AMBON AWAKENING

When Will ItHappen Here?

Jim Cunningham

Roy Pontoh – Ambon, Indonesia

1984 – 1999

“I am a soldier of God!”

January 20, 1999 – Ambon, Indonesia

15 year old Roy Pontoh was among 125 members of mostly Christian children and teenagers from the New Covenant Christian Church (GKPB) gathered for a Bible camp at the Station Field Complex of Pattimura University at Hila, on the island of Ambon, Indonesia. The theme of the time together was being: ‘God’s Army’.

When the camp was over, Mecky Sainyakit, and three other Christian men, whom one of the three was a Police officer, had gone to Hitu village to seek protection for the children from the local Military Post (Koramil) due to the deteriorating condition around the complex where the camp was. They failed to get any assistance from the military so they went back.

What the kids waiting for the rides home did not know was that on their way back, the men were attacked by a Muslim mob in the village of Wakal. They were pulled out them from their car onto the road. Roy's youth pastor, Meiky Sainyakit and the driver of the truck were martyred that day. They were stabbed to death and later their bodies were burned by the mob. The third man, Henry Kursepuny, escaped death as he was rescued by a retired Police man.

At around 2 PM, the Muslim extremists, with some Laskar Jihad fighters tagging along, from the surrounding villages began to converge in front of the University’s gate. The teens could tell that the shouts and chanting were getting louder and louder as many more joined them. One of the fathers whose children attended the camp looked nervously at one of the older teenagers and said: "The Muslims are coming. We'd better hide the kids," he said. Others, following his lead, helped the smaller children find hiding places in the many rooms in the complex, such as classrooms, toilets, the kitchen, etc. Then they hid themselves and prayed hard. After the mob grew larger in number, at around 4 PM they finally burst into the complex with machetes, spears, knifes, clubs in their hands. They found many of the teens, forced them to come out of hiding, and began beating them mercilessly. Roy Pontoh was one of the several teens, adult counselors and parents that were discovered and were separated from the main group to be rounded up in the main dining room and start to received beatings and other insults. Afterwards all the girls and ladies were separated from the boys and the men, and they brought them outside of the building.

After they had beaten Roy Pontoh several times, they were then forced to go out of the building. Then they again dragged Roy Pontoh from the group and started to question him: “Who are you?” Roy was terribly frightened. Though trembling, he answered: "I am a soldier of God!!" Suddenly the man who asked the question strikes him with his machete and almost severed his left arm. Again, he was asked the same question and the same answer also resulted in the man striking his machete the second time and made a very big gash on his right shoulder. For the third time the man asked: “What is God’s soldier?” With much agony Roy answered: “A soldier of God is ready to die for Christ.” With such an answer the next swing of the machete ripped opened his stomach as Roy shouted: “Jesuusss!!” As he dropped on his knees the executioner slit his throat open. He was martyred.

The mob dragged Roy's body out and threw it in a ditch together with one of the other casualties, Hermanus Chursam. Besides the two, another two bodies were also found in the compound, Mr. Henky Pattiwael and one of the complex’s workers, Bung Karel. Three days later, Roy’s body and the rest was evacuated by Mr. Heri Latuheru with some Police officers. Even though they were wrecked with grief, Roy's parents stand proud of their son, who stood strong in his faith to the end, after they heard from eye -witnesses of his last testimony of bravery.

"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God” – (Luke 12:8).

***

Ambon Island, was – for some 326 years of Dutch colonial rule [1619 – 1945] – a Christian focal point in the midst of Indonesia’s 13,677 islands stretching for 3,000 miles across the equator from the mainland of Southeast Asia to Australia. Indonesia is the largest island complex (archipelago) in the world. The archipelago would extend approximately from the east to the west coast on a map of the USA. Its population of 210 million is the fourth largest in the world, after China, India and the USA.

Indonesia has been described as a “meeting place of the world’s religions.” It contains the world’s largest Muslim community, as well as three other major religions: Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism. Though the vast majority is Muslim, Indonesia is not a religious state. Under the national motto “unity in diversity,” the state philosophy of ‘Pancasila’ is based on five principles, namely:

1. belief in a singular and omnipotent almighty God;

2. a just, fair and civilized humanitarianism;

3. a democracy guided by wisdom and representation;

4. a social justice for all and

5. a united Indonesia.

Under the Islamic majority in Jakarta, an attempt was being made by the International Islamic Jihad—masterminded by Al Qaeda’s Saudi-born leader Osama bin Laden—to completely eradicate Christianity from Ambon Island—and eventually all of Indonesia—making Indonesia a 100% Islamic State. There are six provinces in Indonesia with substantial Christian populations. They are Bali, East Timor, East Nusa Tenggara, Irian Jaya, North Sulawesi and Maluku but impact of Islamic radicalism is felt most strongly in the Maluku islands – the formerly Dutch-controlled “Spice Islands” – where the Dutch had their “capital” on Ambon Island.

The 300,000 people living on Ambon Island were approximately 60% Christian and 40% Muslim – somewhat disproportionate to the national ratio of 10% Christian and 85% Muslim. Over the past 300 years villages became identified as a “Muslim Village” – with a Mosque or a “Christian Village” – with a cross on their church. Christians and Muslims shopped in each others markets, visited in each others homes and attended each others celebrations. There was an ‘appearance of peace’ on Ambon Island. Few suspected that an Al Qaeda had made Ambon their strategic target for attack!

Meanwhile back in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

August 17, 1999

If Indonesia is a long way away from Canada – Ambon City seems even farther away from Burnaby, British Columbia. It was here that Philip Patty, a young Indonesian student, from Ambon —775 square km/300 sq/miles—part of the Maluku Islands in Eastern Indonesia – arrived in Canada in 1997 on a scholarship to begin his first year studying Physics at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, BC. Philip was a practicing Christian. As was his custom, he wanted to go to church his first Sunday in Canada. He boarded a bus and said to the driver, “Do you know where there is a church?” The driver said, “Sure, there is a big one on Willingdon Avenue. I will tell you where to get off the bus.” Philip felt at home in the multi-cultural Willingdon Church www.willingdon.org where he met Jim and Rita Cunningham. Jim was an Elder at Willingdon Church. When they discovered Philip lived in the Louis Riel Residence for International Students they invited him to their Bible Study for International Students led by Dr. Cunningham.

With this as background for the following ‘allegory’ – imagine 'Jim' is the graduate student in Physics at Ambon Government University (AGU) in the town of Poka on tiny Ambon Island where Jim meets ‘Dr. Patty.’ Jim is single. (This is an allegory!). We will now ‘reverse the names and the settings to begin the story.

Reversing the Names: An Indonesian Allegory

‘Jim’ boards a bus in the community of Poka his first Sunday on Ambon and asks the bus driver, 'Where is there a church?'  The driver tells him 'There is a big one up on Poka Road, called 'Poka' Church. Jim meets another AGU International student on the bus who is also going to visit Poka Church. They travel together.

Jim is ecstatic when he finds Poka Church has an English Language Ministry complete with an English speaking pastor from Canada! Wow. This is great. He feels right at home. But as a student at AGU, Jim reasons, 'It would be better if I went to the Indonesian service to improve my listening and comprehension skills in Indonesian.' There he meets other AGU graduate students and an Indonesian professor named ‘Dr. Philip Patty.’

Soon a group of International Students from AGU ask Dr. Patty and his wife Cynthia to come up to the 'Sukharto Residence' at AGU and conduct a weekly Bible Study on behalf of Poka Church. Dr. Patty and Cynthia agree.

Over the succeeding months, Dr. Patty hears stories on his government television station (IBC) of violent demonstrations back in Jim's homeland of Canada. He inquires and discovers that Canada is a vast country. Jim acknowledges that while there may be a confrontation between aboriginals and police on a reserve in Eastern Canada - his hometown of Burnaby is a long way away from that region and Jim’s family are safe. But the situation changes – the violence increases and spreads to other regions of Canada.

Jim approaches Dr. Patty in the church foyer one Sunday and says, 'We need your prayers. I am getting e-mails from my Pastor back in Burnaby telling me that armed gangs are attacking church members in the parking lot. My father, who is a police officer back in Canada has fled, my home has been burned and the International Islamic Jihad has closed SFU - looting all the computers — claiming 'there are too many Christians studying at SFU.'

Dr. Patty agrees to help mobilize prayer support among the Christians in Indonesia. But it is hard. First, most Indonesians have little awareness of Canada, much less Burnaby, or some church called 'Willingdon' where one Canadian student used to attend. How do we get people to pray for another country when there are so many urgent needs right here at home in Indonesia?

Dr. Patty has about 150 intercessors from the Poka Church on an e-mail Prayer Team called the PPT (Poka Prayer Team). He decides to inform them of the need to pray for the attacks on Christians in Canada. He gets a polite hearing. Many would rather pray 'primarily for the needs of Poka Church' than some far off place they have little attachment to – like Canada.

Jim sends Dr. Patty another urgent e-mail. “According to eyewitnesses around 1.0 PM on Sunday, August 16 a group of extremists began attacking worshippers at Willingdon Church as they left the third service. Some of the attackers were dressed in Canadian army uniforms making it difficult to determine whether the military was supporting the violence or whether the uniforms were stolen.”

The report continues: “The shooting was coming from the windows of a building near the church. As victims were killed the 'army' personnel collected the bodies in a dumpster and burned the bodies so they would not be recognized. At the same time the mob moved up Willingdon Avenue looting and burning the homes of Christians who attend Willingdon Church. The number of dead and wounded has risen to over 600 Christians. 90% of these were shot by 'uniformed' members of Canadian military units sent in to keep the peace.”

“Dr. Patty,” Jim said, with tears of pain in his eyes, “Help me. Help me do something to alert people to what is happening in my home region. You must help. Only the Lord can change the heart of government leaders and cause them to protect the innocent.”

Dr. Patty returned to his home with a sense of despair at what was happening to his friend Jim. Taking a World Atlas off his bookshelf, and with a small magnifying glass, he scanned the South West corner of British Columbia looking for 'Burnaby'. There it was. Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada - a real place — with real people.

Dr. Patty reflected “This is where Jim lives. Those names he sent me of people who died are real Christians: the church bus driver, elders, and ordinary folks, guilty of nothing more than being a follower of Jesus Christ. Those 62 homes of Christians that were completely burned down were someone's life memories and records. How can I be of help?”

The same Sunday Jim told this news to Dr. Patty, the new Assistant Senior Pastor at Poka Church in Indonesia preached a sermon from Psalm 115 entitled: 'Is God in Charge?’ Verse 3 says: “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” Jim heard about the Holiness of God and how God is only motivated by righteousness. He heard about the omnipresence of God and how He is always there with those who are suffering and he heard about the omnipotence of God how He has the power to do whatever He pleases.

Dr. Patty knows that Jim believes 'God is in control.' Jim can also say to those attackers, like Joseph in Genesis 50:20 “You intended it to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” But Dr. Patty knows Jim is in pain. These are his Canadian friends and family that are under attack. What can he do?

Dr. Patty sits down at his computer and begins to write a note to his Indonesian Poka Church e-mail intercessors. He writes: 'Please pray for Christians who are being attacked and killed and their homes burned in Burnaby, British Columbia. I know you do not know where Burnaby is, but God does. Pray for their deliverance – from evil – in the strong name of Jesus – Amen.'

*****************

“…God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” – (1 Corinthians 12:24b26).

September 11, 2001 – New York City, USA

Infamous attack on the World Trade Center in New York by 19 Islamic terrorists in hijacked aircraft. Over 3000 people die.

October 17, 2001 – Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

While having coffee with Philip Patty he said, “The area around my hometown of Poka - across the bay from Ambon City (where the university is located) is now called ‘Mujadheem  Point’ because so many Afghanis were there operating their training camps.”

Philip reported that estimates of the number of Christians killed on Ambon since 1999 go as high as 5,000 – some rumors up to 9,000 – as so many have fled and are unaccounted for by their family. Ambon Island’s original population was somewhere around 300,000 people. Since the fighting erupted, over 200,000 people fled from their homes. The Muslims ended up controlling the countryside and the docks. The Christian community controlled Ambon City and the commerce.

After the September 11 WTC attacks many of the 4,000 Islamic Jihad terrorists who invaded Ambon Island in 1999 have departed for Afghanistan to support the war effort there. As such a period of relative calm returned to Ambon Island (although not to the whole of Indonesia).

Philip talked on the phone (Oct 13) to his father-in-law – Matheus (Matthew) “Tos” Wattimena – a pastor in Ambon City. ‘Tos’ reported the calm appears to be continuing although gunfire is heard sometimes.

Philip noted that the nearby Islands to the west (Buru) and to the north (Seram - also spelled Ceram on some maps) and the tiny island of Banda to the south are apparently being ‘cleansed’ of Christians and those Christians are fleeing to Ambon by boat thus increasing the Christian community on Ambon. He fears these Islands are being cleared to become terrorist camps.

Friday, November 9, 2001 – Ambon, Indonesia

Stepping off the plane into the cordial tropical air of Ambon Island—is about as far as one can imagine from cold, wet Canada. Yet here we were—my lifelong friend Paul Estabrooks, and a team of national Christian Indonesian leaders—teaching ‘Standing Strong Through the Storm’ and encouraging persecuted pastors and Church leaders in the process.

For the past three years, this eastern Indonesian province has been wracked by violence that has left more than 10,000 Moluccans dead and over 200,000 homeless. The clashes have also resulted in the destruction of more than 200 churches, over 14,000 houses and about 100 schools.

The conflict, which began over a petty bus fare dispute in the capital of Ambon in January 1999, is being fought between Muslims and Christians who have lived peacefully side by side for centuries. In Ambon, Christians used to have a slight majority over Muslims until this religious war forced the exodus of thousands of Christian families. Central to this bloody violence is the role of the Laskar Jihad, a militant Islamic group that has declared a holy war to defend Islam against the Christians. It claims to have 10,000 members and has sent thousands of its ‘warriors’ into the Moluccas to fight alongside the Muslims. Many Ambonese are tired of the fighting and want all outsiders to leave, so they can sort out their problems themselves. The government too has strongly warned Muslim volunteer fighters to leave the area and surrender their weapons. But few of the militants (who come mostly from Java and Makassar) show any inclination to leave.

We were given a tour of Ambon City – driven by street after street of deserted burned out shells of former residences, shops, schools and churches.

Prior to the fighting and violence in 1998, Open Doors International held a seminar with church leaders on Ambon Island. One church leader told an Open Doors staff member this remarkable confession – in 2001:

“I was at the Open Doors SSTS seminar…in 1998. I confess that at that time, many others and I never seriously considered the possibility that the riots that had taken place in some parts of Indonesia would happen here. Now it has happened.”

And now after three years of violence, here we were, invited by the mainline Protestant church leadership to hold another SSTS seminar – with the remaining pastors who had not fled the Island!.

We arrived in Ambon City, Friday, November 9th, following a four-hour plane ride from the capital and a five-minute boat ride from the airport on the coast of the island. We were told there had been no major trouble or incidents the past few days.

Saturday, November 10 – 9 PM – Ambon City

A powerful blast was heard from our hotel. Two men, one in military uniform and the other in civilian clothes, lay sprawled in the ground only a few hundred meters away from our hotel. It was a gory sight. The two dead men lay soaked in blood, their bodies dismembered by a grenade that blew off prematurely while still in their possession. The people were quick to draw the conclusion that the men had planned to lob the bomb at the Maranatha Church (headquarters of GPM - The Protestant Church of Maluku) a few meters away from the where they lay. This church was right in front of our hotel and where the first day of the seminar was to be held the following day.

Sunday, November 11 – 5 AM – Ambon City

The streets were alive with children playing soccer – their goals within a few meters of coiled barbwire blocking the entrance to a ‘no-man’s-land’ between our Christian residential neighborhood and the nearby Muslim dock area. Following the Dutch tradition of the 'Sabbath' day rest there was virtually no traffic. But by 7:00 AM, the streets were deserted again. When we asked where the children went: “To Church!” Life continues on for most people in Ambon.

We visited some of the many refugees on the island. One couple Jacob and Lien Tubelewoni lived in smaller village at the Eastern end of the Island. When Laskar Jihad attacked their village the family fled in terror into the mountainous jungles. Their 17-year-old son was killed, as well as their 13-year-old daughter. Lien was pregnant and in the escape that baby also died. While hiding in the jungle Lien also contracted malaria. Eventually Jacob and Lien made their way to Ambon City. Their ‘home’ is now a mud floor shelter with walls, a roof and a bed located on a churchyard where Jacob helps rebuild the church sanctuary. He was barefooted with the minimum of clothes and soon received from us a pair of sandals, extra clothes, soap and sewing kits. Although there are many refugees on Ambon Island, we never encountered any beggars or requests for money all week!

Monday, November 12 – 10 AM – Ambon City

Another bomb explosion was heard from our seminar venue. A bomb planted in an electronic shop owned by a Chinese Christian family went off killing the 48 year-old mother and her son-in-law as well as wounding 16 others. The shop was in one of the busiest sectors of the city fronting the Muslim enclave is. Both victims were members of the GPM Bethlehem Church.

The Chinese community in Indonesia is a small but economically powerful group within the Indonesian economy. Reports indicate that perhaps half of the Chinese Christians are Evangelical Christians – and that together with the remaining Chinese community they control upwards of 80% of the ‘wealth’ in Indonesia. This makes them a three-fold ‘scapegoat-target’ for the Laskar Jihad – wealthy, non-Muslim, non Indonesian.

Tuesday, November 13 – 6 AM – Ambon City

We were awakened by a burst of automatic rifle fire that lasted about 20 seconds. Then all was quiet. Later that morning, we were informed that allegedly Muslims on board another speedboat had fired upon a boat loaded with Christians. Three died in that incident. One young 27 year old father, Jacob Latapapua, from the GPM Rehoboth Church in Ambon was hit in the thigh and died due to loss of blood. He leaves behind a wife and two children – a five-month-old baby and a three-year-old boy. Another young 18-year-old believer, Yopi Pormas, 18 years old, youngest of three brothers, was instantly killed. He was bringing fresh vegetables that he had wanted to sell that morning in the Ambon market. The third victim was a young lady who was a student of a theological school in Ambon City and was an active member of the local prayer movement. She was a member of the GPM Emmanuel Church.

To see the pain and anguish in the faces of the bereaved families was almost unbearable. We had the opportunity to visit the mourning families and loved ones see the bodies of the victims and pray with and console them as best we could. They were all deeply touched by our coming, our words of comfort and our prayers. Just by being there and praying for them in the midst of much pain and agony brought comfort to them. It was also an opportunity to extend financial help to the families and one widow who now has to look after her two young children by herself. Jim brought with him a financial gift from a church in Vancouver. It was timely help for families who lost their loved ones.

Thursday, November 15 – Ambon City

About 50 pastors attended the seminar. It was very obvious from the questions asked that these church leaders struggle with the issues of forgiveness and bearing arms for self-defense. The stories and examples from believers in the Suffering Church in other countries certainly made an impact on their lives. Some comments made during the forum session:

“The seminar has blessed me in many ways. The teachings and the different testimonies of the sufferings of Christians around the world have helped me identify with them. It makes us feel we are not alone in this suffering. So this seminar has strengthened and encouraged me to stand strong.”

“I was disappointed with God for the past three years, but your presence and your encouragement has strengthened me.”

“The question is: Will I live for Jesus now? It is more difficult to live for Jesus every day than to die for Him once.”

“The teaching of forgiveness has been a tremendous blessing to me. The reminder of forgiving even those who have deeply hurt us and caused so much destruction has touched my life. I acknowledge that in my heart at times I want to quit forgiving. Yet I know I cannot change what Jesus had commanded us to do and that is to forgive even our enemies. I want to be more committed and put this to practice.”

“This seminars has been more of a reminder, a refresher of the teachings that we know yet we fail to follow. It has refreshed us and made us to re-focus and do what we must do as workers of the Lord. The situation here is of great concern and I hope that as you have shared stories from Christians in different places, you will also share with others what you have seen here in Ambon so they can pray for the church in Ambon.”

One memorable ‘confession’ came from a respected pastor who told the group: “The hardest teaching of this seminar has been the teaching on forgiveness. I is easy to quote Luke 23:34 where Jesus said: ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ but I have told myself, ‘I cannot forgive these Muslims because they ‘knew’ what they were doing! They ‘knew’ what they were doing when they burned my house. They ‘knew’ what they were doing when they murdered my wife. And they ‘knew’ what they were doing when they burned my church! I have been unable to forgive until today. By God’s grace I do forgive them – and will forgive them.”

His comments began a series of conversations at the end of the seminar about “What steps do we take next?” The timing of the seminar was God’s intervention. Friday, November 16 was the beginning of Ramadan – the Muslim holy month of fasting during the daylight hours. It was often a time of increased tensions, rhetoric and inflamed passions. The National leaders want Cunningham and Estabrooks “off the island” Friday morning before Ramadan began. But the Seminar had affected the pastors deeply and they were seeking for wisdom on how to respond. Rev. Eman Santoso, leader of the Indonesian National Prayer Movement was one of our team members. He proposed to the pastors that after we left, they spend the remainder of the day in prayer together. This led to amazing consequences!

After spending the day together “on their knees” before the Lord asking for forgiveness, healing and reconciliation a consensus was achieved to return to their pulpits on Sunday and make this request of their church members: “Stay home for the next three days if you can, go to work if you have to, but set aside this time for prayer and fasting before the Lord. Then like Esther, after you have fasted and prayed for three days, we will go to the leaders of the Muslim community and seek a peace agreement. And again like Esther, we go bound in the Spirit, “and if we perish, we perish.”

The following week the leaders of both the Christian community went to the leaders of the Muslim community and asked the Muslims to forgive them for killing hundreds of Muslims. [Note: The initial response by Christians to the attacking Laskar Jihad was to ‘fight back’. Christians killed Muslims, burned Muslim homes and destroyed mosques “in retaliation” to the Islamic Jihad violence.] Amazingly – in the eyes of the world – the Ambon Muslim leaders accepted the ‘peace apology’ – and reconciliation was achieved.

By Christmas of 2001 a Peace Agreement had been signed, the barb wire roadblocks were down and Christians and Muslims were once again shopping in each others shops.

We were encouraged by the results of the Holy Spirit moving in the hearts of the Pastors to initiate a process of forgiveness and reconciliation. We went to Ambon Island with a sincere desire to encourage the Body of Christ. It happened and to God goes all the glory.

The biblical principles of the SSTS seminar were used by God to change attitudes and perspective towards suffering. Life is more a case of how we ‘respond’ – our character and our attitude – more so than even the ‘evil’ that has happened to us. The leaders came away from the seminar with a determination to endure – by God’s grace – any form of persecution. They saw that worldwide the Church of Jesus Christ is surviving, growing – even flourishing – in the midst of persecution. These brothers and sisters returned to their congregations with a fresh awareness of practical steps Christians may take in crisis situations.

The Bible teaches a lot concerning suffering and persecution – it is part and parcel of the Christian walk. The history of the early Christians in Rome reminds us that even if the situation in Indonesia deteriorates the church can still flourish in the midst of harsher situations. There is no shortcut to holy living. A life lived fully for the Lord is the best guarantee that we will be victorious in times of crisis and exhibit a right attitude towards persecution and suffering.

Many of the Christians on Ambon – as in other regions of persecution – are full of fear for the future. It is a natural response when one’s life is being threatened and hope is diminishing. Christians in regions of persecution need encouragement to be ‘light and salt’ of the community. It’s hard during a time of personal loss and suffering to think of how one can be a model to one’s neighbors of a citizen who loves God, loves his country – and loves his neighbors. When Christ’s love is exhibited in the community it can actually reduce conflict with Muslim neighbors and leaders.

We only have one Enemy – Satan. No Muslim is an enemy. Muslims are in need of knowing Jesus Christ. God is—and God exists. Whether we believe in Him or not fails to negate His existence. We asked a group of Christian believers in Central Asia (from a Muslim background) this question: “What made Christianity so real to you as Muslims that you would risk everything—possibly your life—to become followers of Jesus Christ?” They said: “Jesus is an accepted Muslim prophet! We do not call ourselves ‘Christians’ due to the Islamic view that a ‘Christian’ equals a ‘Crusader.’ In one region virtually all of us became ‘followers of Jesus’ after the civil war in our region. Over 50,000 Muslims died. Muslims were killing Muslims. We saw the ‘true colors’ of Islam. It was the reality of Jesus Christ that made us become His followers. Jesus is an attractive Savior. His life, His teachings and His example are very attractive… He was a real person, living in a real place at a real time in history. As a follower of Jesus we appreciate the following: (Notice the descriptors)

Love—“Jesus teaches love and compassion. We saw that love was real among his followers.”

Forgiveness—“Jesus shows us how to forgive our enemies - feed them, give them water. The testimony of Jesus was real.”

Women & Family—“Jesus held women and children in high esteem. The model of Jesus with women was genuine. Women and children worship Jesus together with men - as a Christian family”

Salvation by Faith—“Jesus is ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Salvation in Christ is by faith alone. Nothing else--no works or rituals or rules or laws can save us… Salvation was a reality for our brothers and sisters.”

Truth—“The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ‘Good News’ because He is The Truth! - and our salvation is based on Truth!”

Liberty—“The Christian ‘atmosphere’ of worship is freedom and liberty. Churches teach the Bible and how to live…”

Worship and Music—“Christians love to sing and worship God with praise and joy!”

These positive principles are a powerful affirmation of the uniqueness—and reality—of Jesus Christ, His teachings and historical, biblical Christianity. Romans 12:21 states: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good…” then they added these words: “In our dialogues with our Muslim friends we affirm what is unique about our Christian faith rather than attacking what we believe is wrong with their worldview!” Amen.

It is regrettable that many Christians have taken two extreme reactions to the violence that has gripped many areas. One reaction is to strike back in retaliatory violence. The other reaction is that of total resignation - simply doing nothing. We can be on the “offensive” – waging peace – not with guns, but with the love of Jesus.

The Church also needs encouragement to stand firm and stand together in unity – and to come to the aid of their fellow Indonesian believers who have been victims of persecution. The Indonesian church is part of the Universal Body of Christ. They will endure if they know others care for them.

HOW CHRISTIANS ON AMBON RESPONDED TO EVIL

This Muslim-Christian conflict in Ambon Island resulted in the death of 1,000’s of Moluccans and the displacement of over 200,000 refugees across the islands. More than 200 churches were destroyed, over 14,000 houses demolished and some 100 schools burned down. Some feared that Christians in the Maluku were on the brink of extinction. Evangelicals in Maluku are a tiny minority. Currently (as well as historically) the majority of Protestants on Ambon Island belong to mainline denominations. When Christians are under attack spiritually and threatened with eradication of their belief that Jesus Christ is ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life’ and that ‘no one comes to the Father—God—except through Him’ they tend to respond according to their theological posture; level of spiritual maturity and readiness of heart. Using reports from Ambon Island as a Case Study let’s first review six ways Christians on Ambon Island did respond to ‘Persecution’ before we compare it to how Christians might respond in another setting. The quotations come from reports received during the fiercest days of the conflict soon after the shipload of some 4,000 “warriors” had disembarked with their artillery, armored vehicles, RPG’s (Rocket-propelled-grenades) and automatic weapons. The local police had small side arms and against such force were virtually unarmed. Many just fled to protect their lives against such force.

FLEE TO ANOTHER ISLAND/CITY/COUNTRY

“…Close to 75 per cent of the Christians in Ambon have now fled from the Island….” Christians in Ambon are pleading with the authorities that if the violence cannot be stopped, they want at least a chance to escape by ship. And this is precisely what the Jihad fighters are aiming for—the departure or the ‘extermination’ of the Christian community from Ambon. Boldly the Jihadists declared they will not stop until all the Christians are forced off the island.

FLEE TO A ‘SAFER’ LOCATION ON THE ISLAND: MILITARY INSTALLATION

“…Hundreds and thousands of refugees meanwhile have congregated in ‘refugee centers’ close to the military installations…” The Christians in Maluku fear that the worst is yet to come. And apart from the threat of being killed, they are running out of food supplies. The prolonged violence has cut most of their food distribution channel, resulting to a shortage of food supplies and other basic necessities.

In one refugee center in Manado, morning services and Sunday school classes are held every Sunday. In addition, prayer meetings are scheduled every morning. While the Sunday services are well attended, only a handful from the over 6,000 Christian refugees (mostly from Ambon) come for the prayer meetings. The coordinator lamented: “Some of the men would rather drink and gamble than attend prayer meetings. This explains why there is a lot of fighting among the Christians here.”

It appears after 300 years of “Christianity” – many on Ambon were only “Christians” in there traditions and heritage.

FLEE TO ‘THE MOUNTAINS’ - HIDE AND WAIT FOR THINGS TO IMPROVE

“…Others have fled to the mountains.” Residents in the island have lost hope in the government and not many are optimistic that peace can be restored in the Maluku. Given the existing enmity between the two communities, observers believe that the coming days will see more bloodshed as both camps vow to avenge the deaths of members of their respective communities.

FIGHT

In northern Maluku, 80 pastors from one denomination fled the area and deserted their flock. Their members were left behind and forced to seek help from a witch doctor. When trouble came, they eventually decided to fight it out with the attackers using hand-made weapons. Some Christian fighters exhibited much boldness in fighting the Muslims believing that supernatural powers and amulets will keep them invincible. Is it right for the Ambonese Christians to resort to arms and kill? It is hard to pass judgment in such a complicated situation. But what is evident is a cycle of revenge, a tit-for-tat retaliation process that only perpetuates the violence. Following the attack on three Christian villages on the island of Saparua, Christians from the villages of Noloth and Ihamamu retaliated by launching an assault on the Islamic village of Iha where 80 people were killed. In neighboring Poso, Central Sulawesi, 140 Christian militias were detained, all accused of killing 200 Muslims during the last incident. The majority of Protestants there took up arms during the violence. In another interview, a pastor from the GKST (mainline) church said: “While the GKST leadership do not support the taking up of arms, they are also not denouncing the use of arms. The believers’ response was a spontaneous reaction. Most do not know how to react to such situations. They will not think twice to defend themselves with weapons that kill. If they didn’t defend themselves, many more would have died in the attack in Poso because the Christians are so much despised by the Muslims.”

Asked what precautions they are taking, a pastor replied:

“First we pray.

Secondly, we watch.

And third, if the attack still happens, the people are prepared to fight. We have nowhere else to go. We are tired of running.”

“We will defend our homes and buildings with our lives” said a leader of the unofficial Christian Soldiers, a group of young men who have vowed to prevent the Muslims from making further incursions into the Christian areas of Ambon City. “The area across the bay from Ambon City is now called ‘Mujadheem Point’ because so many Afghanis were there operating training camps.” Estimates of the number of people killed on Ambon since 1999 go as high as 5,000.

CAPITULATE

Some spiritually capitulate in the face of persecution. They either ‘deny’ their faith in Jesus Christ or ‘exchange’ their faith to become a Muslim or animism. In northern Maluku, (when) 80 pastors from a major denomination recently fled the area and deserted their flock their members were left behind and forced to seek help from a witch doctor.”

ENDURE

While the religious violence has brought much pain and sorrow for many, it has nevertheless brought about a deep spiritual hunger among many of the Ambonese people. Those interviewed were quick to conclude that God must have allowed all these to happen so a purification process can take place. They rejoice that many Ambonese are now getting to know God in a personal way. In some of these displaced congregations, pastors are beginning to realize that they have not been faithful to God and to His calling. Many have now re-committed their lives to God and to His commission to reach the lost for Christ.

One pastor also felt that the attacks in a way have forced some churches to come together in unity and to care for one another. Said one pastor: “Believers in other cities were quick to extend help to those affected by the attacks and were helpful also of refugees in other parts of the country. That truly was a blessing.” In the midst of all the chaos and hardship, the spirit of God is at work. Revival meetings are happening and lives are being changed. This great turning to the Lord made one pastor remark: “This must be the discipline from the Lord. I think the Lord is cleansing the place. Christianity in Indonesia was first established here in the Maluku. But the Christians never lived out their faith.”

One church elder felt there was another message that God imparted to the church during the crisis. He said: “We should not be proud of our big buildings. Maybe God wanted us to be more concerned about our relationship with Him. I had a big house, a big yard and tended to be proud of what I had. I have less now but I’m much closer to God. Before the incident, we were confident. We thought what happened in Java (church burnings) will never happen here. I was wrong.”

RESULTS OF PERSECUTION

Spending Sunday in Ambon gives one an insight into the religious life of the Ambonese people. On weekdays, the city is alive and bustling with cars, pedicabs and mini-buses. Sunday comes and the city suddenly turns quiet. The streets are almost deserted except for groups of families dressed in their best attire, clutching Bibles walking on their way to church. The churches are packed, and just about every block has a church. Hymns can be heard in several corners of the city. The Sabbath was definitely observed in Ambon. In one area, religious paintings in the walls of homes and buildings face the Muslim side of the city. One group had made it a practice to blow their trumpets every morning at the direction of the Muslim sector, believing that the hymns they play will stop the jihad warriors from making further attacks. Stories abound of how God had miraculously protected many churches and their pastors during the attacks. One said: “Our pastor was shot at, and was wounded. But many of the bullets fired at his direction did not penetrate his body because he was wearing his robe. The bullets just fell off to the ground.”

There are signs that the Spirit is at work in the lives of many of His people there. A good number of mainline churches have now begun weekly prayer gatherings in the homes of members - something that was never observed prior to the fighting. We were privileged to have attended one gathering of about a dozen believers who meet almost daily for prayer. More pastors now take their calling seriously and are more open to working side by side with Christians of different denominational persuasion. The situation has certainly made it more conducive for churches to come and work together as a Body.

***

Sunday, April 28 2002 – 4 AM – Ambon City

“Wearing black masks and armed with daggers and homemade bombs, unidentified assailants stormed Soya Village, a Christian neighborhood on Ambon’s outskirts, around 4 AM, setting 30 [Christian] homes and a Protestant Church ablaze. Six were stabbed to death, including a six month old baby. Six others were killed in the fires….”

“The killings came two days after a militant Islamic group, Laskar Jihad, rejected a [permanent] peace plan which was meant to end the …years of fighting between Muslims and Christians that has left 9,000 dead.”

CNN Correspondent Maria Ressa reporting on this story said: “Officials in Southeast Asia have attributed recent violence in Ambon, Indonesia -- where nearly 10,000 people have died in Muslim-Christian conflict since 1999 -- to al Qaeda operatives.

Intelligence officials in Southeast Asia say the clashes between Christians and Muslims on the former 'Spice Islands' are just one of several separatist conflicts fueled by the terror network blamed for the September 11 attacks in the Unites States. Among the others are the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Muslim separatist group in the Philippines, the KMM, a separatist group in Malaysia, Jemaah Islamiya in Singapore and Laskar Jundullah and Laskar Jihad in Indonesia. Singapore's Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng say the group's local ambitions have a commonality that has attracted the attentions of al Qaeda.

"Many of these organizations in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia have had their own origins, their own history, their own records of violence and their own agendas, and yet, they were able to link up with the common cause with Islamic jihad," Wong told CNN. "And somehow, the Al-Qaeda has been able to transmit the kind of sense of jihad to the local groups while enabling the local groups to keep their own agenda in causing problems to their own countries concerned," he said. The separatist groups for their part vehemently deny the charges.Still, investigators say in the early 90s, Muslim fighters from Southeast Asia were sent to Afghanistan for a baptism of fire.

Today, intelligence officials in the region say the training ground is Ambon, Indonesia -- where nearly 10,000 people have died in Muslim-Christian violence since 1999. Officials have begun arresting members of two groups which bring Muslim fighters to Ambon.

In March, a member of Laskar Jundullah was arrested in the Philippines and last week, Indonesia arrested the head of Java-based Laskar Jihad (Holy Warriors). Indonesian authorities have yet to press terrorist charges against Ja'far Umar Thalib, commander of the paramilitary group, and his incarceration has even elicited some government sympathy.

"The Indonesians understand what needs to be done (in regards to Thalib). I think it's a question of when and how and whether they are going to act as soon as possible or whether they are going to wait for the appropriate time," said Wong. Contributing to the mixed messages coming from the Indonesian government, Vice President Hamzah Haz visited the detained commander arrested for inciting violence in the riot-torn Maluku islands. Haz spent one and a half hours with Laskar Jihad group, which has been blamed for fueling sectarian violence in Maluku. Thalib was detained on Saturday in connection with an attack on Christians in Soya village on April 28, which killed 13 people.[endnoteRef:1] [1: http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/05/09/indo.ambon/index.html]

***

Maluku Islands again a violent center of Christian-Muslim wars Compiled by Ted Olsen | posted 04/27/2004

Less than a month ago, journalists were reporting peace in Indonesia's Maluku Islands. "A peace deal signed in 2002 appears to be holding and on the region's main island Ambon, the first tentative steps towards reconciliation are now being taken," reported the BBC's Rachel Harvey.

About a year ago, Christianity Today's Jeff M. Sellers reported the tragic reason for the "peace"—after more than 5,000 people were killed in two years of religious warfare, Muslim extremists had completed their mission. "They're done with religious cleansing there," Freedom House's Paul Marshall said. "There are refugees who have fled, and there are refugees who have been driven out of their villages but are starting to move back."

Last weekend, the religious violence moved back, too. Trouble reportedly began at a parade of some local separatists. "Police arrested people trying to raise the banned flag of a little known and mostly Christian rebel group, the South Maluku Republic Movement, on the anniversary of a failed independence bid 54 years ago," Reuters said.

Violence broke out with six people killed and dozens more injured. Retaliation escalated, and by Tuesday afternoon the official death toll was 31, with 145 injured. "In a particularly telling incident one man, likely a Christian according to local people, was stabbed to death at the Yos Sudarso port in Ambon, as he was trying to escape from a Muslim area," The Jakarta Post reports.

The paper says that clashes "finally began to tail off" yesterday: "Ambon was a ghost town as night fell, as the hundreds of police paramilitary reinforcements were deployed to the troubled city to prevent the conflict from escalating."

United Nations employee Olin Tutamahu told the AFP news agency, "We seem to have gone instantly back to the same conditions as at the beginning of the conflict in 1999. The Christians remain in their sector and the Muslims remain in theirs."

"It's still tense in some spots, but less so than yesterday," police spokesman Endro Prasetyo told Reuters. "We can hear gunfire but it's not often."

Still, the paramilitaries' presence does not mean peace has returned to the area. Australian media are reporting that hardline Muslim leaders in Jakarta have promised to send "7,000 Islamic warriors" to move the clash into the next phase.

"The clash in Ambon that erupted last Sunday has the potential to be used by certain groups to provoke the people of Ambon into becoming involved in a prolonged conflict like that in 1999," Natan Setiabudi, chairman of the Indonesian Communion of Churches, told The Jakarta Post. He also said that Christians in Ambon don't support the South Maluku Republic Movement. Unfortunately, the Muslim extremists who torched local Christians homes and schools (including the Indonesian Christian university) don't seem to care

***

December 21, 2004 – Ambon City

Ambon Widow Says ‘Thanks’ for Support from Open Doors

Today Egi Latupapua supports herself and her two young daughters by selling rujak, a spicy fruit dish, at famous Natsepa beach on Ambon island in the Malukus. Three-year-old Keisya accompanies her mother to work every day, while eight-year-old Tasya goes to her third grade class at the local government’s primary school. Egi is still living with her mother in Natsepa.

Three years ago the family was in a far different situation. In Ambon on November 13, 2001, a boat carrying Christians was chased and fired upon by Muslims on board another speedboat. Three died in this incident, including Jacob Latapapua, Egi’s husband. Jacob was only 27 years old.

The grieving widow was left alone with her two children, five-month-old Keisya and three-year-old Tasya, struggling to survive.

Open Doors was conducting a seminar in Ambon at the time of the incident. They visited Egi, consoling her through prayer and financial support. Shortly afterwards, Open Doors told her story and many supporters sent her encouraging notes. Open Doors also provided her money to help her start her fruit business.

(See SEA Development Brief, Vol. 7 #1; February 2002, Prisoners/Trauma Victims: Indonesia: “Open Doors Shares a Widow’s Sorrow”)

Recently, Egi spoke with Open Doors. She wanted to relay the following message to those who have remembered her with their cards and prayers:

“Thank you so much for having written me and my daughters words of encouragement through your many cards and letters. I am very grateful for every one of them; that’s why I keep them all in boxes at home. Please forgive me for not writing you all back. I don’t write anything in English. I have some help in translating all the letters that I had received which I appreciate very much. Thank you again and God bless you.”

***Photographs of Egi Latupapua at her fruit stand in Natsepa beach, Ambon island, in November, 2004, are attached. One photo shows her two daughters with her.

APPLICATION TO THE SPIRITUAL ATTACK IN THE WEST

Radical followers of the ‘Unholy’ Trinity of ‘Secular-Humanism-Postmodernism-New-Age’ have declared an ‘Spiritual Jihad’ – in general against Christians – but more specifically against Christian leaders. Lest one thinks this an overstatement, recall the specific ‘battle phrases’ sounded in the Humanist Magazine

· “I am convinced that the battle for humankind’s future (the mind) must be waged (and won) in the public school classroom...”

· “The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict...”

· “It will undoubtedly be a long, arduous, painful struggle...”

Who is united in this ‘International Spiritual Jihad’ against Christians’?

Secular humanism: A philosophy holding the position that neither God nor the supernatural exist. Humans can become good using reason and science as a valuable way to discover truth. It failed in Nazi Germany/Italy during the Second World War. It failed after a disastrous 70 year experiment in the Soviet Union. And it was buried with Mao in China on June 4, 1989 in Tiananmen Square. Secular-Humanism does not work. It will not triumph. Followers of secular-humanism fail to realize that as Pascal said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in every man’s heart.” Humans want ‘to know’ God.

Postmodernism: A reaction to dehumanizing modernism that made man an animal without a soul worshipping science/technology as god. Postmodernism elevates both personal experience and global interdependency at the same time—biological, psychological, social, and environmental phenomena are all interdependent. It uses Eastern mysticism (yin and yang) to illustrate the interconnectedness of the body, mind and the spirit to produce a holistic person and a holistic view of the world—reflecting a combination of Idealism and New Age. The goal is to change human nature resulting in compassion, nonviolent forms of conflict resolution, equal relationships and ecological sustainability. This harmonized approach sees no separation between facts, meaning and value for everything on earth is interrelated.

New Age: A philosophical mixture of pagan religions—Eastern mysticism, meditation, witchcraft, occult and Hinduism—the faith of choice in both Hollywood and ‘Bollywood’ [endnoteRef:2]—with evolutionary science and global politics, to achieve a new era of global consciousness leading towards a New World Order of global peace and global government under one world leader. [2: The name is a combination of Bombay, the English name for Mumbai, and Hollywood, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollywood#.22Dialogues.22_and_lyric ]

These three in essence are the controlling powers in North American society today. They have taken over the Departments of Education in virtually every university. Textbook authors ‘submit’ to their philosophical strategies. Governments grovel at their feet. Even Hollywood adjusts its productions to satisfy the insatiable demands of this dominant ‘pseudo-academic-religion.’

Fundamentalist Secular-Humanists—are at War with Christians—for dominance, not tolerance!

They have all the academic zeal and passion of a jihad-warrior. Sheldon Chumir maintains, “The public schools were designed to mix children of different ethnic and religious groups—and eliminate those differences.” Perhaps Chumir is echoing the battle cry of John Dewey: “In humanism are all the elements of Religious faith that shall not be confined to sect, class or race. Such a faith has always been implicitly the common faith of mankind. It remains [for Secular-Humanism] to make it explicit and militant.” (Italics in original). [endnoteRef:3] [3: John Dewey, A Common Faith p37.]

The tactics in this ‘spiritual-jihad’ are designed to be intimidating—and if necessary—violent. Iain Benson writes: “’Pro-choice/abortion’ activists and ‘same-sex’ activists are using the same sort of tactics to shut down dissenters on campus. What do they have in common, leading them to act in tandem? Quite a bit, actually. In the first place it is increasingly clear that such attacking groups do not understand and respect civil society. They think, as evidenced by their conduct over many years, that they alone are the holders of the truth that all men and women will eventually adopt. They will, by banning discussion, simply be part of the necessary evolution to the truth they understand and others must learn. The beliefs of others must be suppressed and their own beliefs firmly established. Viewed in light of such convictions and tactics, these pro-choice and gay/lesbian groups have much in common with the Taliban.” [endnoteRef:4] [Italics added]. [4: Iain Benson, University Free speech, Ivory Towers and the New Sectarianism, Centre for Cultural Renewal, Ottawa, Canada, December 8, 2006, www.culturalrenewal.ca ]

Benson continues, “The University [or any academic institution] should offer a watchtower over the surrounding culture from which its inhabitants can note and analyze what is going on in that culture, on some occasions sounding warnings based upon that analysis. When a public university becomes seized by a particular orthodoxy [secular-humanism] that it then attempts to force on all students and staff or on the surrounding culture, it loses its birthright; it ceases to be what is needed and will, as a result, like Babel, collapse in a sea of confusion. The many voices of open debate, paradoxically, keep the language of the tower on track and its cultural role secure. “On November 29, 2006, an Ottawa Radio Station, CFR 580, held a poll on whether Carleton University (Ottawa) should restrict the activities of pro-life groups on campus. Someone there has brought a motion before a senior Carleton University body to do just that. Here is how the poll turned out.

No, it's an issue of freedom of speech

76.6%

Yes, it's a matter of protecting women's rights

22.6%

Other (email mornings@cfra.com)

0.72%

Total Votes: 1374

“As far as the voters had it, then, the answer is quite clear. We might well ask, though, what Carleton is doing even considering restricting “pro-life groups” or trying to have a university-wide “pro-abortion” policy. When the vote was held, the vote was 26 – 5 in favor of excluding the “pro-life” group. The National Post of December 7, 2006 quoted a law Professor, one Martha Jackson from the University of Ottawa as saying: this is a case where it is not a radical position on the part of the student government to decide that between freedom of expression for anti-abortion groups and respect for reproductive autonomy and equality rights of women we come down on the side of women’s equality rights. (p.p. A1, A10).” [endnoteRef:5] [5: ibid]

In the same manner that fanatical-Jihadist leaders like Iran’s President Ahmadinejad [sometimes pronounced: ‘Ah-mad-in-jaw’] can make bizarre unchallenged statements—“Israel will be wiped from the face of the Earth”—so Secular-Humanist activists like Canada’s law Professor Martha Jackson, can blatantly proclaim—“protecting women’s rights is a higher value than freedom of speech.” Over 45,000 Canadian military personnel gave their lives in WW2—their ‘supreme sacrifice’—so Ms Jackson has the freedom—and the right—to make such outlandish statements. Jim’s 91 year old father who served Canada with the Second Army in Europe—to help guarantee her ‘right’ would have a word for Ms Jackson’s tirade—‘Horse-feathers’!

This ‘new war’ is not against atheistic Communism or Shiite Muslims—but rather secularists—self-made fanatics—in love with their creator! Benson summarizes the militancy of their thinking and actions when he says, “In this new world, groups that are ‘anti-religion’ or ‘anti-traditional religious views’ have no trouble obtaining funding; it is usually members of these groups or the groups themselves that challenge their opponents in this way once they have a place at the table. Their game is dominance, not cooperation.” [endnoteRef:6] [Italics added] [6: ibid]

Commenting on the anti-Christian bias on university campuses one editorialist writes: “Tolerance is, or rather should be, a street in which the traffic flows in two directions. Universities are establishments in which ideas are supposed to be incubated and exchanged, championed and challenged. A student union should be a forum in which that philosophical debate takes place and not a body that takes it upon itself to determine which arguments are acceptable or sufficiently ‘right’ to be allowed an audience. A blinkered secularism is no better than theological dogmatism.” [endnoteRef:7] Goals like Inculcate, Inform, Inspire—and Actions like—Encourage, Stimulate, Challenge—are a challenge for Adult Educators in a society that increasingly rejects the ‘fact’ that over 33% of the population on New Earth Island—are Christians. Keep reminding those we teach—and ourselves when we look in the mirror every morning—“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Accept that we as Christians are in a war—a religious war—against non-religious faith movements. It sounds absurd but in many aspects, fundamentalist-secularism, presents one of the greatest threats to our freedom as Christians. [7: Religion on campus: A secular society that demands tolerance should also show tolerance; Editorial, The Times, 18 November 2006, Ed.1WC, p.25.]

He that believes least must give way to him that believes absolutely nothing,

Over 100 years ago, in 1887, A.A. Hodge predicted this struggle. He wrote: “The tendency is to hold that this system [the state controlled public school system] must be altogether secular. The atheistic doctrine is gaining currency even among professed Christians…that an education provided by the common government should be entirely emptied of all religious character…it is capable of exact demonstration that if every part in the State has the right of excluding from the public schools whatever he does not believe to be true, then he that believes most must give way to him that believes least, and then he that believes least must give way to him that believes absolutely nothing, no matter in how small a minority the atheists or the agnostics may be. It is self-evident that on this scheme, if it is consistently and persistently carried out in all parts of the country, the United States’ [and Canada’s] system of national popular education will be the most efficient and widespread instrument for the propagation of Atheism which the world has ever seen.” [endnoteRef:8] [8: Rushdooney, p.135.]

“You are either with us—or against us—President Bush said when addressing the Congress after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack against the World Trade Center towers in New York. In the academic ‘Battle for the Mind’ the choice is equally clear. Jesus of Nazareth said it this way: “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Luke 16:13) The principle is straightforward: We are at war—not against flesh and blood—“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). How do we respond? Let’s consider six parallel options—very similar to how the Christians on Ambon Island faced persecution from the Islamic Jihad. They are:

FLEE TO ANOTHER ISLAND/CITY/COUNTRY

Flee the government controlled—fundamentalist-secular—state-funded public school system and

Go to a Church-based private Christian school.

FLEE TO A ‘SAFER’ LOCATION ON NEW EARTH ISLAND

Flee the government controlled—fundamentalist-secular—state-funded public school system and

Go to a trusted Private School—with common values.

FLEE TO ‘THE MOUNTAINS’ - HIDE AND WAIT FOR THINGS TO IMPROVE

Flee the government controlled—fundamentalist-secular—state-funded public school system and

Home School your own children.

FIGHT

Stay in the government controlled—fundamentalist-secular—state-funded public school system and

Fight boldly and vocally for changes in philosophy and curriculum to make the system more tolerant of Christianity.

CAPITULATE

Give up: ‘Whatever’ - just ‘go-with-the-flow’ in the government controlled—fundamentalist-secular—state-funded public school system and - and ‘Shhhhh—say nothing—just keep silent.’

ENDURE

Stay in the government controlled—fundamentalist-secular—state-funded public school system and

Be a wise, positive ‘secret’ witness for Jesus Christ.

Support for the thesis that we are up against an ‘Spiritual-Jihad’ comes from none other than National POST columnist Elizabeth Nickson, [October 26, 2001] who in writing, “Let’s shatter the terrorist hothouse” says the following: “It is possible to make the argument that all of us in Canada are upper middle class. Even our $547-billion federal debt is a rich-kid debt, run up on the prospects still buried in our vast frozen wilderness. Even those recent immigrants, who are financially uncertain today, can count, with some confidence, on the fact that their children, given application will do much better than they. This good fortune of ours has this result: We believe we are privileged and that somehow our intelligence and probity have bought us this place in the world, rather than the good sense of our ancestors to emigrate here, or the luck of birth. And that gives rise to the ruinous fantasies of our intellectual elites. Fantasies that are no more or less than a soft totalitarianism…."We know what's best and will impose our thinking on everyone else. Principle is not important, control is. Sooner or later, this crypto-fascism -- Islamic or Western -- will be traced to the places from which it arose, our universities. The revolutionary theorists we hire to teach our children, and who eat up vast quantities of our cash, must be held to account. What are they teaching our kids, what is the future they see, and why are we paying for it, when their ultimate goal is to bring down our culture? We do not tolerate academics teaching neo-Nazism. How much did this poison, operating in the heart of our culture, contribute to our current state? The language they use, the assumptions that they make must be criticized, must be laid bare so we can see what underpins the thinking. This is not censorship, it is engagement. If we do not so engage, the ruinous fantasies of those to whom we entrust our greatest treasure, our brightest children, will bring our civilization down. Certainly that is, on the evidence of their writings in the humanities at least, their goal.” [endnoteRef:9] (Italics added) [9: Elizabeth Nickson, Let’s shatter the terrorist hothouse, National POST, October 26, 2001.]

“You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you Free” is the Scripture carved into the cornerstone of many early universities. Integrated Educators accepted the Word of God as Absolute Truth. The New Testament Church is governed by overseers – called Elders – who are assigned authority to manage a local assembly of Christians. The primary role or task of the Christian Elder is – Teaching. “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money...” (1Timothy 3:1-3). “Able to teach” is what he is ‘to do’ and ‘to know.’ Virtually all remaining qualifications (over twenty listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1) relate to an Elder’s ‘character’ qualities – what he is ‘to be.’

The above list of biblical character qualifications for an Elder—when applied to an Integrated Educator—has three implications:

To Inculcate – Encourage Learners to have a hunger and thirst to develop these character qualities;

To Inform – Create a climate of acceptance to boldly search for Truth in all subjects.

To Inspire – Motivate Learners to apply that good and acceptable and perfect blueprint of Truth in their relationships with others—to become agents (ministers) of reconciliation in a world of conflict.

Persecution?

“Tell Christians: Don’t say

‘It will never happen here’.”

- Indonesian Pastor, Ambon City, Nov. 2001

5,000+ killed on Ambon Island after Christians (60%) and Muslims (40%) lived in harmony -- for over 300 years!

****************

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1.    Pray for over 20,000,000 Indonesian Christians who live day-to-day under the threat of Islamic Jihad terrorists over running their communities and driving them into the bush - or killing them outright. May they be granted boldness, love, wisdom and discernment to 'redeem the time - for the days are evil.'

2. Pray for North American Indonesian Christians who have relatives living in Indonesia. Pray they may be able to lead Indonesians living in North America to faith in Jesus Christ.

2.    Pray for ministries that serve the Persecuted Church in Indonesia like Open Doors (and many others) to use their resources, gifts and time to the maximum glory of Jesus Christ.

(Persecution?“Tell North Americans: Don’t say‘It will never happen here’.”- Indonesian Pastor, Ambon City, Nov. 2001(5,000+ killed on Ambon Island after Christians (60%) and Muslims (40%) lived together in harmony -- for over 300 years!)

ENDNOTES

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