The “reality” I live in feels real, even if it's a lie!

Have you ever wondered how people can have a utterly different and contradictory beliefs, and yet all parties be so fully convinced that they are right? Part of the answer, is that it seems to be human nature to conform to the belief systems of those in our little group, those who influence us the most. I was challenged recently, to try and get into the mindset of suicide bombers and those who encourage them. In particular of the mothers who seem more than willing to allow their sons and daughters to perform this despicable act.

In order to understand, I had to feel the weight of the teaching that in this world view, your only secure hope of heaven is to die taking infidels with you. And what mother would not want her son or daughter to escape the flames of hell? So then this form of suicide is their only sure hope of salvation! To say this is a religion of works, is surely an understatement! And add to this the fact that this same worldview has a strong, and what I believe is a realistic, doctrine of our sinfulness. The New Testament puts it this way, that those who are not in Christ are strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12).

In particular for those immersed in the subjective reality of Islam, there is no teaching that Jesus Christ died for their sins, and that He freely offers pardon, the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of their souls. In fact they deny that Jesus even died, let alone died for our sins. In other words what they do know about Christ is polluted by lies, lies which deprive them of any hope from that source. On top of this there is a very strong pressure to believe the teachings of Islam. And even here in North America, there are stories of those who convert receiving death threats. In other words not only is there a strong emphasis on works, there is also a strong component of fear that mitigates against an open mind on these things.

I realize that all of this is politically incorrect, but as far as I can see, the only hope to escape this false reality of Islam, is the good news of Jesus Christ.

Father, help me, and those who have found Your Words to be true, to have the courage and the wisdom to know what to speak, how to speak and when to speak. Help us not to be intimidated by the tyranny of political correctness. In Jesus Name Amen