Wednesday, February 28, 2007
A LOVE WAR!
When I was speaking in Doha at the U.S. Islamic World forum, I mentioned that what we need is not more “holy wars” but “love wars.” I reminded everyone of the story of Elijah and Mt. Carmel. They knew who God was by who destroyed the sacrifice (1Kings 18). Instead of guns and wars, what if our “faiths” were in competition over good works? What if the true God would be seen more from acts of love and compassion and service to humanity than by anything else?! “Let’s declare a love war and out-serve one another!”
Dalia Mogahed, a brilliant young lady who works at Gallup and describes herself as a researcher, wife and young mother was telling me about a verse in the Koran that says the same thing as I was proposing.
The Holy Qur’an 5:48 And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which God hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced out way. Had God willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So race one with another in good works. Unto God ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.
Matthew 6:15-16 says, “Neither do men light a candle and put it under a basket but on a candle stick and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Dalia Mogahed, a brilliant young lady who works at Gallup and describes herself as a researcher, wife and young mother was telling me about a verse in the Koran that says the same thing as I was proposing.
The Holy Qur’an 5:48 And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which God hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced out way. Had God willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So race one with another in good works. Unto God ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.
Matthew 6:15-16 says, “Neither do men light a candle and put it under a basket but on a candle stick and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
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Matthew 5 (not 6)
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:14-16)
With that, the tension lies in a definition of the WORKS that God requires:
Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
(John 6:28-29)
On one level your charge is spot on! If you walk with God, show it. God is love, and even holiness is shown in unmixed and unrestrained love (salt not mixed, light not mixed but also not hindered).
The twist, which I am confident you hold in appropriate tension, is that glorifying God can only ultimately be done via our devotion to the Son whom he has sent.
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:14-16)
With that, the tension lies in a definition of the WORKS that God requires:
Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
(John 6:28-29)
On one level your charge is spot on! If you walk with God, show it. God is love, and even holiness is shown in unmixed and unrestrained love (salt not mixed, light not mixed but also not hindered).
The twist, which I am confident you hold in appropriate tension, is that glorifying God can only ultimately be done via our devotion to the Son whom he has sent.
Pastor Bob,
I certainly agree with you that we as the Christian church need to focus more on showing love and forgiveness to both our local and global world. I do however find it hard giving what seems to be equal authority to both the Bible and the Koran (and for that matter any one of hundreds of secular self-help books) for this command. Isn’t the ultimate purpose of these good acts to lead others to glorify our Father and to faith in Christ? As Matthew 16:26 says; “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” Is it not our desire that someday the one in who’s name acts of love are performed is Christ alone?
I certainly agree with you that we as the Christian church need to focus more on showing love and forgiveness to both our local and global world. I do however find it hard giving what seems to be equal authority to both the Bible and the Koran (and for that matter any one of hundreds of secular self-help books) for this command. Isn’t the ultimate purpose of these good acts to lead others to glorify our Father and to faith in Christ? As Matthew 16:26 says; “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” Is it not our desire that someday the one in who’s name acts of love are performed is Christ alone?
# posted by 
: 2:09 AM
: 2:09 AM
I agree with John 100 percent. The Koran is definitely NOT a "holy book". In no way shape or form is it holy. It is a book which denies that God had a Son, ridicules
"people of the book", (Christians), and incites it's followers to murder the infidel unbelievers, those who reject Allah.
No matter how many "good works" muslims or any others do, it is all as "filthy rags" to our Holy God. Only what is done for Christ shall last.
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"people of the book", (Christians), and incites it's followers to murder the infidel unbelievers, those who reject Allah.
No matter how many "good works" muslims or any others do, it is all as "filthy rags" to our Holy God. Only what is done for Christ shall last.
# posted by : 10:32 PM
: 10:32 PM << Home
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