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There are FReepers that will be spouting this stuff as the jihadi blade slits their throats. It'll be tough to bring more sheep to the flock when the flock is destroyed.

When there are no more sheep to gather, the gathering will stop, and Jesus will put an end to the insanity. Meanwhile, the Great Commission Jesus actually gave us is precisely that of making disciples. It really is the main thing Christians are supposed to be busy with until He returns.

Don't misunderstand. I don't want the jihadis to win. But I have to ask, how is what we talk about here going to stop them? Be pragmatic. What plan of attack has the best chance of actually accomplishing the mission? Political containment won't work. There are too many of them. Technological containment won't work. There are too many leaks. A war of eradication? Who will fight that war for us? We are compromised at the highest levels, and we won't even fight tooth and nail to get back control of our own country, let alone what we'd have to do to take the fight to them in a hard-hitting way. Half the country is deluded, and the other half is too sheep-like to do anything about it. It's a bad situation. I don't like it, and I think all the time about ways I can personally do something to push back.

But our options are limited. What we do here on FR is mainly fantasize fighting it. So, great. We stop trying to win lost souls to Christ, and instead spend all our newfound free time writing snarky, witty comments about how we ought to be fighting back against Islamic incrementalism, or communist incrementalism. Etc. And then nothing changes, and the one really helpful thing we were doing, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, has stopped. I don't think that's the right way to go.

As a matter of Christian testimony, I totally agree we should always be civil. Like Paul said, to the extent possible, we should be at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18) But we are also supposed to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 1:3). Because Jesus didn't come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). There will be contention over the truth. It's actually part of the plan:

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
(1 Corinthians 11:18-19)

So we are engaged in the single most important Christian activity according to Jesus, making disciples, and the contention it stirs up is an acknowledged part of the plan. Those are our marching orders. Jesus told us there would be wars and rumors of war. But that's not the signal of His return. When does He say the end will come, when He will finally put a stop to the nonsense?

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
(Matthew 24:14)

That's the marker. And we're not there yet. And that's why sharing the Gospel is and will be until the end of the age the single most important and practical thing we can do. Not saying we give up the other fights. As impossible as it seems to win them, we have no choice but to keep trying. This is a war of multiple fronts. But there have been more people leaving Islam for Christianity than ever before in human history. Check this out:

http://www.worldmag.com/2014/07/the_rising_tide_of_muslim_converts_to_christianity

God cannot be stopped. But we do have to take His marching orders seriously. Physical self-defense, as a nation and as individuals, is a good and just thing to pursue, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the main event. We have to get it right (our in-house debates), and we have to get it out there (missions).

Peace,

SR

First They Came for the Jews

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
~Pastor Martin Niemöller
Community and individuality are not opposites. People cannot survive on their own. When the odds are stacked against you, you must rally with the oppressed and hated.
When a growing oppressive regime is taking hold, you must act, otherwise you will soon face your enemy alone and hopeless.
Strength of community is a strength as much as individualism, as long you are willing to face weaknesses in your own community. Ignoring slacking values will mean that you will be rallied against by those you oppress.
Niemöller affirms we must rally against unhealthy organized regimes. We must also stay vigilant with those that appear to be good natured, as all organisation attracts corruption. Niemöller also warns us that if it is you who are corrupt, then you will face a stronger combined force of foe!

~Vexen Crabtree

I don’t disagree with you, with regards to life in general, except that specific to FR being a conservative political forum the main goal should not be to convert anyone to anything other than conservative politics. If there is a religious discussion (and I use that word loosely as they are rarely just discussions) that is secondary to the cause, within FR. That the discussions quite often turn into ugly attacks is an embarrassment; however people have a tendency to be more rude behind their computer screen than they would in a face to face conversation. Is it obvious only to me that Catholics will never agree with how any other branch of Christianity celebrates the communion?

Perhaps if more brain cells were spent discussing conservative politics there would be more plans of action. But maybe not. :) It is frustrating knowing that much needs to be done and having no plan of action and no team members. Or your team members are more interested in arguing about whether the communion is *actual* body and blood or *symbolic* body and blood. :)