Balance is crucial. It is especially crucial when it is easy
to swing to extremes.
Following the Commons’ decision on 2
December for RAF airstrikes against Islamic
State in Syria after the terrorist atrocity in
Paris, there is a new recognition that the UK
is at war. Our security forces are thwarting
many planned attacks, but there may be
reprisals meted out on us. The question is:
how can Christians be praying in a biblically
sensible way?
Facing extremism
Of course we need to be balanced towards
Islam. Many Muslims are civilised people of
peace and we need to honour them. But
with Hilary Benn’s speech to Parliament the
penny seems to have dropped that those supporting Islamic state are as much fascists,
seeing themselves as superior beings willing
to liquidate all ‘inferiors’, as the Nazis. The
West is now engaged in a Third World War.
So, how should we pray?
How to pray for the war
Balance is crucial. It is especially crucial when it is easy to swing to extremes.
Following the Commons’ decision on 2 December for RAF airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria after the terrorist atrocity in Paris, there is a new recognition that the UK is at war. Our security forces are thwarting many planned attacks, but there may be reprisals meted out on us. The question is: how can Christians be praying in a biblically sensible way?
Facing extremism
Of course we need to be balanced towards Islam. Many Muslims are civilised people of peace and we need to honour them. But with Hilary Benn’s speech to Parliament the penny seems to have dropped that those supporting Islamic state are as much fascists, seeing themselves as superior beings willing to liquidate all ‘inferiors’, as the Nazis. The West is now engaged in a Third World War. So, how should we pray?