Most of my life I have been surrounded by Christians. Rarely have I found myself in the minority spiritually, however it has happened a few times. So, one would think that as followers of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we would be the most peaceable people on the planet. Clearly we are not. The world is currently being swallowed up in horrible violence, and we are the vanguard of the Kingdom of Heaven. The question is, how can we show the way?
I would submit that the way of violence, jihad, revenge, judgment, and inquisition is the easy path, the dangerous path, the lower path, and most importantly the evil path.
Jesus has shown us the way: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you", we must listen to Him and cut through the testosterone laced rhetoric and stop hate and revenge. No one said being a Christian was easy.
Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 6:27-28, Romans 12:14, 1 Corinthians 4:12, Romans 12:17-21, 1 Peter 3:9, 1 John 2:9-10
†Merciful and loving Father, We ask You with all our hearts to pour out upon our enemies, with bountiful hands, whatever You know will do them good. Chiefly, we ask You to grant them sound and uncorrupted minds so they may know You and love you in true charity and with their whole hearts, and love us, Your children, for Your sake. Do not let them do themselves harm by becoming angry at us. Let them see that we are doing for them the best we are able. Lord, we ask for their change of heart as well as for our own. Do not drive them away from us by punishing them. Rather, join and knit them to us through Your mercy. And since we are all meant to join You in Heaven, let us begin to live together peaceably on earth, so that we may come to You one day in the love exemplified by Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Amen, Brother. Amen. May we learn to love as Jesus loved. That is my soul mission.
Posted by: Wanda Tucker | July 15, 2006 at 12:21 AM