Thanks for this, Greg. What he (or you) say about the importance of power in Muslim culture jibes with what we experienced working among Muslims in West Africa. Power and success (e.g. wealth) met with automatic respect and was considered a sign of God's blessing, no matter how (often illegitimately) the power and success were achieved. Likewise, suffering and poverty were disrespected and considered a sign of God's disfavor, even if the suffering was for a just cause (for being honest, for example).
It's so important for Christians not to respond to violence with violence, but rather to go the way of the Cross. This also reminds me of N.T. Wright's argument in "How God Became King" that it was precisely in Jesus' death in weakness on the Cross that he defeated Satan and became King.
Posted in: The Hijrah and the Cross
Thanks for this, Greg. What he (or you) say about the importance of power in Muslim culture jibes with what we experienced working among Muslims in West Africa. Power and success (e.g. wealth) met with automatic respect and was considered a sign of God's blessing, no matter how (often illegitimately) the power and success were achieved. Likewise, suffering and poverty were disrespected and considered a sign of God's disfavor, even if the suffering was for a just cause (for being honest, for example).
It's so important for Christians not to respond to violence with violence, but rather to go the way of the Cross. This also reminds me of N.T. Wright's argument in "How God Became King" that it was precisely in Jesus' death in weakness on the Cross that he defeated Satan and became King.