Image via Flamedrinker @ Photobucket
This was going to just be an ‘In Memory’ post, but some of the things I’m seeing on the news, online this week have bothered me deeply and I can’t keep silent about it. FYI, I’m out of town today and because I don’t want to run the risk of a few trolls turning this ugly-comments are turned off since I won’t be around to monitor things.
I generally don’t discuss things of religion or faith on this blog. I make no secret of the fact that I’m a Christian-I don’t beat people over the head with it-it’s a part of my life-like being married to an Eskimo (Yes, I really am… *G*), like having brown eyes, like being a female… all of these things are just part of me.
I don’t believe it’s my place to tell others how to live and sadly that’s what a lot of people who let religion guide their lives seem to do-it’s supposed to be about faith, about Christ…not about what mankind has made religion into. Our lives are supposed to be the example-not our words, not the fancy clothes some people like to wear to church, etc, etc. It’s not about us…it’s about Him. But the fact is… mankind has messed a lot of things up.
I can’t quite understand how somebody who claims to believe in Christ has gotten the idea in his head that it’s acceptable to burn the holy book of another person’s religion. I mean, if he was living in a Muslim nation ~and yes, America is about freedom of religion which is why this is even more ridiculous~but just hypothetically~if this man was living in a Muslim nation, how would he feel if they were having a BURN A BIBLE day?
Christ wanted us to show love. Period.
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Matthew 7:1-2
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
We were called to love, not hate. Called to witness, not judge & condemn. If the first things a non-Christian sees of you are hateful, ugly actions, then he or she will relate hateful, ugly actions to the church, to Christ.
What the outside world does, in the end, makes no difference on how a Christian carries themselves. But how the Christian acts to the outside world makes all the difference. If you cannot love your fellow man, respect your fellow man…well, it worries me, and it saddens me.
I don’t think burning a holy book, preaching hate is the message Christ wanted any of us to spread.