We have all heard of ISIS (also known as ISIL, IS) by now. I wrote about them in my last blog post (ISIS, Isa, And A Jewish Terrorist – Changing Hearts Of Stone https://www.ilovemuslims.net/2014/09/isis-isa-and-a-jewish-terrorist-changing-hearts-of-stone/).
In this post, I ask 2 primary questions:
#1 – Does God hate ISIS – and evil people in general?
#2 – Does God love ISIS – and evil people in general?
I cannot – of course – speak with expertise on what the Qur’an says about these questions. But I can share a bit on what the Bible has to say. And as I said in the title of this post, the answers might surprise you!
First of all, God definitely hates those who do evil and this would, of course, include ISIS. Listen to these verses from the Bible:
“You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man” (Dawud – King David – in the Zabur – Psalms 5:4-6).
“The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence” (Dawud – King David – in the Zabur – Psalms 11:5).
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (Sulaiman – King Solomon – Proverbs 6:16-19).
Is ISIS evil? Of course! But God is able to save them – even wants to save them – if they repent:
“God our Savior. . .desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
Listen to these amazing verses from the Bible about God’s love – even for the worst, most evil people. He wants them to repent! God says to them:
“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die?” (the prophet Ezekiel, chapter 33, verse 11)
God hates sinners. . .while also. . .loving them.
Both of these seemingly contradictory expressions of His divine character are expressed fully in one place: the cross of Jesus Christ.
In the cross, all the wrath of God for sinners was poured out on Jesus. But also in the cross, all the love of God for sinners was demonstrated:
“. . .while we were still helpless. . .while we were yet sinners. . .while we were enemies. . .Christ (Jesus) died for us” (Romans 5:6,8,10).
Amazing.
This is the Biblical view. I welcome yours.
You offer an intriguing perspective that suggests God cannot be comprehended in a mere formula. It makes me want to cry out to God each evening for mercy and to rise in the morning and thank him for the plentiful mercies that are before me that day. I would like to know this God more fully each day.
Abdul,
First of all, shukran for reading. Second, how did you find my blog? I am always interested in knowing that.
Finally, let me say that your words warm my heart! Truly God is more wonderful than we can comprehend. More perfect in all His ways than we can know in this life. He is good – all the time! And – amazingly enough – He wants us to know Him. Wow! Though He is transcendent, He is also immanent – very near us. In Him we live, and move, and have our being. He is not far away or distant. No! He awaits our prayers – the personal ones that express our hearts. The prayers that no one else prays or knows.
Let us keep seeking to know God. Let us continue to learn about Isa – Jesus – Kalimatallah.
Abdul
Do try it.
God eagerly awaits your sincere prayer, as eagerly as He greets mine.
Yes, sinner that I am, God is always nearby and eager to point us to the right way.
Neal,
Thanks for reading on the blog and responding to Abdul.
Beautiful, humble words that glorify God.
Mark
“In the cross, all the wrath of God for sinners was poured out on Jesus. But also in the cross, all the love of God for sinners was demonstrated”
…so what is the meaning of crucifixion?…..If sinners need to repent in order to be saved—crucifixion was/is irrelevant. If sinners ARE saved because of crucifixion, then repentance is irrelevant…..
Islam takes the view that evil/bad damages the soul and repentance paves the way to healing it. That is why repentance (and not crucifixion) is necessary.
That is why when (Prophet) Adam made a mistake and repented, God forgave…without the need for crucifixion of “son of God”.
Hello Anonymous Muslim Friend – it has been a long time. Since before Ramadan I think. Thanks for reading, commenting.
You always ask great questions, that’s for sure.
In some of Jesus’ first recorded words in the New Testament, he said,
“‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!‘” (the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1, verse 15).
Jesus said we must “repent” – repentance in the Bible means to seek forgiveness but also to turn away from our sin and turn to God. It can involve emotion such as grief (real inner pain or sorrow before God for the way we have acted or thought) but not necessarily. Basically, it is a change of direction – from living for self and all that that entails – to living for God as the only rightful King over our lives.
But Jesus adds another necessary component to be right with God: “believe.” Believe in the Bible means to trust, have faith in, put complete confidence in.
Complete confidence in what? The “good news.” What is the good news that Jesus taught his followers: that he would take upon himself their sins via crucifixion. Their job: to sincerely repent and believe in his amazing, incomprehensible, loving sacrifice for them.
I think Mark 1:15 in the Amplified Bible states Jesus words very well of how we can be forgiven – a) repenting and b) believing this good news:
“And saying, The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled (completed), and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent (have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better) and believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to) the good news (the Gospel).”
Any or who knows isis knows he does it hate gays built looks Dow o the biggest
Hate isis who is me