There is no room in love for fear
The point of terrorism is to instill fear out of proportion to the capability of the terrorist organization. Terrorist acts are also recruiting tool for finding more recruits/cannon fodder for the terrorists.Violent counter-terrorism can also assist recruitment and propaganda. Even precision weapons like American drones with laser guided munitions have up to a 90% "collateral damage" rate. Punishing the families of the terrorists alongside their terrorist family members is wicked, hence the euphemism, "collateral damage."
Terrorism can also be countered economically and with counter-propaganda. Economically, funders of terrorists should be sanctioned. It is not that difficult except for the complication of international relations and embarrassment of public figures.
On the propaganda front, ideologically, Islam is battling for its soul. Over a thousand Muslim clerics have joined together to condemn ISIS. But Christians can also combat this ideologically, by acts of neighborliness. Pope Francis has already offered Europe's Catholic churches as resting points for Syrian refugees. Unfortunately, the non-Christian country of America has states governors declaring no Syrian refugees allowed, and un-Christian political candidates for the American presidency want to disregard collateral damage concerns or rules of war and just "bomb the shit" out ISIS. Bombing is ineffective without boots on the ground. The Germans in WW2 rebuilt factories days after Allied carpet bombing. Like the Iranians today, they also moved factories underground. Bombing did not stop the Viet Cong. Additionally, does bombing the shit out of a country equate to genocide? Nevermind, we have a candidate who does care for the rules of war.
Anti-propaganda is love in action. The Apostle Paul tells us our battles are not with flesh and blood but with powers and principalities. Our "weapons" as Christians are those of love. When we love, we deflate the power of the terrorists, fear. As the Apostle John writes, perfect love displaces fear. ISIS wants a Western backlash against Muslims. ISIS would lose if we loved them.
Certainly, ISIS needs containment, economically, border control, digitally, and ideologically. All of these fronts are more effective than violence.
It's simply a bonus to try out Christian ideals at the same time.
Terrorism can also be countered economically and with counter-propaganda. Economically, funders of terrorists should be sanctioned. It is not that difficult except for the complication of international relations and embarrassment of public figures.
On the propaganda front, ideologically, Islam is battling for its soul. Over a thousand Muslim clerics have joined together to condemn ISIS. But Christians can also combat this ideologically, by acts of neighborliness. Pope Francis has already offered Europe's Catholic churches as resting points for Syrian refugees. Unfortunately, the non-Christian country of America has states governors declaring no Syrian refugees allowed, and un-Christian political candidates for the American presidency want to disregard collateral damage concerns or rules of war and just "bomb the shit" out ISIS. Bombing is ineffective without boots on the ground. The Germans in WW2 rebuilt factories days after Allied carpet bombing. Like the Iranians today, they also moved factories underground. Bombing did not stop the Viet Cong. Additionally, does bombing the shit out of a country equate to genocide? Nevermind, we have a candidate who does care for the rules of war.
Anti-propaganda is love in action. The Apostle Paul tells us our battles are not with flesh and blood but with powers and principalities. Our "weapons" as Christians are those of love. When we love, we deflate the power of the terrorists, fear. As the Apostle John writes, perfect love displaces fear. ISIS wants a Western backlash against Muslims. ISIS would lose if we loved them.
Certainly, ISIS needs containment, economically, border control, digitally, and ideologically. All of these fronts are more effective than violence.
It's simply a bonus to try out Christian ideals at the same time.
17-18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
20-21 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. 1 John 4
Comments