HOW WE GET INTO AND OUT OF THE BOX OF COLLUSION

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 

John 16:33

 

AN INTERESTING CASE STUDY GOES BACK TO THE CRUSADES AND THE FIGHT OVER THE CONTROL OF JERUSALEM. 

CHRISTIANS, JEWS AND ARABS CONSIDER JERUSALEM THEIR RIGHTFUL POSESSION.  The crusaders took over Jerusalem and killed everyone in the city.  They showed no mercy to Moslems, Jews or even Christian Arabs and Jews.    They were only OBJECTS.

 

Saladin on the other hand was known to show respect and mercy to his enemy.  A crusader mother came to Saladin because her daughter was taken as a slave.  Saladin found the daughter and returned her to her mother that very day.

A crusader asked Saladin for permission to enter Jerusalem to retrieve his wife.   He promised Saladin that he would only take out his wife and not stay and fight against Saladin.  However, when he arrived in Jerusalem it lacked leadership and he returned to Saladin and got permission to stay and give leadership to the crusaders in Jerusalem.

When Saladin conquered Jerusalem, instead of viciously killing everyone off, he gave instructions to save as many lives as possible and he gave money out of his treasury to assist the defeated in traveling home.  Saladin fought a war but won the peace which lasted for a long time.  Because although he was a warrior, he had a heart at peace.   He saw people as PEOPLE.   They were not OBJECTS, but PERSONS with value and worth even if they were his enemy. 

ALMOST ANY BEHAVIOR—EVEN WAR—CAN BE DONE IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.