example is our current American culture. We speak of American exceptionalism and in doing so we lift up our society above every other. Our America, nearly devoid of it's Christian roots is certainly tainted and any honest assessment of our society would not declare exceptional. Our society is currently being shaped by Secularists who insist that right and wrong is dictated by the current majority trends. It is not America that is exceptional but Jesus Christ. Where Jesus Christ is worshipped and lifted up that society will be exceptional. No culture is exceptional except that culture that is shaped by the Word which is the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe the culture of America is no longer exceptional but the culture of our homes and our churches can be!
In most Muslim societies the Lord Jesus Christ is removed from the conversation. He cannot be worshipped without terrible consequences upon discovery. This has led to societies that have great oppression and are often very violent.
In today's permeable world Muslims have migrated throughout the world bringing with them a disdain for Jesus Christ and a warped love of a false God. It has led to violence and a suppression of freedom in every place they are.
What then do we as Christians do? Should we seek to blow up every Muslim society on earth? Do we restrict their freedom to live peaceably in our own country as has been proposed by some? The answer of course to these questions is no. Our government should highly restrict those who ascribe to this religion from entering into our country. But what if our country does not do this. And even if our country does do this what must we do.
First, we must understand that God knows all things! He is not surprised at what is going on, he proves this by having already told us of these things in the Bible. He has declared that he will judge every nation in which He is despised. He has done this throughout the history of the World. We must also understand that He is able to protect those homes that do not deny His name. We do not have to succumb to a lackluster love for Christ because of the great iniquity of our culture.
Second, we must get a hold of the culture of our homes. If we do not have Bible-believing homes we are rejecting the exceptionalism of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must have home were the people in them love the Lord, for without this we are opening our homes to the wiles of the Devil. Is the culture of your home led by the Lord through His Word and prayer? Are you letting our society dictate the culture of your home or the Lord?
Third, we must lovingly give the gospel, for the "gospel is the power of God unto salvation." We must by faith believe that the gospel can and will transform the lives of all who believe. This includes the most determined Jihadist or the most militant Atheist for that matter. I know that the entire culture of the home can be transformed by Jesus. We see this very plainly in II Corinthians 6:9-11.
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
May God's Word be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path during this dark generation.