Actions, decisions, and especially conflicts have consequences. Some are subtle. Some are dramatic. One of the most longstanding points of tension in human history is the conflict between Sarah and Hagar over their sons: Ismael and Isaac. Ismael was the son of Abraham (with Hagar). Isaac was the “child of Promise,” born to Sarah and Abraham. From Ishmael comes the line that is currently identified as Muslim. From Isaac, the Jewish and Christian line proceeds. With Hagar and Ishmael being banished by Sarah, there was “bad blood,” which still exists today among many.
The clicking sound that history is currently recording is the sound of consequences—dominos falling and hitting the next one that hits the next one in turn. While the details are of course different in each nation, the heart of the problem is the same and it is as old as the Book of Judges. When people turn from the Lord their circumstances go to pot. Eventually, when circumstances get bad enough, people cry out to the Lord. We are still in the part where things are getting worse.
Another longstanding conflict is the one following the death of Muhammad. There was a great divide over who would succeed him. For those who have come to be known as Shiites (or Shia), their succession plan was for leadership to stay with family of Muhammad after his death in 632.
The other group, called Sunni’s, wanted the community to choose leaders.
Initially, Sunni’s prevailed and selected the first Caliph. In the ensuing years, four caliphs were murdered. Ali, the cousin of Muhammad (and his son-in-law), eventually became the fourth Caliph.
Tensions surrounded not only who would carry succession, but also what the role of the leaders/Imams would be. A great focal point of tension rose out of the Shiite emphasis on the role of the Imams. Shiites venerate the Imams. Many Sunni’s believe that the Shiites have gone overboard even to the point of attributing almost divine characteristics to Imams.
The tensions continued for centuries. In the 10th century, the 12th Shiite Imam disappeared. Shiites believe that God hid him and that he will return as the Messiah who will establish the full meaning of the Qur’an. Their teaching is that an Islamic messiah would arrive with war and devastation.
By the time the 16th century came along, the focus of Shite teaching was Persia (what we now know as Iran). Shiites centered around Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey).
Conflict has ebbed and flowed for centuries. Over recent decades, it has even boiled over in such things as the Iran-Iraq war. While virtually all Muslims would have a perspective of missionary zeal to bring the world into submission under Islam, there are many who view Muslims from the opposing faction with distain, even violence.
Al Qaeda emerged as one of the most extreme Sunni factions, working to impose a Caliphate that stretched across the globe. Subsequently, a youth movement from Somalia named al Shabaab emerged, and another group sought to capitalize on the insurrections in the Arab world to impose Sharia Law. In Syria, they took the name Islamic State In Syria and began to rise in power through vicious violence. ISIS in Syria has been slaughtering Christians by the thousands. Some communities, filled with Christians for years, have been emptied through flight or death. ISIS has grown and attracted tremendous financial resources through robbery and intimidation. Photos of the column of ISIS troops moving across Iraq show hundreds of brand new vehicles and well equipped troops. As Mosul fell, a fortune was garnered from taking over banks, increasing the cash resources of ISIS.
Before US forces left Iraq, a credible army had been formed. Sadly, Noori al Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, sacked virtually all the senior military officers in order to put his Shiite officers in place. While they were politically cronies of the Prime Minister, they did not have the military skills necessary to rally the troops or to repel the Sunni insurgency that rolled in from Syria as ISIS expanded their reach. ISIS has so expanded their reach that they have changed their name. Now it is the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and controls much of the North and Western parts of Iraq as well as whole areas of Syria. Inexperienced officers are fleeing the conflict leaving troops were in disarray. A relatively small force of about 3,500 has been able to cross Iraq at breakneck speed capturing land and killing soldiers, police, and Christians. ISIS is known for crucifying even Muslims who they deem to be too moderate, nailing them to crosses.
Right now, the ISIS column is only about 70 miles north of Baghdad. If Iraqi and allied forces are not able to rally and stop them, the consequences will be more disastrous than can be imagined. While it is horrific to have brutal fanatics controlling significant areas of territory, an oil rich nation that comes under their control would be like an artesian well of terror, gathering and deploying the worst of the worst. No Christians could survive an ISIS regime.
The ISIS conflict in Iraq is terrible. It is appalling that huge costs have been expended in human blood and suffering and evil may—at least for a season—triumph.
In Africa, on the Kenyan coast, al Shabaab has struck again. Sunday night, armed gunmen went on a five hour shooting rampage executing any men who could not recite verses from the Qur’an. It is small comfort that they seem to have spared women and children as nearly fifty men were killed.
Sadly, these types of attacks are almost impossible to defend against and will likely occur again. Christians are directly targeted. Moderate Shiites are under attack as well. Our brothers and sisters need our prayers and support. This Sunni on Shiite violence is producing a more radical Islam which is not only well equipped, but also moving in on oil resources that would provide unlimited money for terror.
Please pray for the efforts of the evil one to be overturned. We could be on the brink of things being more terrible than we have ever imagined.
Bishop Bill Atwood is Bishop of the International Diocese of the ACNA and a contributing author to the American Anglican Council.
