Thorns in the Flesh and Pains in the Butt

Pastor Craig spoke from 2 Cor. 12: 2-7 yesterday in church regarding Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” and how the Grace of Jesus Christ is sufficient for all things. The Bible mentions only one thorn in the flesh for Paul and we don’t know what that ailment or predicament happened to be. As a Christian I know of the sufficiency of grace but I am still too wrapped up in the world to give all of my thorns up. I just seem to want to pick at them.

This is where the conversation turns to pains in the butt. Iran is a pain in the butt. A lot of us will tune in to watch the last presidential debate and the topic of Iran will rear its’ ugly head. I would be shocked and amazed if either of the two contestants brings up religion in the conversation. The talk will probably center on economic sanctions, oil blockades, whether to support Iranian dissidents, or military threats.

The issue is religion or more specifically, Islam. American presidents and diplomats have a hard time dealing with people who actively follow and adhere to the tenants of their religion. The reason is simple. In this case people who are religious have a belief that this world is not as important as the next one and our political leaders respond with solutions that are only important in this world.

And this is where the pain comes in; the Islamic leaders in Iran would just as soon initiate total chaos as have peace. Reza Kahlili is a pseudonym for a CIA operative who for eight years was a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. He has supplied the United States and other Western nations glimpses into the thought processes of the mullahs who lead Iran. (here) Kahlili paints a portrait of a religious group that cares not for the deaths of their own people, much less the deaths of non-Islamic people as long as the twelfth imam returns and establishes the next caliphate.

So tonight, when the subject of Iran is broached, listen to their answers and then relate those answers to a group of people who seek catastrophe.  Iran is a thorn in the flesh for the United States but I know Who had the sufficient grace for the problem and the country.