![\"PeaceforSyria\"](\"https:\/\/oshetablogs.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/09\/peaceforsyria.jpg\")
<\/a>Syrian refugees and local residents light candles during a sit-in against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, outside the Syrian embassy in Amman. (Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
\n\u201cMy Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight.. But my Kingdom is not of this world.\u201d Jesus, John 18:36<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Today, I finally sat down, turned on CNN, and let the crisis in Syria into my heart. I\u2019m soul sick and weary at the violence in our world. I want justice.\u00a0 I want the lives of innocent Syrians to be vindicated.\u00a0 But, I\u2019m don\u2019t believe in \u201cretributive justice\u201d,<\/em> so the plans to attack Syria in retaliation for their use of chemical warfare deeply troubles me.<\/p>\n
I experience this frustrating tension often.\u00a0 I\u2019m a disciple of Jesus, therefore I must follow his example of peacemaking, non-violent resistance<\/a>.\u00a0 At the same time, I\u2019m a feisty Texan and the daughter of a Marine, so I want action\u2014these colors don\u2019t run and all that<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 What I too easily forget and what the Lord reminded me when I walked away from the news coverage, is that the banner of our King Jesus raised over me\u2014 doesn\u2019t run either.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 The Kingdom\u2019s response to evil in this world isn\u2019t passive! It\u2019s extremely active and aggressive, but in the right way, or even better\u2014towards the right enemy.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a Kingdom citizen and we:<\/p>\n
are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies\u2014the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.<\/em><\/p>\n
Ephesians 6:12 Living Bible (TLB)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We can wreck our eternal enemy with a completely different arsenal of weapons:\u00a0 love, sacrifice, the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.<\/a>\u00a0 We can take all of our angry, heart-broken, justice seeking energy to engage the battle with our prayers and they will become mighty weapons in the hands of our Warrior King.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAnd while the Pentecostal<\/a> in me wants to jump up and start putting on the whole armor of God\u2014 ready to rebuke some demons and anoint some well\u2026just about anything\u2026in the name of Jesus\u2014 I\u2019m often unsure of how to do the whole spiritual warfare thing authentically and orderly. I don\u2019t want to put on a show for my own self-aggrandizement and I really, really, don\u2019t freak my family out.<\/p>\n
So, I\u2019ve complied a little list here for you as you process how to engage in spiritual warfare as a Kingdom person.\u00a0 Sit with God and let him inform you on your part to play in this battle.\u00a0 These resources are here to help us keep our mind focused on the Kingdom.\u00a0 They cover everything from prayers, to sermons on spiritual warfare, to music that has encouraged me that Jesus is Victor and Overcomer.\u00a0<\/strong> I hope they help and encourage you this week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Here are my favorite peace-building, Kingdom-advancing ways to engage in the crisis in Syria.<\/p>\n
1:\u00a0 In the Bible, Jesus fasted and prayed for forty days before his first major engagement with the Enemy. Since we are engaging in a battle, I want to be battle-ready by quieting my heart and embracing discomfort for Syria and her people.\u00a0 Yesterday, the Pope called for fasting and prayer for Syria. <\/a>\u00a0 Consider joining our Catholic brothers and sisters to pray and fast on Sept. 7.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u201cThe world needs to see gestures of peace and hear words of hope and of peace,\u201d Francis said.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
2: Pray for peace and justice from the Book of Common Prayer.<\/strong> Holy Trinity Episcopal Church has put together this fantastic list<\/a> for us, including this prayer for our President. This is crucial as Congress is discussing if and how the American military will respond.<\/p>\n
For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority<\/strong>
\n<\/b>O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of this State (or Commonwealth), and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n3:\u00a0 The Mennonite Church, leaders in non-violent resistance released their response<\/a> to the crisis in the Middle East.\u00a0 This has been a valuable resource to me to learn, pray, and support non-violence resolutions. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n
Almighty God, we pray today for all people of the Middle East, who face a time of change and uncertainty. With one mouth and one heart, together with our brothers and sisters there, we pray that God would console those who have lost loved ones.<\/em><\/p>\n
We pray for strength for the church in the Middle East, that they might not give up hope in spite of all the challenges that lie ahead, but would instead hold steadfast to the faith of their ancestors and remain rooted in their homes and homelands.\u00a0 Safeguard their presence and invigorate their witness there.<\/em><\/p>\n
We ask that people who have been driven apart by violence may come back to each other in love, tolerance, cooperation, and wisdom. We pray that changes in the region respect principles of justice, freedom, and human dignity.<\/em><\/p>\n
Thank you for the challenges before us, Lord, as they present us with new opportunities to serve our neighbors. Give us each the courage to work for reconciliation and peace and to advocate all just causes.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
Our faith gives us a living hope ever incarnate in the Lord Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Let us be witnesses to that faith, here and throughout the world. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n
This prayer was compiled by Sarah Adams, MCC representative for Lebanon and Syria, from recent prayers offered by church leaders in the two countries. (Feb. 21, 2012)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
4: <\/strong>Follow Sarah Bessey\u2019s lead and light a candle for Syria<\/a><\/p>\n
I light the candle in the middle of the house and every time I see it, I breathe out the names and their places, the people I\u2019m carrying for the day\u2026 The little candle is lit today for a handful of friends and for Syria.
\n<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n5:\u00a0 <\/strong>Say Yes to Life (and No to War) in Syria<\/em><\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n
This post\u00a0written by Marty Troyer, Pastor of <\/em>Houston Mennonite Church: The Church of the Sermon on the Mount,<\/em><\/a> makes a compelling argument for Christian non-violence.\u00a0 He also gives some great suggestions for followers of Jesus who want to respond well to this and any conflict in the world.<\/p>\n
As a follower of Jesus my response today (and it is evolving) is to do 3 things, and I invite you to join me in them:<\/b><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Pray and Protest immediately to stop our government\u2019s escalation of violence<\/b> in our names. Call, tweet, email your congressional reps and the White House. Information is below on a Protest\/Vigil happening Saturday at Noon in Houston (See below my signature).<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n
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Resist the pull of Christendom:<\/b> refuse to offer the church\u2019s sanction to the cause, and work to recognize how religion is being used to justify violence on both sides. Dream outside the box as a follower of Christ in a Post-Christian world.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n
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Commit long-term to a radical change in your church\u2019s Disciple-Making culture,<\/b> so that one day (perhaps when the drumbeats of war are raised next time) our churches are prepared to offer an active engaged nonviolent and DISTINCTLY CHRISTIAN alternative approach than that which Christendom affords us. \u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
6: Listen to music that helps keep your mind Jesus and Kingdom-centered.
\n[spotify id=\u201dspotify:user:oshetamoore:playlist:4tKQEngfSGhNI2o7SICPer\u201d width=\u201d300\u2033 height=\u201d380\u2033 \/]\n<\/p>Favorite lines:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cOur God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!<\/em>
\n And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.<\/em>
\n And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cAnd all who hurt with nothing left<\/em>
\n Will know that You are holy. And all will sing out<\/em>
\n Hallelujah\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cFor those without shelter from the rain. We lift our eyes to you looking for answers<\/em>
\n When we have been called to ease the pain. We want to be your hands your feet<\/em>
\n Without words will let our actions speak\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cJesus, awesome in power forever. Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame<\/em>
\n Power in hand speaking the Father\u2019s plan. You\u2019re sending us out, light in this broken land<\/em>
\n We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb. And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n7:\u00a0 Listen to sermons on Kingdom warfare for encouragement<\/p>\n
My favorite series is The Meeting House\u2019s \u201cInglorious Pastors: Waging Peace in a World of War\u201d <\/a>(From which I get this post\u2019s name)<\/p>\n