Trey Knowles: Risala 20 – Asia (Listen)

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Peace to you, my brothers and sisters in Asia.

You have heard that it was said to those of old: “You shall not murder,” and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. The soil of the innocent—those who died—cries out to the blood of their families: “All we wanted was a life, a God-given life.” The colonizing devil has taken life from us.

Japan (1945): Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, plus extensive conventional bombing.

Korea (1950–1953): Extensive bombing during the Korean War destroyed most towns.

China (1950–1953): Strikes during the Korean War.

Vietnam (1961–1973): Intense bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War.

Laos (1964–1973): Over two million tonnes of ordnance were dropped, making it the most bombed country per capita.

Cambodia (1969–1970): Extensive bombing during the Vietnam War era.

Indonesia (1958): Strikes occurred.

Middle East/West Asia: Ongoing campaigns in Iraq (1991, 2003–2015), Afghanistan (1998, 2001–2015), Pakistan, Yemen, and Syria.

In Leviticus 24:17, it reads, “Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death.” But we give mercy to this colonizing devil. It is written in Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image.” And you, Asia, are made in God's image.

I know that my Lord sees everything. So I tell you, Asia: everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. So do not be like the colonizing devil. Put down your guns, put away the likeness of the colonizing devil, and turn away from your sins, so that our God can distinguish you from the colonizing devil. I know in my heart that you are nothing like them.

Remember Mahatma Gandhi, who practiced nonviolent resistance and helped you gain independence from your colonial oppressor. Gandhi rebuked the colonial oppressor, and he fled. So I tell you: defeat your enemy with righteousness, so that your enemy will have no cause to strike against you, because you have distinguished yourself as nothing like the colonial demon. Do not do evil, and do not do evil against your own brothers and sisters, because if you do, the colonizer devil will use it against you as a reason to attack you and come against you. He will accuse you on matters of your civil rights and violations of his doctrine.

Understand that your enemy, the colonizer devil, pretends to be like an angel of light, but you will know him by his character. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing, waiting to steal, kill, and destroy. Brothers and sisters of Asia, remain in your nature and culture, and to those who are still indigenous in Asia, stay as you are and do not follow this enemy. Believers are to avoid conforming to worldly, materialistic, or sinful patterns of the colonizing enemy and instead focus on the glory of God, for everything is freely given to you.

Grace and peace,
Sincerely,
Trey Knowles