 The
Christian worldview espouses living by the Spirit of God. Living by
the Spirit produces a lifestyle that is less self-centered and more
other-oriented."The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such
things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we
(Christians) live by the Spirit, let us (them) also behave in
accordance with the Spirit. Let us (them) not become conceited,
provoking one another, being jealous of one another. — Galatians
5:22-26
As a radical militant, a person has rejected the notion of living
by the Spirit and has not "crucified the flesh with its passions and
desires."
"For the flesh has
desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires
that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each
other, so that you cannot do what you want. But if you are led by
the Spirit, you are not under the law (Law of Moses). Now the works
of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,
idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of
anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder,
drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I (Apostle Paul) am
warning you, as I (Apostle Paul) had warned you before: Those who
practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!" —
Galatians 5:17-21
Those respective worldviews have collided. The Christian
worldview leads them to an attitude of faith by accepting the grace
of the Creator God of the universe, Who commands that they love and
accept one another regardless of their differing beliefs. The
militant worldview seems to garner violence and destruction as they
constantly watch for those who fail to accept their worldview. In
fact, it is not just a matter of not accepting their worldview; it
is anyone they have determined through their own definition who
fails even to believe in their worldview.
Each of the members of both groups, it seems, falter at times
with their respective presentations of "tolerance." Many sometimes
speak of tolerance but often practice less of it than they should.
So, both groups have reached an impasse. It seems to have been
magnified at Christmastime but is evident at all other times as
well.
The radical, militant worldview wants to obliterate Christ from
all facets of life in general; seemingly they want to obliterate
Christians and Jews in particular. Their reaction is to intimidate,
bring litigation through the courts and of course, as in many of the
Middle East countries currently and throughout history, have
resorted to killing those who will not yield their faith and join
the fold of the militant camp. Coptic Christians remain the target
of the militant groups and have been the target for annihilation
since the Arab Spring. Thousands have been killed, with their church
buildings burned, even while people have been locked inside. The
latest attack on Christians was on Christmas Day, when al-Qaida
attacked Christians in Baghdad, Iraq, killing 37 Christians.
Meanwhile, the politically correct crowd refuses to even acknowledge
that the radical militants should be classified as "terrorists."
The impasse of both worldviews has likely been born of disputes
from different ideologies. These ideologies were early components
arising from the mistakes of parents common to two brothers who
provided the catalyst for the spinoff of both worldviews. Rather
than evolving into any kind of lasting co-existence, the
relationship has devolved into one of a stubborn impasse. If
arguments continue and brothers do not build bridges, the
consequences are world-changing.
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In today's world, the ancestors of Abraham are both the Israelis and
the Palestinians. From Abraham came Isaac and Ishmael: Isaac through
Sarah and Ishmael through Hagar. From these two sons came animosity
and hatred, bloodshed and violence. The generations living today
continue to fight each other and keep conflict alive, with the
Palestinians vowing to eradicate the Israelis from the face of the
earth, and the Israelis through force trying to prevent that from
happening.
Even while living, Isaac and Ishmael opposed each other. With
Isaac being the son of promise from Sarah and Ishmael being the
product of Sarah's and Abraham's impatience, Ishmael was scorned and
driven from the family of Abraham. Because of the strife, the family
was separated and began fighting with itself.
Through the centuries, the ancestry has fought countless battles
that have resulted in tens of thousands or more killed and injured.
Peace has not been possible for hundreds, even thousands of years.
The sons of Abraham have been enemies all that time.
There was one time, however, when Isaac and Ishmael did build a
bridge to join each other, to come together as brothers. We are
given that account in Genesis 25:
"Abraham lived a
total of 175 years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a
good old age, an old man who had lived a full life. He joined his
ancestors. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of
Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar, the
Hethite." — Genesis 25:7-9
Isaac and Ishmael had been enemies even during the time Abraham
was alive, but when Abraham died, these two brothers who had fought
for so many years laid down their weapons to join together in peace
to bury their father. The original heads of two nations, Israelis
and Palestinians, joined as one to accomplish a peaceful task. The
common bond was their father, who had given them life and name and
identity. Their respect for him allowed them to forget their
differences for a season to join a common cause and carry out a task
of unification centered in their father.
As the 21st-century world watches the Middle East conflict
between members of this ancient family, God is watching as well. As
kings, presidents and prime ministers have tried to negotiate peace
between members of this fighting family, bringing brother back to
brother, as Isaac and Ishmael once did, the watching world knows
that it is unlikely. The only way this will happen is the way God
has intended in the first place.
The Carpenter who builds bridges has already come. He has built
that bridge, and millions have accepted that reconciliation and have
discovered the saving grace and peace the Carpenter offers. One day,
when God says it is time, the Carpenter will appear in clouds and
establish a peace in a fighting family, peace between two
worldviews, militant and conservative, and I wonder if somewhere in
the background, men will see a scene of Abraham standing with Isaac
and Ishmael, shaking hands or perhaps embracing with tears streaming
down their faces.
[By JIM KILLEBREW]
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