"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars ... their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8 NIV)

I have always wondered why the cowardly were excluded from the Kingdom of God and condemned to the Lake of Fire. The unbelieving are also so excluded from the future Kingdom. Being fearful or doubting does not seem to carry the same moral umbrage as murder, lying, sexual immorality and the rest. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14, we read, "Encourage the timid." (NIV)

Last month I mentioned a book by Paul Berman entitled The Flight of the Intellectuals. Mr. Berman's book included an analysis of leftist intellectuals and their abandonment of the cause of human rights in the Muslim world. At the same time, they attack Israel which has a better human rights record by far. Berman concludes that these intellectuals fail to speak out against these human rights abuses because they lack courage. He even notes the amazing response towards those who call for courage: they are accused of reflecting a right wing fascist orientation. Courage in the face of evil is not a right or left matter. Berman points this out and notes that failure to stand up against Islamic fascism is the real evil.

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