Preach Magazine Issue 1 - Creativity and innovation in preaching

PREACH THE NEWS 5 Preach the news Genital Mutilation (FGM) and forced conversion to Islam are widespread. Among the persecuted groups are Iraqi Christians, whose plight in the city of Mosul – where until recently there had been a Christian presence for thousands of years – caught the attention of the West. As a show of solidarity, many Christians in the West have incorporated the Arabic letter ‫ ن‬into their social media proﬁle pictures, donated to charities working in the region, and performed various campaigning actions. CRISIS IN IRAQ Each fortnight on PreachWeb, Martin Saunders considers how to tackle current aﬀairs from the pulpit. Here he looks at the horrendous events in Iraq in the ﬁrst half of 2014… What’s the story? The fundamentalist group Islamic State (IS, formerly known as ISIS) is instigating a rebellion in Iraq; thousands of people – including many Christians – have been killed, attacked or displaced by the insurgents. What’s happening? In Northern Iraq, persecuted groups are ﬂeeing for their lives on a massive scale to escape the threat of IS militants. Reports on what is happening on the ground vary widely, with some journalists reporting atrocities such as the ritual beheading of men, women and children, and others suggesting that Female LWPT8173 - Preach Magazine - Issue 1 v3.indd 5 Controversy has erupted around British citizens who are suspected of travelling to the Middle East to join IS, while Christian Aid reports that a worsening humanitarian situation requires urgent investment. The US has begun a military operation against IS, but it is unclear how involved Barack Obama will want to become with another conﬂict in Iraq. Meanwhile, Christians in the UK feel helpless and frustrated as they search for ways to authentically respond to what is going on. Connections #1 – PEACE. The Bible is full of calls to live in peace, including Psalm 34:14, Hebrews 12:14, and Isaiah 2:4; Jesus aﬃrms Peacemakers in his Sermon on the Mount. Our role as Christians is to seek peace, not become angered and motivated toward revenge. #2 – PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED. While James tells us to embrace our trials because perseverance eventually increases hope (James 1), and while Jesus and Paul are both clear that persecution is part of the Christian life (John 15:18; 2 Timothy 3:12), we should be sure to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution. Many of the New Testament letters – particularly Ephesians – were written to churches under pressure or even attack; Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians in 3:14–21 is a good template for our own. #3 – LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. One of the most controversial statements in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is ‘Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you’ (Matthew 5:44). This is extremely diﬃcult in any circumstance, but especially when the perpetrators are so brutal. Nevertheless we are called as Christians to love and pray for IS, not to hate them. Points for prayer ● Pray for Christians, Yazidis and all facing persecution and terror in Iraq – that they have strength and peace, and that they ﬁnd safety. ● Ask that his will might be done in the situation, that justice would ‘roll on like a river’ (Amos 5:24), and that this conﬂict might come to an end. ● Ask God for help in building bridges and friendships with the Muslims in your community, especially during this time when our two faiths are apparently in conﬂict. Martin Saunders Martin Saunders is Youthscape’s Deputy Chief Executive. A former editor of Youthwork magazine and the founding Editor of sister title Childrenswork, Martin is a popular speaker and the author of various books including Youth Work From Scratch. He lives in Reigate, Surrey with his wife Jo and their four children. 17/10/2014 12:53:34

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