Note from Jim: I
am grateful to Nick Pitts, our Director of Cultural Engagement, for
writing today’s Cultural Commentary. You can subscribe to his Daily Briefing, an overview of the news with biblical insights, by clicking here.
A church bell rang
for the first time in two years as Iraqi Kurdish forces continued their
push toward Mosul. Located in Bartella, this primarily Christian town
is nine miles from the ISIS stronghold. Kurdish forces secured around
thirty-eight square miles and “a significant stretch” of the highway as
they sought to retake the city from ISIS. The night was longer than
expected, but the joyful ringing of the bell in the morning was sweeter
than anticipated.
Around thirty thousand Iraqi security force personnel, assisted by
US-led coalition air strikes, launched the long-awaited offensive to
retake Mosul over a week ago. But tragically, these great gains
accompanied heartbreaking losses.
UN reports indicate that ISIS fighters killed fifteen civilians and threw their bodies into a river to spread terror and send a signal.
A Middle Eastern news service
noted, “ISIS terrorist gangs executed nine of its members for fleeing
the battle against the security forces in Mosul, by throwing them in
trenches containing a burning oil.” In 2003, Iraq boasted an estimated
1.3 million Christians. Now,
leaders put that number at fewer than four hundred thousand.
Despite their dwindling numbers and dire circumstances, the bell in
Bartella rang. For those who have ears to hear, the ringing of the bell
sounds like Jesus in Matthew 10:28: “Do not be afraid of those who kill
the body but cannot kill the soul.” Jesus never promised his followers a
comfortable life, but he did assure them he would provide comfort in
this life (2 Corinthians 1:2–4).
The situation in Iraq provides perspective when considering the
difficulties in the American context. Our circumstances are different,
but our mission is the same: his kingdom come, his will be done, on
earth as it is in heaven.
Christians take part in a global movement that seeks to make peace in
the chaos and bring hope to the downcast. Peace never comes idly; rather
it requires hard work against the status quo. Hope is not found in a
political candidate but a resurrected King. Christians are more than a
voting bloc; we are people who deeply believe that God is good
regardless of what is happening and Jesus is Lord regardless of who is
elected.
The vehicle for this global movement is the church. This body of
believers remind each other of the good news of Jesus. His love compels
us (2 Corinthians 5:14), his grace equips us (2 Corinthians 12:9), and
his promises sustain us (Psalm 54:4). We are more than a Sunday morning
gathering. We are his hands and feet throughout the week as we meet
needs and serve others.
The church bell rings in Bartella because of the loving sacrifices many
made for their community. G. K. Chesterton wrote, “The true soldier
fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he
loves what is behind him.”
Chesterton understood that love is a far greater motivating factor than
hate. Love launched a thousand ships, made an innocent man fall silent
before a tribunal, and raised a dead man to life. Without love, bells
clang noisily like gongs (1 Corinthians 13:1). Bells are welcomed, but
gongs are avoided.
Today, let freedom ring. The enemy may be near, they may be strong, but
they will not be victorious. If it is a work of love, it cannot fail (2
Corinthians 2:13-15, 1 Corinthians 15:58).
Nick Note: Today, I am honored to be in New York to participate in the Movement Day Global Cities conference. Movement Day is
catalyzing leadership teams from the world's largest cities to serve
their cities more effectively by advancing high-level, city-changing
collaborative partnerships. For updates throughout the week, check out my videos on our Facebook page.
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