holy war - a response to evil

So what do we do?
 
You see 900 years ago, we would grab our swords, say goodbye to our loved ones and we would cross the seas to kill, rape, and pillage.
 
900 years ago, we would have expressed our religious zeal and devotion to “God” by taking up arms and preparing for battle.
 
9-hundred years ago, 1095 AD, this blog post may have been a theological apologetic defense for why scripture declares the Holy Land “ours” and how we must protect it at all costs.
 
But thank God, that was ninehundred years ago and we have grown from that wretched thinking. Now, violence is no longer an option. Nor do I want it to be.
 
So what do we do? This is my suggestion: we, as Christians, continue doing what we have been called to do in the first place. Releasing the Kingdom of Heaven into the world as true Disciples of Christ. It’s important to remember what Paul stated,
 
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12).
 
 And it’s important to remember what Jesus commanded
 
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
 
also
 
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (The really important verse we’ve forgotten)
 
Our priests are being murdered, our brothers and sisters slain, our God disrespected. So what do we do? The way we wage war against the evil of hell, is by releasing the love of Heaven. Our role isn’t to go on Facebook and exchange in hurtful, misguided, ideological debate. Our role sure as hell isn’t to advocate for some sort of violent 21st century crusade. But I feel a strong conviction that we, as the Church, are called to rise up and to do the works of Christ that the Father might be glorified. (John 14:12)
 
Personally, I don’t like the idea of sitting here in America, stagnant, as fellow Christians are literally being targeted and killed. I’m not cool with the idea of sitting in all these air-conditioned coffee shops without even having the decency to spend time praying for the world. I am as guilty as any of us, and I hate it. So I would invite you into my prayer that God would ignite our hearts with a passion for change. I am praying that the Holy Spirit would heal my self-centeredness and that I would live the abundant life that God promised.
 
Kingdom come.