"But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them-in that case you may even be found fighting against God!" Acts 5: 39, a quotation from Rabbi Gamaleil to the Sanhedrin. I have often said if you want to make sure a sectarian movement survives, persecute it. Whether a new religion is genuine or a cult or merely a new fad, nothing will cause people to dig in their heels than efforts to suppress their new faith. When the earliest followers of Mohammed were persecuted by the leaders in Mecca, a new religion emerged. When the earliest Protestants were persecuted by the Roman Catholic church new protestant congregations sprang up everywhere. Presbyterians harshly treated the earliest followers of Joseph Smith in the 1800s; today the Mormon church is strong and growing. In many ways the earliest Christian followers were regarded as a cult. The authorities tried to stamp it out and we all know the result. Right or wrong we should heed the advice of the wise rabbi Gamaleil in treating those whose beliefs differ from ours.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 17:10:46 +0000
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