"All We Need is... Jobs?"

Of course we all remember the song by the iconic 60's band, The Beetles. It was a time when an unpopular war raged on and a young, angry, generation looked for idealistic alternatives to solve the world's problem. Back then, it was all about "love," now, according to a State Department Spokesperson, it's all about jobs. "We're killing a lot of them," said the spokesperson, "and we're going to keep killing more of them... But we cannot win this war by killing them. We need... to go after the root causes that leads people to join these groups, whether it's lack of opportunity for jobs whether-" upon which she was interrupted by the interviewer.

The idea is that if one only had more opportunities to get higher paying jobs, it would lessen the appeal to join radical groups such as ISIS. This leads to a number of questions on how the State Department plans implement the strategy. According to the spokesperson, it would take working with foreign governments to provide such opportunities.

Okay, so lets say that the plan is executed and several governments are able to provide good, higher paying jobs. Will this stop the growth of radical groups? Taking from what I know of the human heart, not likely.

I work with a number of individuals who have medium income jobs. Even with all the money they make, their job still turns up short of ultimate satisfaction. One get's up, they go to work, they come home and try to have some time with family, go to bed, get up, and do it all over again. It becomes meaningless. There is little hope for their job situation improving.

Now compare a medium income job which provides little purpose to a idealistic religious desire to take over the world. Which would you say provides a greater sense of purpose?

The Spokesperson has a point, we can't just beat these movements down with military force forever. So where is the solution? My friends it is the hope, grace, mercy, sense of belonging that comes through Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Christ there is purpose and belonging. In Christ there is life and life more abundantly. And we, the Church can provide a path to ultimate fulfillment. This is the only thing that can compete with the appealing message of world domination, and it is the only hope for world peace.

Com'on fellow Brother's and Sisters!

Please comment on how we can articulate this good news of ultimate fulfillment to a world starved for purpose.