A legendary missionary who smuggled Bibles behind the Iron Curtain is calling on Christians worldwide to join the “good jihad” for the souls of Muslims in the Middle East and in other Islamic nations.
Though the term jihad carries a negative connotation – especially after the 9/11 attacks and current events around the world involving Muslim extremists - Christians have a biblical mandate to wage a “good jihad,” according to Brother Andrew, the founder of the international ministry Open Doors.
“It is literally quoting from the Bible because Paul said, ‘I fought the good fight’ and in the Arab Bible it says, ‘I fought the good jihad,’” said Brother Andrew during a recent interview with The Christian Post.
Brother Andrew explained that there are two types of Islamic jihads. The real jihad, according to most Muslims, is a spiritual battle with the heart to follow the decrees of Allah and rules of the Koran. The other jihad, which leads to violence and destruction, is only carried out by a minority of Muslim extremists.
“I think we have to distinguish between the jihad of extremists and fundamentalists – which are only a small part of the Muslims - and the good jihad against sin and self that all of them and us have to fight,” clarified Brother Andrew.
The idea of Christians waging a “good jihad” is a central theme in the Dutch missionary’s new book, Secret Believers: What Happens When Muslims Believe in Christ. The book narrates the coming to Christ of several Muslim men and women in an undisclosed Middle East country based on true events, and the subsequent trials and even martyrdom that they confront.
Throughout the book, the characters struggle to not only maintain and protect the existing Christian population, but also to expand Christianity by ministering to Muslims interested in knowing more about Isa (Jesus). As a result, the characters demonstrate how to wage a “good jihad” to win souls for God.
In order to wage a “good jihad,” Brother Andrew calls on Christians to pray for terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, Hamas, or Hezbollah.
“Have you ever prayed for Osama bin Laden?” asked Brother Andrew in his book. “I ask because prayer is the primary way we wage this war.
“If you say you did not pray, I ask you, ‘Is that the reason Osama is what he is – because we didn’t pray?’” he challenged.
“We want to invite you to strap on your spiritual armor and join in the good jihad,” urged Brother Andrew. “We are calling all Christians to a prayer campaign for Muslims throughout the world.”
Brother Andrew began smuggling Bibles to Christians in communist countries in 1955 during the Cold War, earning him the nickname “God’s smuggler.” His one-man ministry later evolved into Open Doors International, a worldwide ministry which supports and strengthens persecuted Christians in 45 countries. In 2006 alone, Open Doors delivered almost 6.9 million Bibles, children’s Bibles, study Bibles and other scriptural books and literature to persecuted Christians worldwide.
The Dutch missionary is also the author of numerous books, including God’s Smuggler, which has sold over 10 million copies to date. Brother Andrew currently lives in the Netherlands.
“We cannot win the war on terror with guns and bombs because everyone we kill is replaced by dozens more who seek revenge,” said Brother Andrew in his new book. “The only answer is total, radical commitment to Jesus Christ.”
