A Different Perspective on being a Warrior for God

Op/Ed by Aimee Herd : Aug 25, 2007
Breaking Christian News

Someone who is really one of God's Warriors doesn't have a heart filled with hate...period.

(Albany, Oregon)—This past week, CNN offered up a 3-night report entitled, God's Warriors, comparing the "religious fervor" of first Jews, then Muslims, then finally that of Christians. The reports were produced and anchored by the network's chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to view any of the episodes, but have watched excerpts from them on the CNN website. Image: CNN.com)

There have so far, been many negative reports about the series, with accusations of inaccuracies, and distorted portrayals of the zealous within the three religions. One of the main complaints (from Christians and Jews) was the comparison drawn between Muslim jihadists and their suicide bomber attacks, and the martyrdom experienced by some Christians and Jews.

From a WorldNetDaily.com exclusive, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, stated, "[The CNN series] is false in its basic premise, established in the opening scene in which Jewish (and Christian) religious fervency is equated with that of Muslims heard endorsing 'martyrdom,' or suicide-murder. There is, of course, no counterpart among Jews and Christians to the violent jihadist Muslim campaigns under way across the globe."

Not having watched the three episodes, I don't feel that I can speak about them one way or another. However, I do agree with the above statement—there really is no comparison that can be drawn between the jihadist mentality and a true Christian [or Jewish] heart.

They are completely opposite from each other. One screams, "Kill the infidels!"...and feels it their "religious" duty to extinguish those who are not in agreement with Islam, afterwards receiving a reward. The other, if they truly live by Jesus' words, [or the God of Abraham as we know Him to be] considers it their mission to love one another, even their enemies.

In the book of Matthew 5:43-45, Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

The battle of the Christian is fought through prayer, and through showing God's love to others. It's all about each individual person and a change of heart. Jesus came as "the exact representation" (Heb.1:3) of God, breaking religious traditions imposed by man, and spreading the word that God really "so loved the world...." He ministered, and taught His disciples to minister, one-on-one—to the individual. [Of course, that doesn't imply that countries and powers don't from time to time need to fight actual wars.]

Jesus set the example for establishing relationship with, praying for, and caring for one another, and allowing that individual to choose whether or not to accept the invitation to personally know God.

Someone who is really one of God's Warriors doesn't have a heart filled with hate...period. 1 John 2:9-10 says, "The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him." Later in 1 John, it says, "The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

That's not easy, by the way. I'm convinced it's a lot harder to love people than to hate them, especially those you might consider your enemies. When I picture a warrior for God, I picture someone who wars-in-prayer...praying over that person or that situation. I picture someone who also strives to show that person love—or to somehow interject God's love and blessing into a situation—wherever possible. Again, that's not easy, and none of us is perfect...except God.

I think a few of God's warriors whose names might be well-known, are: Mother Theresa—who dedicated her life to helping and showing God's love to the most "unlovable" in the eyes of the world; and Corrie Ten Boom—a Dutch Christian who helped many Jews escape the Nazis, ended up in Ravensbruck concentration camp, and later tells the story of how she forgave one of her captors who came to meet her years later. I also consider the families of Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, and the other 3 missionaries—who were killed trying to minister to the Waodani people in Ecuador—to be some of God's warriors. Instead of exacting revenge, or being bitter against the Waodanis, in an extraordinary show of love and forgiveness, some of the family members of the murdered men returned to the people, helping them through a polio epidemic and teaching them to love and forgive instead of to war against each other.

I agree there are times to voice what we know to be true and right, but the Bible cautions us to "speak the truth in love," not hate, then we can truly be called one of "God's Warriors."