The issues of Northern Ireland have always perplexed me.
When the IRA were at their peak, you would always hear it is a fight between Catholics and Protestants. In reality it had far more to do with British / Irish relations then it did with theological issues. As a believer God and the Lord Jesus Christ, it is obvious that it is not true believers who are doing battle. If it were, there would be no fighting, it would be forgiveness and love. Instead it has been eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. It has been warring out of vengence and the innocent are caught in the middle. That is not true love, that is not the gospel.
I have a cousin who was born in Northern Ireland, in Belfast. He grew up there, and said that a lot of the things you hear in the news is overblown. He said the violence was usually isolated in a few spots. He never was directly affected.
In the end, the IRA were and are on the right track. They are working for political peace, and I think that eventually lead to peace because that is the will of the people.
This skirmish by terrorists, by people who call themselves IRA, won't be tolerated for very long. The will of the people will crush that.
Flip, I pray that any family you have back there are safe, and I pray for peace for Northern Ireland. I think it will happen, it is just not going to happen over night.
Peace.
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