There are things happening in the world today that are alarming. Not the least of these is the increase in Moslem jihad. With the ability to obtain powerful weaponry, the proponents of a ‘holy war’ believe their goal is attainable.<\/p>\n
The attitude behind jihad is a real and present danger to the existence of free and democratic societies. This is true because the war against terror is a religious war. Religious wars, by their nature, do not allow for compromise. How else can we explain parents encouraging their children to strap on bombs and blow themselves up while hoping to kill as many infidels as possible?<\/p>\n
Personal freedom is at risk because those in authority think they can achieve peace through compromise. Any true believer of any religion will tell you that to be faithful and to remain faithful, one must not compromise the commands given by those they recognize as prophets. This is just as true for Christianity as it is for the Moslem religion. Does this mean that Christians should kowtow to false religions and compromise the teachings of Jesus the Christ? Or, should Christians adopt the Moslem philosophy of jihad?<\/p>\n
Jesus proclaimed that Christians would face conflict with non-Christians by saying He did not come to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34). Paul often found himself in the midst of religious conflict. Note his words written to the Christians at Galatia.\u00a0“Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in-who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery-to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you”<\/i> (Galatians 2:4-5). Paul would not and did not compromise the truth about fleshly circumcision or any other truth given by God. He withstood boldly any and all who would pervert the true gospel. The same must be said of Christians today.<\/p>\n
Was Paul a leader in fighting a jihad? Again, we will let Paul answer in his own words.\u00a0“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”<\/i>\u00a0(Ephesians 6:12). Paul said this because he understood what Jesus meant when He said,\u00a0“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world”<\/i>\u00a0(John 18:36).<\/p>\n
The Christian does not strap a bomb to himself and detonate it in a crowd to kill infidels. He does not shoot off rockets killing innocent children to terrorize others into believing their way.<\/p>\n
The Christian takes the gospel in hand and speaks the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). His fight is for the hearts and minds of men. He will not kill or practice terror but rather will suffer persecution for his faith. He will humbly accept death without retaliation when necessary.<\/p>\n
We should not expect anyone to compromise their religious convictions. However, we demand that all contend in an honorable, moral way without terrorism.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Glen Young There are things happening in the world today that are alarming. Not the least of these is the increase in Moslem jihad. With the ability to obtain powerful weaponry, the proponents of a ‘holy war’ believe their goal is attainable. The attitude behind jihad is a real and present danger to the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[1101,361,362],"class_list":["post-58353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-compromise","tag-islam","tag-muslims"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":63798,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/without-compromise\/","url_meta":{"origin":58353,"position":0},"title":"Without Compromise","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 2, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Disagreeing parties are often urged to reach a compromised position. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0After all, Christians are told to live peaceably - Romans 12:18 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We are to pursue the things that make for peace - Romans 14:19 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Without such a pursuit of peace, we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16088,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-know-what-or-when-to-compromise-to-advance-the-cause-of-christ\/","url_meta":{"origin":58353,"position":1},"title":"How do I know what or when to compromise to advance the cause of Christ?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: How do I know what or when to compromise to advance the cause of Christ? Answer: The cause of God is not advanced by sin. \"And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), \"Let us do evil that good may come\"?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":25474,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-a-church-loses-its-distinctiveness\/","url_meta":{"origin":58353,"position":2},"title":"How a Church Loses Its Distinctiveness","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 28, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Tom Holland via\u00a0The Sower, Vol. 54, No. 3, May\/June 2009. When \"called out\" people who are supposed to be distinct and committed to the Lord and His Word become like everyone else, what right do they have to make a claim that they are a \"church of Christ\"? The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63092,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/neutrality-in-war\/","url_meta":{"origin":58353,"position":3},"title":"Neutrality in War","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 5, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Obadiah 10-15 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The book of Obadiah is directed to the nation of Edom. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Edomites were related to Israelites through Abraham. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0While never fond of each other, they usually managed to live peacefully next to each other. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When Israel fell, Edom did not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":69101,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-churches-die\/","url_meta":{"origin":58353,"position":4},"title":"Why Churches Die","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Mike Riley The following are this writer's observations over forty years as to why churches die. I'm certain that we can all relate to at least one of the categories listed below: Churches Die at the Tables of Compromise When the church fights worldly influences such as sin and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63648,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/we-are-at-war\/","url_meta":{"origin":58353,"position":5},"title":"We are at War!","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 28, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Few Christians realize that their country is at war \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No, I don\u2019t mean the U.S. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I mean the country every Christian in the world belongs to, the church of our Lord and God. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Phil 3:20 - Our citizenship is in heaven \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eph. 2:19 - You are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58353\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}