The deadly terrorism by Islamic extremist groups over the past decade or so have left many people scratching our heads and attempting to understand where such bitterness and hatred is coming from. Christ has commanded the church to be evangelistic to all people of this world. This means people of all races, clines and religious persuasions. When we are making plans to publish the Gospel around the world, we do not intentionally exclude people who speak the Arabic language.
Many in the non-Christian world resent the crusader attitude of some missionary workers. This is true in Muslim countries and atheistic dictatorships. The proper attitude of a zealous missionary who knows that eternal salvation is through faith in Messiah Jesus and in Christ alone, is that all people must have the opportunity to hear about Christ. This does not mean that a missionary wants to subjugate people by making them dependents upon our generous donations. Nor does it mean that we want to coerce them by demonstrating that we come from a nation that is far superior in both military and economic might.
While working as missionary preacher in a country of the former Soviet Union, our work came under criticism and attack by political and local religious leaders. Newspaper writers began to publish defamatory articles about us and our work. These Sovietniks referred to us as an "avant-garde" of Americans who were the first wave in an attempt to take over the territories of the former Soviet Union. Since these articles were published in the local edition of the Pravda, this prejudicial material was quickly picked up by people on the streets and spread as the truth.
Evangelists for Jesus Christ must continue teaching the true Gospel even under such opposition. They must work diligently to convince people that the true work of the church is not to subjugate people, but to bring them freedom in Christ. The enemies of Christ know that when a person becomes a disciple of Christ they have a new Master.
When the Gospel message is preached in love, and those teaching the message live according to the higher moral standards of God, there will inevitably be a clash of cultures. People who come out of the Islamic faith and embrace Jesus Christ, are immediately shunned by their family, friends, and neighbors in the Muslim community. We taught one man from Chechnya about Jesus Christ, and he received warnings that if he were baptized into Christ he would be killed. He wept when he told us this, but Shamil insisted that he believed in Jesus Christ as Lord, and wanted to be baptized. Some months after his baptism, he was murdered.
The church of Christ must obey the command of Jesus Christ our Lord. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20)
Around 700 years before the time of Christ, the Jewish prophet Isaiah accurately predicted that Israel would return to the land God gave them. This would be after the time that they were scattered all over the earth. In 1948 the modern nation of Israel was born. In the year A.D. 70, Roman authorities destroyed Jerusalem and Israel was no longer a nation. In fulfillment of ancient prophecies, on June 7, 1967 the forces of modern Israel stormed Jerusalem and took it back. God faithfully fulfilled his promises in giving the Jews this victory. The strongest allies of modern Israel are America and the United Kingdom. It should be no surprise to us that the enemies of Israel consider us their enemies.
I encourage you to read these prophecies for yourself from your own Bible. Leviticus 26:33, Deuteronomy 28:64,65; Jeremiah 30:11; Isaiah 11:10-12; Joel 3:1,2,7; Amos 9:14,15; Hosea 3:4,5; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Zechariah 10:6-10; Ezekiel 39:25-29; Luke 21:24. Be strong in your faith of Jesus Christ until the end.
You are invited to attend the services of the Church of Christ at the corner of 3rd and E Streets. Write me with any questions or comments David Binkley, Sr., P.O. Box 186, Cedar Key, FL 32625 or E-mail at dgbinkley@aol.com. You may also request to receive the daily WORD OF THE DAY by e-mail. Check out our web site at www.cedarkeychurchofchrist.com. | 