EDITORIAL

Now what do we do... 

In light of the events of the last thirty to forty days in our country and our world, what should we seek? Do we seek Revenge against those who harmed us? Do we Retreat and hide? Do we just Respond orally and through diplomatic channels? Do we seek to Resolve by seeking financial gain or barriers? Do we Resound the trumpet of war and seek the destruction of a people and their land? Do we Rebuke the other religion? Do we Reproof all those who are of middle-east heritage?  Or, may I ask, we just Repose in those in higher positions?  We have used or at least are familiar with all the “R” words with maybe the least understood and used “REPOSE”.  All the other “R” words are also easy to do and to fall back to when we are afraid or do not understand what is going on. 

 Repose means to be free from disturbance, cease from activity, be at rest in, to confide in,  free from uneasiness, or to be secure in.

 It will be easy to rest in the fact that our military can obliterate the enemy. We can confide to our elected officials that we back them and let them tell the world what we think! We can let our pastors rebuke the ‘unbeliever’ that does these things to other people. We can be in such fear that we do nothing, like flying, traveling, etc.  We can rest in the fact that many police, FBI, Coast Guard, and thousands of others are watching out for the enemy and will sound the alarm.

 But, why not REST in the LORD, Let GOD comforts us, protect us, guide us, and RESTORE us. Let the Spirit lead us to RECONCILATION with our enemies.  If we are to be “Christ like”, why don’t we try to be full of GRACE and Mercy?  Is not love (AGAPO) unconditional? Did not love towards an enemy seem like coals upon their head, did not the Good Samaritan give of himself and his finances?  Did not God FIRST LOVE us that He gave HIS SON FIRST? Why can’t we be first to offer love to those who hate us? Is God so limited that He could not change their hearts? When has an angry response to anger ever resolved anger?

 What am I trying to say? Offer salvation to the unbeliever (Moslems), offer hope to those hungry in that country, and offer mercy to country torn by hate, offer sanctuary to those damaged by war. Offer ourselves, just as Christ did…………… be an ‘effectual doer’ not just an hearer…