There has been major announcements about the Muslim March on 9/11 in Washington D.C. Some are blogging that loyal “Christians” and patriots should physically oppose and prevent this groups from marching on Washington D.C. How do you feel about it? Feel free to share your opinion? I would consider myself very patriotic; I love my country and believe it to be one of the best places in the world to live in peace and harmony with peoples of all races, colors, and beliefs. Our forefathers built that into our constitution and forged a nation that drew people from all over the world who came to taste the freedom we have. All of us should be insulted and incensed when individuals and groups challenge the principles and would seek to have them removed. But it is also necessary for me to remember that those who enter this country have the same privileges and freedoms we possess: the right of free speech, of assembly, of religion are included in those freedoms. For us to try and limit those freedoms and forbid certain groups from exercising those rights is contrary to the Constitution. The actions that would forbid those rights are as thoroughly unpatriotic as a person can be. To physically oppose a group from assembling and voicing their concerns would be a blatant revelation of our own hypocrisy. No Christian believes that we should condone the radical teaching of the militant Muslim. And if we are Christian we cannot accept Islamic teaching from the Koran or accept what they believe about God or overlook their cruelty toward other Muslims, other faiths, or Christians. It is despicable and should be opposed. Where Muslims attack individuals or groups, and they are being mutilated, murdered, raped, and violently controlled, they should be physically opposed. But the question is: how will we treat people who disagree with us—with dignity and respect or as enemies? Disagreement can co-exist with respect. Tolerance doesn’t mean accepting all views as true (which is impossible, since we don’t truly “tolerate” those who don’t agree with “our” pluralism); it means putting up with what we take to be erroneous or false in another person’s thinking but respecting the person’s right to think and choose differently. But we should not justify our aggressive or militant behavior toward them by using the Bible as our source. The violence prescribed by God in the Old Testament was intended for a particular time and limited to a particular people group. There was no precedent set to continue this practice beyond what God had commanded. In contrast, the Koran actually prescribes and condones military jihad in the promotion of Islam. A Muslim who desires to commit violence in the name of Islam can find ample justification for his action both in the Koran and in the words and actions of the prophet Muhammad. The United States, contrary to what many believe, is not a theocratic nation. Certainly it was founded on principles based in the Bible and Christians do form a majority of the population, but that does not constitute declaring it a Christian nation. Governments, when operating as they should, must bring order and punish evildoers. God approves of this arrangement (Rom 13:1-7; 1 Pet 2:14). Even though war is never neat and innocent civilians will be killed, the Judeo-Christian tradition is realistic in recognizing human self-centeredness and sinfulness that may necessitate force to keep evil from spreading its tentacles further, to restrain violence. The only “Christian nation” is the body of Christ, the church of the living God (1Pt 2:9) and, as such, my first duty is to Christ and the church and not to a particular country of residence. In other words my patriotism is to the “kingdom of God” before my duty to the USA. For me, as a Christian, the final and complete revelation of God is in Jesus Christ, who was remarkably non-violent in His approach. If I engage in violence in the name of Christ, I am doing so in direct disobedience to my Master. Instead I am to “love my enemies and do good to those who persecute me.” I should “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you (me), be at peace with all men. Never take your (my) own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your (my) enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you (I) will heap burning coals upon his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:17-21).
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 20:06:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015