"WANTED Dead": Should We Pray for ISIS?
PHOTO CREDIT: Public Domain (jpeter2 at Pixabay.com)
"... human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." James 1:20
Shutting the door on our vehicle after just arriving home from leading worship at church on Palm Sunday, I noticed my neighbor watering her grass dressed in her "Sunday clothes". Her demeanor was crestfallen, and there was an obvious indication that something was very wrong. With tears in her eyes, she informed me of a church bombing that happened earlier that day in her home country of Egypt. Several individuals from her Coptic church in Jacksonville had family members who were affected where 44 were killed by a suicide bomber claiming affiliation with the Islamic State.
According to an article posted by The Atlantic shortly after the bombing on Palm Sunday, it is apparent that ISIS is strategically targeting Christians in Egypt with great calculation. On May 27th, 2017, a day after the beginning of Ramadan, another deadly attack ensued--this time, killing 23 and wounding 26.
Possibly for most people, including myself, the natural, knee-jerk reaction to hearing of premeditated aggression towards this people group is a mixture of sadness and outrage.
According to James 1:20, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." The story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, paints a graphic picture of a supernatural response to persecution and threat of death: "Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60).
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
It is hard, maybe impossible, to observe the atrocities committed by ISIS and not desire to return "eye for an eye". In my own seeking and searching for a way to respond like Christ, there are two resources that rose to the top, and provide a way for global Christians who may be removed from the daily imminent threat of attack to play a significant role in stemming the tide of violence:
PRAY FOR ISIS: In response to this One of Go To Nations' partner ministries, "Frontiers" has an incredible website called "Pray for ISIS." Here, you can sign up for a 30-day guide via daily email that both informs and gives suggested areas of strategic prayer, both for those trapped in delusion as well as for those who are victims of violence.
OPEN DOORS: With the most recent attack on Coptic Christians on May 27th, 2017, "Open Doors USA" has posted an article entitled "Three Things to Know About the Deadly Egypt Attack. Concurrent with Ramadan 2017 being observed from May 26th - June 25th, Open Doors provides a "Prayer Calendar" as Christians living in majority Muslim countries often are especially susceptible to persecution during these days.
"But I say to you, love your enemies and bless the one who curses you, and do what is beautiful to the one who hates you, and pray over those who take you by force and persecute you." Matthew 5:44 (Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
With calculated attacks tragically affecting the lives of innocent fathers, mothers, and children in Egypt (and 28 other countries), may we go against our natural reactions and do the very thing Christ directed in Matthew 5:44--pray for the persecutors.