A Light to the Gentiles

Mass media is typically filled with all kinds of sensationalist headlines, soundbites, or rumors—things that news and journalism companies manipulate to turn into revenue. But every now and again, there is a world crisis that demands our attention...and right now it seems like that crisis is the terrorist group known around the world as ISIS, or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The global response to ISIS has been astounding, really. Awareness seemed to have been raised relatively quickly, and many Western countries are either taking action or preparing to take action against this group.

As Christians, however, our response has, well, disappointed me a little bit.

Don't get me wrong here; I believe there is a time and place for wartime efforts (a la Ecclesiastes 3:8), and what I'm not saying is that the steps we are putting in place to try to topple ISIS by force are wrong. I support them. I believe most of America supports them.
I would go as far as to argue that even the Bible would support just war. Look at Deuteronomy 20:1-4. Look to 1 Samuel 15:3 or Joshua 10:25. Sometimes action is necessary.

But I've been thinking about something concerning ISIS lately: Where are the prayers? Are we pleading to God for the souls of ISIS to be reconciled to God? Are we praying regularly that God might soften the hearts of these sinful people so that they too may be "a light to the Gentiles"?

Look at the conversion of Saul to Paul.
If he was around today, our news stations might be covering this ferocious, Christian-killing, powerful Jew. Saul could have been one of the FBI's top 10 most wanted terrorists, if he was given the technology that modern-day persecutors were.
But then God stepped into the picture. No longer did this man—now known as Paul—murder Christians. No longer did he have a heart that sought to commit heinous deeds; no! Instead, God intervened and radically changed the life of a dangerous man.

Just pause for a moment and imagine what kind of influence such a man might be for the Kingdom of God if a "Paul" arose out of ISIS. Imagine the people that may have never been reached with the Gospel taking off their masks and laying down their guns so that they can surrender to the call of Christ to take up their crosses and make His name known to all the nations of the earth. What a joyous occasion that would be!

Don't for one second think I'm being overly ambitious; to disqualify what I'm saying right here is to have a weak view of God. The same mouths that sing, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!" cannot rightly shout, "Those peoples are beyond the grace of God!" in the same breath.

I'm not saying action physical, military, authoritative action should not be taken to combat ISIS. There are lives on the line. Innocent people—Children of God—are dying at the hands of these people. All I'm saying is that maybe we should pray for the souls of these lost people as we're gearing up.
The moment we forget the sovereignty of our God is the moment we become idolators, worshiping self. And if the Old Testament shows us anything, we should see that idolatry is never a battle plan that pleases God.