Radicalisation

I thought that the definition of radicalisation found in Wikipedia  was helpful, it says, ‘Radicalisation is a process by which an individual or group comes to adopt increasingly extreme political, social, or religious ideals and aspirations that (1) reject or undermine the status quo or (2) reject and/or undermine contemporary ideas and expressions of freedom of choice. For example, radicalism can originate from a broad social consensus against progressive changes in society. Radicalization can be both violent and nonviolent, although most academic literature focuses on radicalization into violent extremism There are multiple pathways that constitute the process of radicalization, which can be independent but are usually mutually reinforcing Radicalization that occurs across multiple reinforcing pathways greatly increases a group’s resilience and lethality. Furthermore, by compromising its ability to blend in with non-radical society and participate in a modern economy, radicalization serves as a kind of sociological trap that gives individuals no other place to go to satisfy their material and spiritual needs.’

Much concern is being experienced by some Muslim families because of their sons and daughters radicalised by the extremists of ISIS.  Three teenage Muslim girls recently walked out on their families and flew from London to Turkey where they were smuggled across the border into Syria to join ISIS.  Concern has been voiced in the House of Commons about pupils in some faith schools in the UK being exposed to erroneous teaching causing them to become disillusioned about their present life and promising false hopes for their future life.

Two years ago, a young 24 year old man named Mohammed Emwazi (Jihadi John) left the UK to join ISIL He was born in Kuwait but was brought as a child by his parents to Britain. His teachers said that he was a good student causing no concern about extremism. He went on to University and got a BSc 2.2 degree. How could this young fellow turn into the monster that he became, being responsible for the beheading of a number people who did not share his brand of religion? The USA has put a $10 million reward on his head for his capture to bring him to trial for his actions.

Many other barbaric acts of beheading have taken place throughout the world. Christian parents having to stand and watch their children beheaded by fanatics. Jewish shopkeepers in Paris slaughtered, etc. etc. and so it goes on!

The surviving brother of the two young men that planted bombs at the Boston Marathon, killing three people and maiming many others, is currently being tried for that offence. Also those plotting to place bombs in Manchester shopping centre and the New York subway have been brought to trial in America.

The Hitler Youth movement is another example of young people being radicalised in fascism and hatred towards the Jews, and where did that take them?

Revelation ch.13 tells us of two beasts, one that comes up out of the Sea, and one out of the Land. Bible students tell us that the Sea represents the Nations and the Land is Israel. The Beast out of the Sea is a man who will yield worldwide political power, which he receives, from Satan. It is he who enforces the system of buying and selling for those who have his mark in their hand or forehead. Those who refuse his mark are beheaded.

The end of the Beast is revealed in Revelation 19:20, it says, “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

Chapter 20 begins, “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

John the Baptist was beheaded for testifying about Jesus, he said,  “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the World.” He wanted the whole world to look to Christ because it is only in Him that personal sin can be forgiven, all sin taken away and eternal life given. This is wonderful. There are many people in the world who are looking in the wrong direction, they look to pleasure or prosperity, some look to religion to deal with the guilt of their sin and others don’t bother to look at all. It is a wise person that takes John the Baptist’s advice to look to Jesus Christ for salvation. Acts ch.4:12 reads, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” John lost his head but did not lose his soul and no one else who receives Jesus as their Saviour will ever perish. This choice does not trap, it liberates, it does not promote violence it brings a peace that passes all understanding, hate is dispelled and the love of God enjoyed for all eternity. Don’t be radicalised by eroneus doctrine, follow the truth of the Bible and be free.  God bless.

Written by a Guest Blogger

Getting & Giving

There is a lot of pain and misery in our world today, especially in the Middle East where a power struggle is taking place in Iraq, Syria and Iran, where ISIS is trying to get control to enforce Sharia law and secure the oil revenues of those countries.

Russia is similarly getting control of parts of the Ukraine, the Crimea has yielded to insurgents, and other areas are being targeted to usurp authority and control natural gas supplies through the country. All these acts of war are leaving thousands of people dead, men, women and children falling to military powers of one persuasion or another, but each wanting to get something that they do not have by force. Some refugees will have nothing to go home to, their homes and livelihood has been decimated.

In many countries materialism is affecting many individual lives; this longing to have more possessions is sapping the quality of life in many households. In Western society the god, Mammon, has taken hold and lotteries, bingo and other forms of gambling encourage covetousness. Companies are encouraging their management teams to be more assertive, an aggression that holds no thought for the good of others but rather the promotion of self.

Jesus said in Mark 8.36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:13 “There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?” 

Both texts ask the question what profit? and teach us that we brought nothing into the world and our hands will be empty when we leave the world. What is the point of being the richest man in the cemetery? And where will your soul be then?

Some Charities run television advertisements appealing to people to give two pounds a month to supply water to African villages, or to save children from malnutrition or being cruelly abused. Each appeal might touch the heart but not the pockets of ‘Joe public’. Sceptics say that these problems should not have money thrown at them but be resolved at their source by eliminating corruption, greed and selfishness.

Man’s giving is often measured and looks for something in return, but God’s giving exceeds anything and everything, He "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son", to die on a cross for bankrupt sinners like you and me. 

Romans 8:31 reads like this , “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”  

Many people do not believe that God created this Earth and the systems that sustain life. Even the breath of air that you just took into your lungs was provided by God. You didn’t have to think about it yet there is enough for the billions of lives on this planet, but uniquely the same provision does seem to be in place for other planets. Physical life requires water and sunlight and God gives abundant supplies of each for earth dwellers, but not a drop on other planets, despite the fact that scientists and atheistic governments spend billions of dollars on space research looking for water to prove their doctrine that life evolved from water.

Jesus said in John 10, “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”  

Physical life involves the body, spiritual life relates to the soul and spirit. The spirit of an unbeliever is dead in trespasses and sins and needs to be born again in order to receive eternal life. Five times in the New Testament we read that Christ “gave himself”. The first one in Galatians 1:3 says, “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” God the Father gave His Son, God the Son gave Himself, He died on the cross on account of our sins. 

In the next chapter Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” 

In 2 Corinthians 9:15 he said, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” Paul had great appreciation for being saved and to know his sins forgiven but there was something more, he received Christ Himself and the Holy Spirit.

When the rich man Zacchaeus got saved, Luke ch.19 says, “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 

Salvation changes lives and this tax collector’s life was changed and his perspective of getting and giving was changed too. He had a new heart and a new outlook on life. What he had, money could not buy, but faith obtained it freely by God’s grace. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  God bless.

This blog was written for FTMP by a Guest Blogger

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