Islamic Terrorists Vs. Radical Christians: New Game. New Rules. (Part 9)

An Updated Rerun 2009 Series

Click on the following for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 and Part 8.

How to be a Radical Christian. (iv)

How would you have liked to travel along with the Apostle Paul on one of his journeys? Maybe yes; maybe no. Well, consider Silas’ experience in Acts 16: 11-40.

In the city of Philippi, Paul and Silas were doing some street ministry. Paul casts a spirit of divination out of a slave girl. But instead of being thankful for the girl’s deliverance, the owners were enraged and stirred up the crowd against the two men.

Next, the city magistrates stepped into the melee,  ripped the clothes off the two, beat them with cudgels, scourged them with a whip, tosssed them into prison,  and fastened their feet into stocks so they couldn’t move.

Then, somehow, at midnight, Paul and Silas began praying and singing hymns. The power of God came into the place. Cell doors were opened. The jailer’s life was spared. The jailer’s household was saved. Paul and Silas were washed, fed and then, returned to prison.

The next morning, the magistrates sent some second-rate go-fors to release Paul and Silas from their cells. But what did Paul do? He said, “No way, Jose! We ain’t leaving this dandy suite until the men responsible for putting us here come and say, ‘Pretty please with chocolate syrup all over it.’ Don’t even try to make us go. We ain’t moving!”

What do you think was going through Silas’ mind at that moment? He was bloody. He was sore. He was stiff. He was tired. And he might have been thinking something like this: “Paul is a radical nut! How can he possibly believe that those men will come here and beg us to leave?”

How? Paul had radical faith in God.

And radical Christians need this same type of faith to oppose Islamic terrorists.

But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

(Continued in Part 10)