What causes War?

(The Making of a Terrorist)

Every Christian and Bible student should know the answer to this question!  The answer is given in black and white terms in James 4v1-3

“What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it.  You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want.  You quarrel and fight.  You do not have, because you do not ask God.  When you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives; that you may spend what you get on your pleasures”

It seems to me that this is a picture of inner turmoil and confusion. James gives us a clear picture here of how confused we really are inside ourselves.  On the one hand we are so unsure inside we don’t know what we want so don’t know how to ask and at the same time, on the other hand, when we get what we thought we wanted we soon realise it is not actually what we want. I am sure this is very clear!  (I don’t think this is what is meant by the expression ‘don’t let the right hand know what the left one is doing’).

How many times have you heard yourself arguing with passion some point of view, but deep down in yourself you know that you are not completely sure of your ground?  Until we sort ourselves out, until our understanding (theory) matches up with our experience (reality) let us proceed with caution in how and what we do.

Inner turmoil is caused by unresolved questions inside ourselves.

When we begin life there is no turmoil, we are enveloped in the comfort of warmth and innocence.  As we grow and become more aware of our surroundings the questions begin in earnest.  Unfortunately the many and conflicting answers we receive often only serve to move us deeper into a fog of confusion and uncertainty.

It cannot be underestimated how much the first formative years of our lives affect nearly everything else we ever do.  These formative years of our life are also known as the period when we are most impressionable.

There is therefore, tremendous responsibility on Parents, Teachers, and the Community at large to see that the impression we give to children is of the highest quality emotionally, psychologically, morally and every other way which we can think of.  No wonder Jesus warns
‘It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied round his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.”  Luke 17v2.

I have often looked on with great dismay whenever I see protest marches where parents have involved young children.  They are made to carry banners with slogans they almost certainly don’t understand the meaning of.  They are often encouraged to join in shouting out chants they can barely pronounce.  What effect is this having on young impressionable minds?  I am even more concerned when these protests are political or religious in nature.

When we involve our young children in these sorts of activities we fuel the fire of hate, turmoil and war for the next generation to come.  (I am not saying we should not teach our children how we see things, but we need to take care not to pass on our bias and prejudice).  We need to find a better way.  Ironically the way is for adults to become as little children!
‘And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18v3

If only we can all get back to the state of innocence, where there is no conflict and turmoil. Becoming ‘child-like’ (not childish) is not as hard it may first seem. All that is required is, for us to take a step back and ask the question,
“What do I actually believe about this situation?”

If we follow this question with total honesty, suspending judgement until we are totally convinced in our heart, we would soon arrive.
As I searched out answers to questions that I found confusing I began to experience a remarkable thing; I noticed I was ‘unlearning’ many things I had taken on board as ‘gospel’ that had no substance and foundation.
‘Unlearning is part of Learning.’  Steve Bryan

It is important to note that unlearning does not necessarily mean that what we currently know is wrong.  However, it does mean that to move forward we have to let go one truth to reach after the next truth.  Climbing a ladder would be a good example of this, every rung is necessary but you cannot reach the top without letting go of the lower rungs first.

I am no longer afraid to step aside from arguments and debates that are going nowhere.  I say going nowhere, this is actually not strictly correct. They lead to divisions and feelings of ill will:
“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.” 2 Timothy 2v23.

In the King James translation the word unlearned replaces the word ignorant.  This hits the truth of what is trying to be conveyed here more firmly on the head.  Many times we argue a point we don’t fully understand from the point of ignorance.

So how do we get to the terrorist?
Young impressionable minds that are subject to constant fundamentalist teaching, indoctrination and extremism are good candidates. The error is compounded when these young people are not allowed personal reflection or to challenge what they are being taught.  Their view of the world becomes distorted.  This scenario is currently the subject of endless debate here in the UK, particularly after the bombings on the London transport system.

Can a terrorist change?

Earlier in Chapter 3 I suggested that different groups within the Church were a result of the type of soil they were planted in.  I could also have said that we reap what we sow. Galatians 6v7-9.  If we indoctrinate our congregations or those that we lead with idealistic personal interpretations we are not far from producing a terrorist!

I believe that there is only one thing more dangerous than a fanatic.

And that is a religious fanatic.  A fanatic could be described as a person who can only see his or her point of view.  When religious fervour is added to this type of emerging personality and character an explosive cocktail is produced.  Everything a religious fanatic does is driven by a belief that he acts on God’s behalf.  Seeing that everyone conforms to will of God is a noble calling of which Martyrdom is a price worth paying.  Please note I am not calling all martyrs Religious fanatics – follow the spirit and not the letter of what I am saying.

Well let’s look at one of the best biblical examples of someone who we would perhaps label as a terrorist if alive today.  I refer to Saul who was so transformed that he became regarded as one of the greatest Apostles of all time.

When we first meet Saul in Acts 8 he had just presided over the murder of Stephen who was regarded as the first martyr of the Christian Church.  Buoyed up by this he begins to make havoc of the Church (Acts 8v3-4).

If we look carefully at his upbringing we see that as a young man he was heavily indoctrinated by his peers (Acts 22v3) and Philippians 3v4-6.

With Saul, as with others who have been heavily indoctrinated, it takes a radical step to bring about real change.  At first there seems no reason while Saul should have such a dramatic ‘conversion’ I have heard many say that if every one had such a blinding revelation we would all change.  Saul’s conversion was more miraculous than the norm we generally hear reported.  However, ‘God is no respecter of persons’ He does not give one person preference or favours over another.  We need to look more closely at his Damascus road conversion.

God makes the statement to Saul,
“..It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks..”  Acts 9v5

Colloquially speaking God is saying to Saul
‘it is hard for you to go against your conscience’

In other words on the surface of Saul’s life he was going on with following the fundamental teaching he had received, but deep down inside he had a lot of unanswered questions.  I think that these questions were deeply intensified when he saw the lives and response of those he was persecuting and killing.  Instead of retaliating they responded with love. The questions grew to a level where an answer had to be forthcoming.  Praise be to the living God.  If we come to him and ask him what to believe His response is always as dramatic as it was for Saul.  Change can always take place.

When relatives of victims of terrorist attacks and atrocities are asked how they feel, answers of bitterness, hatred and the call for revenge is often heard.  However, I am sometimes very heartened on hearing the answers of others that talk about forgiveness and love.  We will not overcome the terrorist with the sword!  Love is the only answer.

When will fights and warring cease?  When we stop pushing and insisting on our point of view.  When we get on with the practical side of loving God and our neighbour as ourselves.  You may not think that we are guilty of such things today; we need to take a closer clear look at ourselves.

Do you feel a ‘knot’ rising in your stomachs when you hear a view expressed, not in keeping with your own?  No matter how much you try to ‘keep calm’ you feel the ‘righteous’ anger building in yourself, particularly when the matter is on some point, you consider key, is challenged or contested.  Out of a desire to ‘correct’ the error, we launch into debate and discussion that quickly deteriorates and spirals downwards.

Truth does not need you or I to defend it or prove it, no more than a circle needs to prove itself not a straight line!