We Wrestle Not Against Violent Extremism

In the last column, I was lamenting the lack of leadership in the free world today.  The contention was that we lack truth in the world nowadays, principally because there are virtually no political leaders earnestly contending for it.  The other two reasons are the media and secular schooling’s incessant and intentional dissemination of misinformation, and finally, because people today no longer hunger nor thirst for truth as they did in simpler times – in other words, demand is down.  Because of those three factors, truth is a rare pearl.

A kind reader commenting on that column reminded me that, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood.”   Most believers use this to establish that our battle is not with people.  This logic also enables one to love the sinner, yet hate the sin.  In this case, I believe his reminder was that frustration is misplaced if it’s merely directed at flawed, mortal leaders.  The verse in its entirety reads, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”   The verse suggests that it’s the spiritual forces behind the person that we should confront.   

The lack of leadership and deliberate denial of truth I lament is on parade when one is watching the Obama administration do cheetah flips trying to deny the obvious – that we are at war with Jihadists -- Islamic extremists.  Maybe more accurately, they are at war with us -- at least one enemy is honest.  That said, it’s an ideology, a spiritual force that we’re up against – but it does have flesh and blood adherents that are operating under its power -- killing people all over the globe.  Even though “Imam” Obama may say it is not Islam, the guys yelling “Allahu Akbar” as they practice what they preach make it pretty clear that they consider it Islamic. 

 

Contrast the Obama administration’s innocuous “violent extremism” explanation with what Billy Graham’s son said about the religion of peace.  After Duke University recently announced they were going to begin to broadcast Islamic chanting from the chapel bell tower, Franklin Graham declared, “As Christianity is being excluded from the public square and followers of Islam are raping, butchering, and beheading Christians, Jews, and anyone who doesn’t submit to their Sharia Islamic law, Duke is promoting this in the name of religious pluralism.”   

  

In the entryway of the CIA’s headquarters, there’s a famous quote, “And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.”   It’s from the book that was under Obama’s left hand when he took the oath of office swearing to God that he would preserve, protect, and defend the US Constitution.  If we can’t even be truthful about the problem that we’re facing, what hope do we have in defending ourselves from it?  In fact, Obama is doing the exact opposite of what the apostle Paul commanded those in Ephesus to do.  Obama tells us the problem is the people, the “violent extremists,” not the principalities and powers in place behind them.  

Our “Constitutional scholar” may want to recall our First Amendment -- government doesn’t get to establish religion - not for us, and even less so for those that want to kill us.  Perhaps he could convince ISIL that their “I” is for “Infidel” – not “Islamic.” Or maybe “Inconsiderate” or “Interfaith” or you pick.  I’m not a smart man, Jenny, but I can recognize a duck when it quacks - especially when the duck is spraying automatic weapons fire all-the-while quacking, “Allahu Akbar.” 

 

What the Book used as a presidential hand rest also says is that truth was embodied in a Man, a Man who was also God.  Think about that – if there is a God, wouldn’t you expect Him to be just that – Truth.  Knowing the God of the hand rest (which is not the same as the Allah of the Koran) enables one to know the truth.  Jesus said quite clearly, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”   That Jesus chap may not be very politically correct, but He was perfectly clear.

 And so, this is where the reader was right – my problem is not with Obama.  It’s his teleprompter I don’t trust. 

This column also appeared in the 21 JAN  2015 Upson Beacon.