“Pope Francis Washes Refugees’ Feet in Holy Week Rite”, “Easter Attack in Pakistan Kills Dozens”, “After Islamic State Onslaught, Some Syrian Sites Still Stand”, “Bosnian Serb Convicted of Genocide”. These are just some of the headlines from this last week (thank you Wall Street Journal). What are we to make of all this? How does one think-biblically about the mix of religious traditions, some inspiring hope and humility others unleashing unimaginable horrors and terror? Does the Bible have any relevance in this modern day kingdom of madness?

Let’s start with those who claim to follow Jesus. The Pope’s Easter rite of washing feet, on the surface, appears to be a genuine example of humility and love. And perhaps it is. He washed and kissed the feet of migrants – refugees – spanning the religious spectrum of Christians, Hindus and Muslims. That alone would have been a tremendous testimony opening the door for him to share the gospel. Unfortunately, he not only short-circuited any such opportunity he completely contradicted the gospel message declaring that all three groups were children of the same God. His belief isn’t that we are all created by God in his image, but rather that all these religions equally lead to salvation and eternity with God.

For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. – John 3.16-18

The Pope’s message is hard enough to stomach, but this week Radovan Karadzic, a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church (similar to the Catholic Church only in eastern Europe) was convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. His victims were Muslim men, around 8,000 of them, and many civilian women and children. His murderous schemes were responsible for more deaths than any other regime since World War II. How can someone who supposedly followed the teachings of Jesus, who never struck out against anyone – including those who intended to kill him – commit such atrocities? No one could. Clearly his faith was not in Jesus but in his own ideology. It is important for Christians everywhere to denounce this man and his actions.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. – Ephesians 6.12

It was a sad week for Christians around the globe but not just because of the evil behavior and message of those who claim to serve the cross of Christ, but for the dozens killed in an Easter attack in Pakistan. A park noted to be a favorite for Easter celebrations in Islamabad was targeted by a suicide bomber, killing 65 and injuring hundreds more including women and children. The park was a soft target, intended to kill citizens rather than military personnel. The bomber triggered himself near a children’s playground. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, a group with known ties to al-Qaeda. To some it may seem hypocritical to decry the attack in light of the conviction of Karadzic, but this is hardly the case as Christians denounce both acts of violence.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Stumbling blocks are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. – Luke 17.1-2

Christians can prove through the Bible that the actions of Karadzic are opposite of the teachings of Judaism and Christianity; but the actions of jihadists are in fact representative of the teachings of the Quran. Christianity is in fact a religion of peace (teaching peace with God and, in so far as it is possible, with the rest of the world. Yet the Quran instructs followers of the Prophet to “Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war.” Think that is just on verse, perhaps taken out of context? Think on this verse: “Fight those who believe not in Allah.” There is plenty more where those two come from. As for the charge that it is taken out of context, we need only look to the authorities of Islam for reproof. The community of Sheik’s testify that this is proper teaching.

This is not to say that there are not millions of Muslim’s who are peaceful, people who would never think to commit an act of terror. Ask them about jihad, however, and they will claim to be incompetent in discerning the will of Allah. For that one should look to the authorities, the same authorities who give credence to terrorist activity. The truth is, Islam has never been about peace. Muhamad warred against Christian’s demonstrating a clear obedience to the doctrines he taught. If nothing he was consistent, at least in the last decade of his life. He was the very antithesis of Jesus, and even the Old Testament prophets with perhaps the exception of Jonah (which may explain why Islam has such high reverence for the wayward prophet).

In the end, the Bible still offers the only hope for mankind. Tomorrow we’ll see why.