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Jihad: The Story of Jihad Against Israel

The true Jihad (Holy war) is a call to fight against the evil within us. Taking innocent lives is not Jihad; it is an act of cowardice that goes against its true spirit. Therefore, Muslims may consider reflecting on interpretations of Jihad and strive to serve all humans. “God will never want to kill all the Jews just because they are Jews.” In Mohammad's time, certain Jewish individuals had conflicts with him. In my view, any commands at that time were specific to those circumstances, not a directive for today. Reflecting on this may provide perspective on contemporary events and encourage thoughtful consideration about supporting Jihadi groups. Those who support the radical versions of Jihad need to rethink their actions. They are doing exactly what Hitler did many years ago. We must try not to become like Hitler.   Some groups –Hamas, Houthis, and Hezbollah– interpret Muhammad's teachings literally and have engaged in ongoing conflict with Israel.  Th...
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Doing all for God’s Glory: Why is doing everything gratefully devoted to the Lord a more practical and just way than renouncing the fruits of all actions? (Col 3 and Gita 12)

Paul commands people to do everything as if they are doing it for the Lord (Col 3:23-24). N.T. Wright calls it "building for God's Kingdom." If we do everything for the Lord and in the Lord’s name, desiring our rewards from the Lord alone, we will not do evil or injustice. For it is not possible to do wickedness in the name of a Holy God. Besides, we will be grateful to God for the rewards. Similarly, Krishna tells Arjuna to fix his mind on him, renounce his actions to him, regarding him as his Supreme goal with exclusive devotion (Gita 12:6). If he cannot fix his mind on the Lord, he must practice it constantly (12:9). Otherwise, he must perform actions for Krishna's sake (12:10). If he cannot do even this, then he must renounce the fruits of all his actions taking refuge in him (12:11). Renouncing the fruits of actions seems interesting option.   However, when people interpret renouncing the fruits of action as renouncing all desire for result...
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The Deceived Hindu Voter of Kozhikode South

Like Sheep Led to Slaughter Houses (left and right) are Kozhikode's Hindu and Christian Voters. We have nothing to do with JINNAH'S Muslim Leagues' (IUML and INL) agendas of Islamic Sovereignty (Shariat) or Safety (Khairiyat). Why should our Gandhian Congress and Marxian Communist leaders lead us to vote for Jinnah's Islamic State ideology that we dislike, reject, and sometimes hate? Why don't the secular UDF and LDF field proper Congress or Communist candidates instead of indulging in Communal Politics in broad daylight? Why do they mislead us to vote for an ideology we have nothing to do with? Therefore, wake up, you sleeper and vote for the NDA's Vikasita Keralam candidate.  Kozhikode South: Total Voters: 1,50,000+, Hindu population: 60 percent (90,000). Still, out of the four candidates, three are Muslim candidates from Muslim communal parties, and not secular parties. The Communist parties (CPI or CPM) have no candidate. The Congress part...
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The Purpose of my Ministry: to see the world through their eyes and feel as they feel, an example from Gita 12

  The purpose of my ministry is not to declare that we know your worldview (although it helps) and what it has to offer, but to genuinely see the world through their eyes to truly understand what agitates, inspires, or calms them—to feel as they feel. For example, in Gita 12, Krishna speaks of an ideal Devotee who treats both the foe and the friend equally. Those of us who view the text from a Western or Christian perspective might immediately ask: then, why did Krishna recommend Arjuna to participate in the war? Our question, shaped by our values, makes sense from how we perceive justice and peace in today's world.   Even so, the text is not written to answer this Western-oriented question. Instead, the text asks Arjuna a different question. If we look at the undergirding philosophical framework, we would see that in Krishna-Arjuna's worldview, doing one's duty honorably is the main concern. They define Dharma or righteousness as doing one's duty ...
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The Call Narratives: Purpose, Mission, and Provision (John 1:35-51; John 21, Exodus 3, Isaiah 6)

Jesus appeared to Peter three times after the resurrection, anointed him, and sent him to be his witness (John 20-21). Still, Peter couldn't grasp the message. That's why Jesus asked him three times whether he loved Jesus and his Kingdom more than fishing. If he truly did, Peter wouldn't be bothering about fishing. Instead, he would be feeding and caring for Jesus' flock by giving them bread, which signifies God's word. Some scholars have wrongly connected Jesus' questions to Peter with Peter's denial. There is a connection between the denials and approvals, but it is not about three curses being overcome by three blessed confessions. Rather, it is a literary connection where three denotes some form of perfection. Peter denied Jesus perfectly, and Jesus perfectly made him confess his lack of love for Jesus. In the context of John 21, Jesus' conversation with Peter must be seen as an extended "call narrative." Jesus is surpr...
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A Father to the Fatherless is God, the Almighty

Father.   Father is a figure we all need. Many of us consider our father as our hero or our guide. My daughter used to say, "Dad. I love you because you listen to me." I used to praise my father for his sacrificial love for his younger brothers and for how he denied himself to raise them up to be successful humans. He came to Kerala 60 years ago. At that time, he didn't know Malayalam or Malayalis. His wife still struggles to buy groceries from a Malayali shop. Still, they managed. Despite a lack of education, money, and people of their own tribe, Papa built a successful business and took good care of his children and extended family. Even so, no one can be right or great in every matter. After my conversion to Jesus Christ, he was extremely angry with me and cast me out of his house for a brief time. Papa suffered a bad name in his society because of me. When I left, I was left with nothing but God.   Even now, some of my relatives find it chal...
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God’s Unique Identity and our Unique Identity in Him

God made Moses like a God to the Pharaoh and a Prophet to Israel. God had to say, "I AM" who I am, because the Pharaohs of this world compared him to the sun, the moon, the stars, and even reptiles of this fallen world. God felt so insulted, perhaps, that when he introduced himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he needed to tell Moses not to get confused by worldly comparisons. He is of 'a' kind; He is unique; He is who He is! Likewise, God made Moses unique to the Israelites when he said, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1).”   Similarly, Jesus, the prophet like Moses, the shepherd King like David, and Yahweh personified as the Shepherd and Savior of Israel had to remind his disciples, "I AM the Good Shepherd" (John 10:1) lest they get lost in details by comparing him with Moses, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, and John the Baptist. Jesus is who he is! He is unique, the unique Son of God = the Royal Davidic...
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