A Martyr Mentality

     I have been following the recent news about the hostages on the
Kuwait Airlines 747.  Ten Moslem radicals held a number of people
hostage on board the plane for 16 days as they tried to get Kuwait to
release 17 of their comrades out of prison.  When their demands were
not met, they killed several people in cold-blood and dumped their
bodies out the door onto the tarmac.

     A tragic event brought on by their Moslem beliefs that if one
dies while  fighting for a cause, they will go straight to heaven.  A
"martyr mentality" that has caused the deaths of many innocent victims
as terrorists the world over kill and maim with little regard for
life.

     At the same time, some Christians have made this same mistake by
falling into the idea that we are trying to build the kingdom of God
here on the earth.  They think that we are looking forward to a New
Age and somehow it will get better.  The Bible is clear that they are
sadly mistaken.

     It is always a mistake to force our religious and political
beliefs on others regardless of how right we may be.  Of course we
have the responsibility to defend ourselves in case of attack and we
should always help others who may be in need.  But we must see that
the scriptures plainly teach that as believers, we are to engage in
spiritual warfare rather than physical battle.  As individuals, we are
to seek God's heavenly kingdom through Jesus Christ rather than any
earthly kingdom.

     Jesus laid this idea out for us in John chapter 18 by His own
example when He allowed the soldiers to arrest him.  Peter tried to
prevent His arrest by drawing his sword and striking the high priest's
servant.  The others asked Him if they were to fight, but Jesus healed
the servant and commanded them to put up their swords.  He told them
that if they lived by the sword, they would die by the sword.  Jesus
had always taught in the open and was obviously not leading any
rebellions against the government.

     In verse 36 Jesus responded to Pilate's inquiry about the charge
that He claimed to be a king by saying that "My kingdom is not of this
world.  If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by
the Jews.  But now my kingdom is from another place."  Jesus did not
call us as believers to try and change this world that we live in. 
Rather, since this world is passing away, we are to try and rescue
everyone that we can from the evil of this world and into his blessed
kingdom.  Even the angels of heaven rejoice over one sinner who
repents and enters into His kingdom.


Frank Cooke