QUOTE:

Though al-Qaeda could destroy, however, it could not build. In its unwillingness and inability to offer anything resembling a constructive vision for change, al-Qaeda gradually descended back into irrelevance.

from: "Al-Queda losing relevance" by Shadi Hamid, USA Today, Wednesday, May 4, 2011

COMMENTARY:

Destruction has its uses.

It is powerful; it can accomplish powerful goals. As church communicators we need to be aware of its power, but at the same time be very careful how, or if we ever use it.

Fear of destruction accomplished a lot for me. I confess, I was scared into becoming a Christian. My mother read Bible stories to my sister and me every night and I loved them, but what really pushed me over the line was I didn't want to go to hell. Our preacher at church convinced me that hell and eternal destruction was the fate of the unsaved.

When I found out that Jesus made it possible for me to go to heaven when I died and not hell and destruction, I wanted that. I asked Jesus to come into my life. [Read more...]