The blood of martyrs is seed, but…

I started reading Light Force: A Stirring Account of the Church Caught in the Middle East Crossfire, by Brother Andrew and Al Janssen. I read Secret Believers earlier last year, adored that wonderful text, and wanted to continue my engrossing studies into Christian interaction with Islam by reading through this one.

I find myself walking through the text slowly, even for me (a very slow reader), as I end up meditating and working through ideas and challenges.

On pages 25-26, I caught these lines:

Unfortunately, many Christians [in the Middle East, encountering persecution], given the chance, were fleeing the area. It was hard to fault them, and yet if they all left, where would be the light in the midst of the darkness?

That struck me deeply. Where would the light be? Where would it come from? We are not supposed to cover the light but to shine it, let it be seen. Then I went down the road (in my mind) and remembered in Secret Believers Brother Andrew challenge Christians with the question of how is a militant, extremist Muslim terrorist supposed to repent and embrace the true teachings of the Lord and Savior if Christians are not willing to go to them and show them the Good News.

We cannot think for a second that there is any justification in killing a militant, extremist Muslim terrorist. Maybe by the standards and judgment of the kingdoms of this world. But not in the Lord Jesus’ eyes. Not by his righteous standard. We cannot come into a place like Afghanistan, Bible in one hand and a gun in the other, calling for repentance and embracing Jesus the redeemer and prince of peace. What would we do? Shoot them if they reject the message?

Then, truly, we would be no different than the average terrorist. Convert or die. Ultimately my life is more precious, more valuable, than yours.

I wrote this note down in the blank space below the two paragraphs on page 26:

God can use the blood of a dead Christian to build the kingdom, to witness to his glory, as a testimony of greater love.

God cannot use the blood of a dead Muslim.

Who is willing to go and love, and, yes, possibly die?

Jesus went and died.

Is my life here on Earth more valuable and precious than his was? When’s the last time I made a blind man see? Or helped a lame man get up and walk?

Or forgiven someone their sins.

When’s the last time I was God in the flesh.

The servant is not greater than his master.