It has been reported by VOA that Boko Haram is, once again, recruiting fighters from Cameroon and using them in their army to attack and fight Cameroon.
This is all, sadly, no surprise. But a question comes to mind: what causes a person to be recruited into such a dark, evil, oppressive organization?
Most of the time, they view their current situation as worse than the prospect of joining Boko Haram’s army. They are kids and young men, begging on the streets for food and money. Women are enticed by a charming man or sold off by their families. Children are stolen from families during raids on villages and schools just as the Chibok girls were. People are brainwashing into the muslim way of thinking, deceived.
But what causes this change in someone’s heart? This change from innocence and knowing what is right to such a calloused, evil state? The answer: people are deceived into believing that Boko Haram has the truth, and they go hook, line and sinker.
Itching Ears
We do not convert from Christianity to Islam in the US—at least not seemingly usually. But what takes place in those who do is a common problem for all people: they look outside God’s written word, the Bible, and turn towards things they like to hear instead. As 2 Timothy states,
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
(2 Timothy 4:3, NIV)
People are looking everywhere for a doctrine/philosophy that encourages their sin and way of life, no matter what that way of life might be. But without being taught the true Word of God, a person’s life can go greatly awry. It is important to cling to God’s Word, especially when one does not know what to do. We must:
- Realize that we, as humans, do not have all the answers. Many will say that the answer to life’s questions and decisions is within us. This is a lie; our hearts are wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We need to realize that we are in need of humble instruction.
- Come to Jesus in humility and repentance, asking for His Guidance and Wisdom instead. God will not be stingy in giving His Wisdom; He desires that we all come to Him, that we might receive wisdom without fault (James 1:5).
- Obey what it is that Jesus guides you to do. Through reading God’s Word, the Bible, we can clearly listen and understand to God’s Truths and Commands. When we know the Truth, we must live it out, as James 1:19-27 highlights.
It can be all too easy to be pushed off course by an enticing desire or philosophy; many, whether switching to another religion or not, are guilty of this. In a world full of moral relativism, we need God’s Word to be the Lamp to our feet (Psalm 119:105). When we cling to God’s Word, we cling to the only Truth for living there is. It is when we place our trust in Jesus and follow His Lead, we will be walking in the light (1 John 1:5-7).
Do you know Jesus?
Jesus once said, “’I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” He came to this earth to show us who God the Father is, and made the only way for us to know God the Father. Learn more about Jesus and how He did this, here.
Please pray for (find the prayer sheet here)…
- The Chibok girls, and Leah Sharibu. Pray that they would come home soon.
- Those who are apart of Boko Haram. May they realize the deception they are a part of.
- Those who have turned aside from Christ; pray that they would come back to Him.
- The fight currently happening in Cameroon. May the troops have the strength and morale needed to fight this war.
Thank you for your prayers!!!
