International (MNN) — In our polarized society, anyone on the opposite side of an issue is portrayed as “the enemy.” But is that how Christians are supposed to approach the world?
The hottest global conflicts of the day — like the Russian invasion in Ukraine or the Israel-Hamas war — can quickly get blood pressures rising on all sides of the issue.
Denise Godwin with International Media Ministries says, “I can think of specific people I know in Iran, in Palestine, in Israel who are believers, who are trying to reach their communities, who are trying to share the love of God.
“I think what we have to do is stand alongside our brothers and sisters who are struggling and who are fighting for space to express their faith — maybe in a place that is completely illegal [or] maybe in danger.”
Wherever you land on the Ukraine war, do you pray for both Ukrainians and Russians to know Christ’s love?
Whatever your view on the Holy Land conflict, do you ask the Holy Spirit to stir the hearts of both Israelis and Palestinians?
(Photo courtesy of Alicia Quan/Unsplash)
This type of question can be applied to any conflict or issue. Christians must remember to pray in light of Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Godwin says, “People who are in disruption or in some kind of chaos are more open to the Gospel than they are at any other time. So this is an incredible opportunity for the Holy Spirit and for the people of God to speak, no matter where they’re at.”
There are also many Christian ministries you can support that are reaching conflict zones with the hope of Jesus. “For International Media Ministries, that includes videos [and] training others to make videos and tell their own stories.” This biblical media content then gets “into places that aren’t open [or] places that are open but maybe haven’t thought about God in a long time.”
Learn more about IMM’s ministry here!
Header photo courtesy of Jametlene Reskp/Unsplash.
