Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS (don't write about the song) (05/14/15)
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TITLE: Upside Down World | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lois Farrow
05/21/15 -
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Recently I have been impacted by three powerful movies: Twelve Years a Slave, Woman in Gold, and Gandhi. These all have a similar theme – total mistreatment of those who are different from us. It may be on the grounds of race, skin colour, tribe or religion. Whatever the reason, it is so wrong, and it is hard to see the justification. Where does that come from, the idea that we can mistreat others because they are different from us? Are we not all equal?
These shockers may be history, but the reality is that in many places we are no better today. Fighting and killing, exploiting others for our own gain, mankind’s inhumanity to each other is beyond understanding. So often it is tribal or trivial. So-called soldiers have permission to kill or even the command to kill all those who are different. Modern human traffickers are as wicked as historic slave traders. What a waste of life! What a mess!
The sad thing is that atrocities are often carried out in the name of God. People who call themselves ‘Christian’ make up their own rules instead of following the teachings of Christ.
Jesus came to turn our world upside down. He said turn the other cheek, we fight not as the world fights. ‘My kingdom is not of this world,’ said Jesus. ‘If it were, my servants would fight … but now my kingdom is from another place.’
How could that be? What did he mean? Killing today is based on fear, exploitation or the desire for revenge. God says vengeance is his alone. We are to leave judging rights and wrongs to him, and not take the law into our own hands.
And what about weapons? Soldiers are provided with the most dreadful killing machines, made by super-industries around the world. But Paul wrote to the Corinthians ‘The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.’ Our weapons are prayer and love to replace a world filled with angry words and hate. Our armour is provided by God himself, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness and the gospel of peace.
What a privilege to be in the Lord’s army, not out to kill people who disagree with us, but to love them, to serve them, to bring them peace.
Let’s move onwards, then, and as Christian soldiers demonstrate God’s upside down world, bringing his light into the darkness.
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