A Faith with a Passionate Purpose

Thousands are being converted and a spiritual kingdom is growing around the world. Its converts are finding purpose and belonging in their faith. They are taking action to spread their faith and influence their communities and governments. Their message is filling a void secularism has left.

I'm not talking about the Pentecostal awakening or the home church movement, but about the influence of extreme Islam. The people arrested for the attempted airline bombings in Britain were, for the most part, born and raised in the UK. Furthermore, two of them were reportedly caucasian converts. These young adults bought into an ideology that there is evil out there in this world that God Almighty wants His people to confront. They understand there is a great reward for those who lay down their lives for this cause. For such a high calling, thousands are willing to commit all they have.

There is an amazing resemblance to the basic call of Islam (at least the brand guys like Al Zawarhi and Bin Laden preach) and the basic call of Christ and the apostles. Christians are to recognize the depraved world around us, avoid things that corrupt, commit ourselves to the Kingdom, and be willing to lay down our lives. In the first and second centuries, many thought -- like the jihadists -- this was to literally build a kingdom with armies and force. But with the Enlightenment, the Christian faith became more introspective.

Unfortunately, many of us have taken a back seat, hoping someone else (preachers, missionaries, the youth) will get in the field and fight the fight. Instead of building the Kingdom of God, we work on our kingdom. That kind of faith ain't going to cut it anymore.

James wrote, "You show me your faith without works and I'll show you my faith by my works." We have seen what a passionate faith can do when it gives someone purpose through the acts of Jihadist martyrs. The church (i.e., those whose faith is in Christ) and the lost world need to see Christian believers who are even more passionate about their faith sharing the message in Titus chapter 2:

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.