I think this is a serious, legitimate undertaking by a Christian group in Colorado to get people to sponsor terrorists through prayer.
If you represent this organization, please contact me so that I can give you a fair chance to explain what you think you can accomplish by getting people to pray for Abu Yahya al-Libi and friends.
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They sell trinkets??
Hi, Jarret:
Praying for one’s enemies is a legitimate Christian behavior, mandated by Jesus in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:43-44):
As far as I know, the selling of trinkets doesn’t have much of a Scriptural mandate, and indeed the incident in which Christ “drives the money-changers from the Temple” could be viewed as arguing against it, but that’s a fairly loose analogy, & would be subject to dispute.
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As to where the Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer site is coming from — according to a report on CNN’s religion blog, the site is run by a former military chaplain named Thomas Bruce — WND describes him as a “former reserve chaplain”.
Bruce himself discusses the motivation behind the ATFP site in the CNN piece:
And the WND piece quotes the website:
If you want to hear more from their side, you could reach them for further information using their own contact-page.
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From an analytical standpoint, what’s most interesting in all this is the mention of “spiritual warfare”.
The idea is certainly found in Ephesians 6:12 (“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”) and has given rise to such notable literature as The Spiritual Combat of Dom Lorenzo Scupoli (1589) and its Orthodox adoption by Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (Greek) and Theophan the Recluse (Russian).
In more recent Protestant circles, it is associated with C Peter Wagner, the ex-Fuller Seminary professor whose New Apostolic Reformation has been the subject of recent controversy in the wake of Rick Perry‘s prayer marathon, “The Response”.
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Relevant readings:
Gregory Boyd, God at War: The Bible & Spiritual Conflict
Ed Murphy, The Handbook of Spiritual Warfare
I think the best way to end “Islamic terrorism” is to convince Muslims that Muhammad was just another man and the Quran is just another book. If prayer can help Muslims reach that conclusion, more power to prayer.
The trinkets are not for profit. Believe me, there’s no profit in it at all. The are to help people spread the idea among their family and friends. Feel free to contact me through the form on the web site if you have any further questions.