October 1, 2012

• When insulted: kill him? or forgive him? Islam vs Christianity

  This is an interesting article, raising questions about whether freedom of speech is a universally recognized value, or whether the right to use force to protect your beliefs from being insulted is more important...

  http://tribune.com.pk/story/442493/anti-islam-film-despite-criticism-bilour-stands-by-bounty-offer/

  Mr. Bilour has offered $100,000 as blood money for the filmmaker who produced the anti-Islam movie, and urged the Taliban and al Qaeda to carry out what he called the "noble deed"... quotes: "My faith is non-violent, but I cannot forgive and tolerate (this insult)," he said. "Killing is not a good way, but right now it is the only way, because no action has been taken from Western countries (against the filmmaker)," he said.

   

  An even more important question is the question of forgiveness.   How is it possible to truly forgive others, when they have insulted you?  For example, Jesus taught:

  27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

  28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

  29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.

  30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.

  31 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

  32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

  33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

  34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.

  35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

  36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

   

  But this is hard!  How is it possible, to simply forgive someone who deeply hurts or insults you?

  Ultimately, in my opinion, the only way to forgive major offenses is to understand how much God has forgiven me, through Jesus Christ (because I have believed in Him as my Lord and Savior).  As the Bible says in Colossians, "bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."

  And as Jesus taught in Matthew 18:

  21 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus *said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  

  23 "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27 And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.

  28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31 So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32 Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

  • 12:56 am
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