77-Year-Old Missionary Offers Spiritual View Into Paris Attacks
It’s just one step further into a form of Islam embraced by those ready to kill and carry out terrorist attacks. Saudi Arabia has birthed a movement that is now out of control, and in fact one of the main targets of this movement is Saudi Arabia itself. If you follow that nation, you know they are more fearful than ever of those in their midst who want to overthrow the present regime and have an Islamic State (ISIS)-type nation. It’s like birthing a son who later grows up and wants to kill you.
The huge division between Sunni (like Saudi Arabia) and Shiites (like Iran) also adds confusion and fuel to the fire.
My view is that we as people must change. I believe the best way is, as in my life, conversion and transformation by Jesus Christ. There is now a film about this, George for Real, that I would be happy to send to you.
But let’s be real—most people are not going that way. So as citizens and members together of the human race, we must believe all people can make the step of just being more loving, forgiving and human. We must believe in different levels of reconciliation and forgiveness. We as believers in Jesus must love Muslims and show respect. If necessary, we must stand with them against injustice.
I am mainly writing this (I seldom write such things) because of my 60 years of love for the Muslim people. One U.S. politician said, “Only allow Christian Syrian refugees into America.” [Editor’s note: Multiple politicians have since endorsed this position.] I could hardly believe it. Yet he countered that opposing the plan would be considered un-American. Let me say on the authority of the Bible—his position would be un-Christian.
God blessed our work in a huge way in India when we let the Dalit leaders know that we stood with them in human rights and justice whether they became Christians or not. Our best friend was a political Buddhist. I honor at this time every Christian or anyone else who is purposely befriending Muslims. Even hardball, anti-Christian politicians would honor this as what they might see as terrorist prevention. We in the western world are shooting ourselves in the foot with our so-called total free speech and hyper-democracy.
In nation after nation, the opposition party attacks the horrible state of the nation under the present government and especially as they move toward elections. By news and social media, this goes global and proves to fanatics that our nations are filled with total degenerates and that to bomb or kill some of them is to honor and obey Allah.
If you don’t believe that increasing numbers of people all over the world believe this and are getting ready to die, I would really challenge you. Look at the recruits from western nations that have gone to fight and die in Syria. When one of their heroes gets taken out by a drone, they think of him as a martyr and hero, and many hundreds more sign up to fight right under our nose. We must wake up!
We must all realize this is the information age. Let Bill Gates put some millions into websites and information that will point out the truth in this. Let every government, church and institution put more money and time into reconciliation. Let every nation spend more money on literature, film and every possible way to tell our story.
Let’s have leaflets in many languages—not just in English, French, Spanish and German—that will show people how wrong it is to take another life, especially a non-military person. Show in such a leaflet how their actions harm the victim’s family. These cultures are family-oriented and we must make use of that. Let all of us in the west—including us Christians—admit our sins and faults. Let humility and reality reign.
More than any time in history, this is where the ordinary person just loving and making friends with a Muslim—yes, even a Mullah—will help determine the course of history and will save lives for sure.
There must be a grassroots movement, and every person must be a part of it. I am even willing to join hands with an atheist in order that we might prevent more global bloodshed and horror. I oppose unloving, narrow-minded, judgmental Christians, but will even join with them to take this forward.
What if it were my family that was blown up in Paris? What if it were yours? Would I just be sitting back trying to be neutral? In our culture, with lots of money, we spend huge sums to save one life (did you see The Martian?). But here we are talking about millions of lives. Each individual is important.
My heart weeps over increasing numbers of Christians who are opting out, just saying, ‘it’s the end times.’ (Scary Christian conspiracy books are best-sellers). Christ is soon coming back and we cannot really do anything about the global situation. Election time makes people even more irrational. What Bible are they reading?
In closing, thanks for reading this. I wish I could get it in the hands of those leaders meeting in Turkey because if ever they had a Catch-22, it is now. I know what I share here is only part of the answer, but for me it’s a vital part. Prayer is priority, but prayer without action is not God’s way.
Missionary statesman George Verwer, the 77-year-old New Jersey-born visionary founder of Operation Mobilisation (OM), a worldwide Christian missions organization, has written several books on various Christian themes. He is a passionate advocate of radical discipleship as the only legitimate option for people who believe in Jesus.
