Also, Jeremy Taylor, an author who was sometimes known as the "Shakespeare of Divines" once said, "The pharisees minded what God spoke, but not what He intended. They were busy in the outward work of the hand, but incurious of the affections and choice of the heart. So God was served in the letter, they did not much inquire into His purpose; and therefore they were curious to wash their hands, but cared not to purify their hearts."
I was initially thinking about posting this on Facebook instead of in my blog. Then, I thought that it would be better if it is on my blog, and I can write as much as I want.
I know that it has been a while since I've posted on my blog, and largely, it's been because of laziness or various struggles that I went through. No worries, I'm back! :) I've had a lot of opinions about a lot of things lately, even about the political world with the elections and such, but I'm going to focus on a huge tragedy that has been unfolding this past week.
As many if not all of you have heard, many Muslim nations have been rising up in protest against the United States within this past week. Also, the United States Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens was assassinated in Libya this past week. The reason that these nations use to justify these actions is because of a film that was released that shamed Islam, and insulted Muslims.
First and foremost, I will state that no matter what, their reason does not justify such harsh actions that they have taken against the United States, ESPECIALLY in killing Ambassador Stevens. It is very harsh, and they should know that the voice of the few should not speak for the rest of us, and it should not result in innocent people being killed.
With that being said though, I think we must also look at it from their viewpoint. We live in the United States where freedom of religion is a huge thing, but the adverse side of it is, we can poke fun at religions, and people have been so desensitized by it that we deem it okay. Over there, they have been used to things being censored that speak out against Islam, but this fell through the cracks, so to say. Nonetheless, it's unbelievable that someone would make such a film. This film portrays the Prophet Muhammad as a homosexual and is very offensive to the Islamic community. First of all, to even portray the Prophet Muhammad is considered blasphemous, and the way that film referred to him was just downright wrong. I may not be a Muslim, but I know how important it is that we respect all religions and ways of life. The man who made the movie and the man that is the face of promoting this movie are people that are intolerant, and throughout history, these people have really had a skewed vision of humanity. Whether it be the time of slavery or hatred towards the African American community or Hitler and Nazi Germany's hatred of Jews, homosexuals, and other minorities, these people have this superior mentality, and so they will do what they can to belittle others. This behavior is intolerable and unacceptable. We shouldn't be insulting other religions, and the man who is "credited" for directing this movie is identified as Nakoula Basseley Nakoula. He is a self-proclaimed Coptic Christian. Majority of the film was shot in the offices of Media for Christ, a charity that raises money to "glow Jesus' light to the world."
Please tell me how this is glowing Jesus' light to the world. When I read the Bible, I see a Jesus who loves everyone, not condemns them. I believe in a loving God, but I also believe that loving God is also a just God. How is this justice? Many people say that we should bring others to Christ, but then we slam the Bible in their face. This has given so many people a bad taste of what Christianity is, so they go far away from Christ, instead of coming to Him. Actions like this film continues to support people's view that Christianity is a hateful religion. In fact, someone that has supported this film is Pastor Terry Jones, a Pentecostal Pastor located in Florida who was intent on burning Qurans back in April of 2011. Explain to me how this is showing Christ's love.
There is a passage in the Bible that I really find very interesting and shows Christ's nature. It's John 8:1-11. In this passage, an adulteress is brought before Jesus by the pharisees. The pharisees ask him what they should do to her, since the law says to stone her. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but it takes two to tango. Besides the point, what does Jesus do? He stoops down, and He begins writing on the ground with His finger. After the pharisees keep questioning Him, Jesus stands up and says one of the best lines I've ever heard. "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Then, He goes back to writing on the ground. Now, we don't really know what He was writing on the ground, but eventually all the pharisees leave, because they realize their sins. Then, after they leave, Jesus stands up again, and He asks another one of the best lines I've ever heard. "'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 'No one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.'" Can you believe it? The ONE man who is without sin didn't stone her; He told her to go home and leave her life of sin! Then, how much more should we be understanding of other people when we are sinful just like them? Then, how can we condemn people because they have a different faith than us?
I think we as Christians really need to examine ourselves. As Christians, we are called to be like Christ, but it seems like Christians are being more like the pharisees more than we are being like Christ. During Christ's ministry on earth, He didn't condemn anyone except for the pharisees, because they felt they were superior to others, and they liked to condemn people for their flaws, but they never looked at their own flaws which were many. I will stress a point that I've made time and time again. Sins are equal in the eyes of God, so we cannot bash other people. Before we pick up a stone, we should examine ourselves and see if we are without sin, because I can assuredly tell you that we are with sin. Christ forgave us though by His love and sacrifice, so that is how we are to portray Christianity.
I'll leave with a song. I heard this song recently, and it's been stuck in my head since. The song is called, "The Proof of Your Love" by For King & Country. Check it out here: For King and Country - The Proof of Your Love.
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
-Romans 12:18 (NIV 1984)
"Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
-Romans 12:21 (NIV 1984)
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."-I Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV 1984)
