Yesterday was poppy day. It was also the last day of the autumn term: the boys had an ANZAC day (memorial day) service at school, and we had to make sure that they had poppies on their blazers, to recall those fallen in battle for God, King and Country.
Then, overnight, there are a series of arrests in Boston. One of the Chechens who the police are seeking as bombers @ the Marathon (on Patriot’s Day, another day of commemoration) is now dead. Many have speculated that the bombings were the wish of some domestic terrorists (particularly right-wing ones) and these people should now be silent.
For politicised Islam has failed a scriptural test. By its works it has shown that it is evil.
There is a reason we do good, and it is not for our praise. It is to bear witness to God, and bring him glory. There is also a reason jihadists maim, kill, and rape. They have been taught that this brings the rule of Allah to the world, and to fight and die in war is glorious.
Well, it is (despite various statist propaganda that Himmler would approve of) not glorious do die for one’s country. Sometimes soldiers die: but the wars they fight have to be just. This does not include deliberate acts of carnage aimed at civilians.
1The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 3I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; 6they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; 7for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers. 8Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.
9I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends, and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true. 13I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; 14instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face.
15Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name.
What is our duty in this time? To do good. To be hospitable. And to shun those who shit on our hospitality, break our meetings, kill the brothers, rape the sisters, imprison the fathers and brainwash the children, while telling us that this is for the Good, the Best, and is Necessary.
