With the destruction of locales, ancient buildings, and precious artifacts by the Islamic State (aka ISIS), this history buff feels additional heartbreak at the actions of these fanatics. It is devastating enough that they are killing innocent people, including children, in horrendous, vicious and inhumane ways, simply because those victims are Christian. Now they are destroying the history of an ancient area in the world, too; an effort to eradicate all trace of Christianity and Judaism in the Middle East. Please act if you can to help bring the people suffering at the hands of these butchers to a place of refuge. Here is one option, The Nazarene Fund:
http://www.glennbeck.com/2015/09/09/the-nazarene-fund-frequently-asked-questions
I have heard the argument that the Bible has terrible stories about destruction and murder, even called for by God. And I certainly acknowledge that it does. But what those who argue this choose to deny or ignore is the huge reformation that has taken place in Christianity over the centuries. Christianity has moved beyond these harsher teachings and focused on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Such teachings are founded in love, kindness, forgiveness, charity. Why the reformation? Because the times have changed. Our level of knowledge and understanding has increased in the matters of Christ's teachings. We have begun, with the great blessing and gift that is modern communication, to spread words of goodness, to spread Christ's teachings throughout the world. Christianity has made reform in all the right places. Understanding and knowing true history, not the garbage often taught in our school systems (that's a whole other discussion), but the true history of the world can help bring you to that understanding.
This is not to say there are no fanatics in Christianity. We all know there are. They are the bombers of abortion clinics. They are the protesters who show up at soldier's funerals. They are the ones who think gays should be eradicated. They are the ones who teach hatred of other races - be that in a black church or a white one. They are the intolerant, the cruel, the bigot, the abuser, etc. They are the embarrassment to other Christians.
How do we change them? How do we change the beliefs of fanatics, Christian or Islamic? I have no idea. I feel so separated from answers on this that I weep with the overwhelming inadequacy within me. So I cling to a creed of one I respect because of his words and I have adopted it as my own. It is the Creed of a man named George Albert Smith. Here it is:
“I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor. I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed. I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind. I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life. I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right. I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy. I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends. I would not knowingly wound the feeling of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend. I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father. I would not be an enemy to any living soul. Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter I feel it not only a duty but a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth”.
I keep this posted at my desk at home so that I may look at it and read and reread it often in an attempt to always keep it at the forefront of my mind. I don't claim to live this exactly. No, indeed I sadly fail my share of times, but I strive to live it.
What is most heartbreaking is that I do not think the actions from this creed would change the mind of a hateful Islamic fanatic. I doubt if it would change the mind of a Christian fanatic, despite the alleged belief. But I think we can all only change the world we live in one step, one act, one word, at a time.
I pray that we will discover the way to make change come about. I challenge all of us to live to our very best in these things that we might one day be able to touch the heart of some misguided, lost soul and bring them to a place of kindness, to do what is right.
