Three Ways to Pray After Terror Strikes Paris

By: American Decency Staff

 

In the wake of the Muslim terrorist attack, in Paris, against the satirical "Charlie Hebdo" or “Charlie Weekly,” we are brought again to the chilling truth that this world is in a religious war.  Islamists considered the pen-drawn political cartoon to be an attack of blasphemy against their prophet Mohammed; so, they counter-attacked with murder and mayhem shouting, “Allahu Akbar!” 

The idea of a religious war should be no surprise; from the beginning of time this world has been in a religious war.  It started in the Garden, with the denial of God’s word, and the destruction of humanity.  Since then Satan has continued to attack God and man in this religious war by whatever means or men made available to him.

Our government often denies that this is a religious war by their silence; however in U.S.A. Today an extremist Muslim Cleric by the name of Anjem Choudary reaffirms this fact.  “Contrary to popular misconception, Islam does not mean peace but rather means submission to the commands of Allah alone.”  He defends violent responses saying that those who insult "the Prophet" should know better. “In an increasingly unstable and insecure world, the potential consequences of insulting the Messenger Muhammad are known to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.”

This Muslim cleric defended the massacre in Paris, setting the bounds for this religious war stating, “Muslims consider the honor of the Prophet Muhammad to be dearer to them than that of their parents or even themselves. To defend it is considered to be an obligation upon them. The strict punishment if found guilty of this crime under sharia (Islamic law) is capital punishment implementable by an Islamic State. This is because the Messenger Muhammad said, ‘Whoever insults a Prophet kill him.’”

Now, Charlie Hebdo has satirically “attacked” all religions in the past, including Orthodox Judaism and Christianity without fear of a violent terrorist attack against them. All three major religions have laws against blasphemy; so, what is so different between Christianity and Islam? Why must the world worry about violence from the Muslim community, yet not fear violence from the Christian?

Our worldviews and ideologies are so very different.  As Christians we need to truly understand our worldview and know why we believe as we do. We must learn how to live the worldview we espouse and defend it by our only authority, God’s holy Word, the Bible.

Here are just a few differences to look at:

First, we are not called to kill the enemies of Jesus; but rather we are to love them.  You heard Imam Choudary’s exhortation of how to deal with enemies; now listen to Jesus’ exhortation:

^“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”(Matthew 5:43-44)

We are called to endure scorn and mockery, to be forgiving and kind; we are to love our enemies and bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus.  This cannot be done through insults and disrespect; we must be sure to speak with words that redeem, and not with words that ridicule.

Our government may stand with some of the Islamic jihadist agendas, but “We the People” must not.  At the same time, we are not called to hate or ridicule either; so, what should our position be?

Our position starts on our knees; we must pray!  It’s pretty late in the war – 6,000 plus years – but it’s not too late; so, we pray.

We pray, first of all, for our enemies, that God would send conviction upon them and they would see their need for the Savior, Jesus Christ.

We must also pray for ourselves, that no root of bitterness would enter in and that we would live holy lives that God might be glorified and our enemies would see Jesus in us.

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