 As those radicalized Islamic terrorists
began their killing spree, a video captured
part of the incident where at least one of
the terrorists shouted, "Allahu Akbar"
before shooting unarmed, innocent workers in
a place of business. The end result of that
attack was twelve people dead and at least
fifteen injured. During the incident at
least two of the terrorists were filmed
running back to their get-away vehicle. On
the way to the escape point the camera also
recorded a terrorist committing a
cold-blooded murder by shooting a wounded
officer lying on the sidewalk; one of the
terrorists walked up and shot the officer
dead while he begged for mercy.
We shake our head at such wanton violence.
We wonder what the motivation for such
behavior encourages people to become
radicalized to such an extent that it "gives
them permission" to seek out those with whom
they disagree and actually take their lives.
Main-stream Islam practitioners refuse to
accept the radicalized Islamic terrorist as
being a true Muslim. At the same time,
however, there seems to be no organized
repulsion from the legitimate group that
denounces the radical terrorist acts of
those who are speaking in the name of Islam.
The Islamic State identifies their
motivation. In essence, they have stated
they believe that anyone who does not accept
their religion can be marked with a jihad,
either national or personal. From what they
have said in their broadcasts during times
they have beheaded innocent people is they
will not tolerate any counter beliefs,
especially those of the Christian or Jewish
beliefs. They are sworn to eradicate all who
do not denounce their oppositional beliefs,
and are doing so by initiating individual
jihad against the so-called "infidels." For
their reward, they expect to receive
seventy-two virgins to participate in a life
of pleasure once they pass over the bridge
of this life to the next. In many ways they
seem to be winning the cultural and
religious war, especially when it is coupled
with the effects of political correctness
that has increased the killings of
Christians across the world by the "cultural
marginalization of Christians."
Compare that perception of their "heaven"
with the Scriptures that recorded the words
of Jesus.
Matthew, one of Jesus' Disciples, recorded
something that Jesus said about judgment:
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“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all
the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All
the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate
people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the
goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are
blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I
was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and
you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick
and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then
the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and
feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we
see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When
did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will
answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of
the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’"
(Matthew 25:31-40)
By contrast from the radical Islamic terrorist
position, as Christians when we act in love toward the "least" of
our brothers or sisters who belong to Jesus, our obscurity is thrown
out the window, because we, in fact, are doing that kindness to
Jesus.
If you are a Christian, I would like to think at least two things
happen when you arrive in heaven: The first is that you might be met
with many who will simply say “Thank you.” The man who learned of
Jesus when he was 12 because you took the time to teach his Sunday
School class. The woman who didn’t have quite enough money to pay
her heating bill and you finished out the payment. The lad who got
into your car by hitchhiking and went the last 100 miles home after
having lived in “a far country” and woke up one morning having “come
to his right mind.”
Those acts, little acts, done in Jesus’ name
helped each of those to walk “the streets of gold” forever. Yes,
Jesus got the glory, but on that day, in heaven, Jesus will turn to
you and say, “but you get the thanks.” He will thank you for
yielding to Him and allowing Him to work through you to touch the
lives of so many.
It is not likely that Jesus will consider the murder, rape,
violence, terrorist acts, beheadings, kidnapping, and the waging of
war as has been seen by ISIS or ISIL will be seen as kindly acts for
"the least of these." The terror attack in Paris was met with a
couple of statements from our government: A "Terrible act of
violence" from the White House Press Secretary; and, a "Cowardly
evil attack" from the President. The world is in the process of
making a decision of what behavior should be acceptable; the
position of radicalized Islamic terrorism, or the emulation of the
acts of Jesus. Which one of those ideological positions and actions
should be called "radicalized terrorism"?
[By JIM KILLEBREW]
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