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Christianity Today, June (Web-only), 2007 |

'Have You Prayed for bin Laden Today?'

Brother Andrew urges Christians not to 'black list' radical Muslims.

Deann Alford | posted 6/22/2007 08:47AM

Brother Andrew, founder of the persecuted-church ministry Open Doors and author of the forthcoming book Secret Believers, has been traveling to the Middle East for more than 30 years. During that time, ...

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Chris C.

Posted: July 05, 2007 2:20 PM

Brother Andrew is right on with this article. Since 9/11, I, myself, have prayed for Bin Laden. I pray for him to come to the true knowledge of the Savior Jesus Christ. If God wants Bin Laden saved, He will save him. That is the power of God. It is not our power to create a blacklist of people who should go to hell. Regardless of our feelings about 9/11, we need to show the love of Christ to all peoples, whether Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, or Atheist. One commenter said that she prayed for Bin Laden's death. That is not Christian thinking at all. That is hateful and unBiblical thinking that has no place in Christianity. Let's take the Gospel to the Muslims. Under Christ's authority as issued in Matthew 28:18, there is no such thing as a closed country.

Troy	Posted: July 03, 2007 11:22 AM


Excellent

brent from Spain

Posted: June 28, 2007 4:45 PM

What should we biblically pray for Osama Bin Laden? 1) That he would be saved 2) that if he rejects the will of God that God would judge him and remove him from this life so that other people who are his victims may have their chance at receiving God's salvation and mercy rather than dying unexpectedly. Mercy first. If it is rejected that God would judge him according to His righteousness. The Nigerian church began to pray for Sani Abacha and he unexpectedly died shortly thereafter. The early church certainly prayed for Herod and God also took him out when He glorified or allowed himself to be glorified as God. God wants mercy for Bin Laden -- Jesus died for him too. However, God does not have to wait until after death by natural causes to bring judgment to people who are so harmful to others and God's purposes. May God bless Osama and judge Him as He sees fit.

Tom Norberg

Posted: June 28, 2007 6:54 AM

Finally, a writer with Biblical sense. I have always respected Brother Andrew since I read his first book as a teenager. His words spoke loud and clear, reverberating as they did with his actions. They still do. No empty, sweet talk. He is the first Christian writer and commentator whom I have read who has dared to say, "if God does not see anything in our culture that he wants to protect, we face this self-chosen conflict in which we will definitely go under." These words throb with prophetic warning. When will we learn as Christians not to be co-opted by the world system? Obviously we have been - when Muslims think that any white-skinned person per se is a Christian. May God deliver us Christians who are so little different from the (American and European) world we live in that Muslims don't even know the difference!

Gail	Posted: June 27, 2007 5:37 PM


I wonder about the "freedom" to proclaim Jesus in Saudia Arabia. They won't let our chaplain or military wear a cross, they won't let Christian groups meeet - even in their own homes. "You can still go to any place in the Muslim world and preach Christ." I don't believe it.

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: June 27, 2007 8:06 AM

If we Christians really know Jesus Christ, as we are called to, personally and intimately based on the teaching of the Gospel, we will recognize Him in the pages of the Holy Quran (Surah IV, vv. 157-159) wherein is preserved in few precious words the demonstration in works of Jesus' full divinity! I have read in the footnote of one version of the Quran that Moslem scholars are struggling to understand the great revelation of Allah (God) present at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ which defies expression. This sounds pretty much Pauline, doesn't it? Unfortunately, this would push us further from each other but draw us closer to Moslems. It is not difficult to figure out what to do! Praise the LORD!

yusuf gandu

Posted: June 27, 2007 4:17 AM


this is very inspiring and encouraging to christians leaving among muslims

David

Posted: June 27, 2007 3:49 AM


Iagree with Thomas that not everyone would receive the same reception as Brother Andrew if they tried to preach in Gaza, Tehran or Jeddah (has he tried that one?). The message that comes across to me from this interview is the compassion of Jesus that has filled Brother Andrew. That challenges me. And the interview also challenges my previously held views of Muslims.

Bertha

Posted: June 26, 2007 6:51 PM


But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).

Anonymous

Posted: June 26, 2007 1:41 AM

I think it is absolutely true that the Church needs to get on the offensive. We have the best, most studied, informed leaders from all over the world looking to resolve the crisis in the Middle East. But the reality is Islam is not the Middle East. Islam is global and the Church must approach it from all fronts, from all countries and show that there is another way. We must stop being complacent and get in the game. "Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not" was Aragorn's charge in Two Towers.

John	Posted: June 25, 2007 11:03 AM


I know when people read their bibles, they interpret it differently based on their particular life experiences. Nevertheless, despite what James Dobson and Tony Perkins say, it's safe to say that Christ would not want us to blindly support our government's arrogant militaristic unconstitutional policies in the middle east.

william teo

Posted: June 25, 2007 6:34 AM

The West just don't get it. After so many years, Osama is still called Bin Laden. Osama is his name. Bin Laden simply means 'son of Laden'. What's worse is when Osama's son is referred to as 'bin Laden junior.' Give us a break! You don't hear people in the Middle or Far East calling your President, Mr George or President George because we know the proper way to address him. Perhaps it is this basic lack of understanding of customs and culture that would forever divide the West from the East. Brother Andrew might have 'crossed the line' for some of you Christians in American. But think about it, doesn't your President and government 'represent' Christianity in the eyes of the Middle East? Is that your Christianity?

Woman by the well

Posted: June 24, 2007 2:22 PM

Brother Andrew is not against preaching to the Jews nor is he not a 'friend of Israel'. In this interview the heart of the matter lies not on preaching to the Jews (which is clear from Scripture anyhow), but to be bold and go out and preach the Gospel to the Unreached. He is right, how will they believe if they don't have a chance to hear first? How did we in the West become Christians then? Wasn't it similar? Mind you, not all the people of e.g. the Middle East are terrorists and enemies of Christians or the state of Israel. In many a so-called 'muslim country' a lot of people are searching for the true and only God, and waiting to hear about Jesus, I'm sure. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Mt 28:19+20). For the ones of us that can't go out it's an obligation to pray for the missionaries.

loonhaunt

Posted: June 23, 2007 10:48 PM


I don't mean to be a muckraker, but what about all the prophets and prayer leaders in America who encouraged George Bush to go to war and get rid of Saddam Hussein? Are we going to give our prayer leaders in America some of the blame for the mess we're in???? Please hold the spiritual leaders accountable.

Wil	Posted: June 23, 2007 8:55 PM


Real Christian of you, Jane. Actually I thought you were a Muslim militant for a second. Guess Brother Andrew was right.

Saved by Grace

Posted: June 23, 2007 7:37 PM

The land belongs to God [Psalm 24:1]. Who does He say are His People? God's Word is abundantly clear: John 8:37-59, John 18:36-37, I Peter 2:9-10, Titus 2:14, Galatians 3, Romans 2, Romans 4, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 9, Acts 7:37-53, Acts 10:34-35, without citing abundant Old Testament documentation of Israel's breaking the conditions of the covenant to dwell in the land. The covenant has always been conditional.

Jianco

Posted: June 23, 2007 3:42 PM

I love Brother Andrew's heart and soul. But he completely ignores the first part of his own statement: "they want a world without Jews, a world ruled by Islam." THe Islamists are people possessed and they need deliverance as a first act of compassion. But those who do not want to be saved will never be. What would Brother Andrew have said to Hitler, Stalin or Mao after a polite hearing in their offices? Should we Christians have turned the other cheek so millions more could and would have been slaughtered? Is that pusuit of Kingdom justice? With apologies to my pacifist brothers and sisters. There is a time to fight, just as the Church has had to do many times over the centuries.

Thomas

Posted: June 23, 2007 1:56 PM

As optimistic as Brother Andrew is, I doubt that I would receive the same enthusiatic reception. As soon as I told them that the land of Israel belongs to the Jews, I would be less welcome I am sure. Muslims will tolerate negative comments about suicide bombings and will piously tell us that they oppose them. That is no surprise. I myself do not feel any relief that they will accept Christians like Brother Andrew and listen politely to his evangelistic messages, but insist on "No Jews", and kill any of those Muslims who should decide to accept Christ. However, I agree with his point that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, and that if we are not morally qualified to counter the Muslim threat, then we had better surrender.

Joan	Posted: June 23, 2007 1:32 PM

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"( Matthew 7:15-16) Mohammad was a false prophet who converted people away from the Lord Jesus mostly through the sword. It was convert or die. Nothing is different today. They hate western cultures and do indeed have a plan which is to take the world for Islam. Followers have in the past, still do, and will continue to give Christians a chance to be martyrs for their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Yes, we are to love our enemies but also to be wise enough to know who they are and not to be misled. Please read the Bible and a good factual history of this false faith. Pray for their conversion and for the U.S. and all former Christian nations to return to Christ. God is in control and if we continue to live as pagans we will continue to be chastised.

Myrna

Posted: June 23, 2007 11:06 AM

The world need more Brother Andrews. Hate is a powerful and destructive emotion. The world has to realize that Ishmel was a son of Abraham. He was born of an Egyptian mother. To not love and forgive, mean we are hating Abraham. The Bible stated that Ishmel was "a wild ass of a man." That characterization can be manifested today. But God and Abraham, and the other heroes of the Bible never gave up on anyone. We as a world, and this society, must stop giving up on others. Cultures are different, people are not. We respond to issues in similar ways. Jesus died for all of us, not for some of us. As Jesus stated "... In me ye will have peace, in the world ye will have tribulation. Be of good cheer, I have overcomed the world." John 16:33

Jane	Posted: June 23, 2007 9:42 AM


In answer to your question in the title, Yes, I have prayed for Bin Laden's speedy and holy death. JR

Anonymous

Posted: June 22, 2007 7:31 PM

untrue and weak!!! Let me tell you that God tells us to pray for our enemies yes- but what does that mean- God knows that we have and will always have enemies and we have to fight them- not to kill them or impose anything on them- but to protect others - especially our jewish brothern who have not seen the peace - persecuted and invaded, cursed for their very existance- as long as one young muslim or jewish soul does not have freedom it is right to fight. They sympithize with christians? are you completely out of touch? i think youve spent too much time in gaza and seen things in their eyes- go to israel. They will kill the jew first - to have a new islamic state - do not ever listen Andrew, to those who would cut off a young mans head for installing phone cable lines in iraq - they have decived you sir. The people we shall reach are moderate muslims- those who look for peace. Appeasing your enemies is like feeding the crocidile hoping he will eat you last- but eat you he will -

Clarence Vos

Posted: June 22, 2007 6:48 PM


Brother Andrew is 90 percent correct. I think he spells out quite correctly what our attitude as Christians should be. How many of us have really prayed for Osama? The thorny poblem is, How should we as Christians influence and guide out government? And, What is the proper action of our government??

Anonymous

Posted: June 22, 2007 3:30 PM

Article shows the west's politics and war agenda (despite being seen as Christian by the Muslims) is run by the secular-mindedness of politicians and not by a Christlike mind. This brings to mind prophecy set out in Psalm2 (NIV para) "i Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? ii The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. iii "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." (say let us ignore the laws of God and ignore the need for worshipping Jesus) iv (So)The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.vThen he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath..." But the article also shows how delightful and acceptable the love of Jesus is when it is put on and practiced and how people warm to God's people. Obeying God's way is to continually be in delight and at peace and having a forgiving heart. The law of forgiveness is a delight and is clear.

Allen Fadel

Posted: June 22, 2007 2:10 PM


"Our citizenship is in heaven.." Do our prayers, priorities, sacrifices,testimonies, conversations, attitudes prove it? Thanks Brother Andrew.

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