Now here’s an interesting thought, posted on signs by Baptist churches in inner-city Sydney:
| The reaction from other clergy and even the Australian Prime Minister has been overwhelmingly negative, as other groups have tried to distance themselves from a church that would go so far as to say Christ … could actually find it within himself to love Osama Bin Laden, Terrorist #1. … [follow the above link to see sample comments] [By contrast,] Dan at Signposts says: |
What a fabulous illustration of how confronting the message of Jesus is. Nobody denies Jesus said it, but everyone wants to qualify the sentiment and distance themselves from the presentation of the sign. link
|
|
|
“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” – Jesus
Making nice people angry for 2,000 years.
Tags: Jesus, Osama, Terrorism, love+your+enemies, Christianity, Religion, religious+right, religion+politics, Monte Asbury
to this blog
The Least, First 
I love this, Monte.
No, forgiveness doesn’t seem to be the take-home message most are getting at church, does it?
(I really like your “Making nice people angry for 2000 years,” too!)
Monte Says: Strange but true, eh?
honestpoet
November 30, 2007 at 9:15 pm
It seems that all people can do is divide into us and them, love us no matter what, and hate them no matter what.
One of my great disappointments with Christianity is it’s failure to deliver on Paul’s promise of a new nature, at least on any sort of scale.
It’s nice to see Christians who have actually read the gospels and aren’t just running new junk through the same grinder. :-)>
Thanks.
Monte Says: You’re more than welcome, Joe, and thanks for the encouragement! Come by anytime. The promise is still good, though easily perverted!
Joe
November 28, 2007 at 11:51 am
Thanks, kip and sudiegirl! Sud, so good to “hear your voice!” And sure – God himself seems to forget the guilt but remember the weakness and challenge it. You’ve got it!
Monte
November 27, 2007 at 5:16 pm
I agree with Kip. And it’s indeed true…sometimes the hardest thing to do and be as far as Christianity is concerned is the whole forgiveness thing.
And just because you love someone doesn’t mean you’re OK with the things they do all the time, you know? I love my relatives on my dad’s side but they accused him of horrible things and I forgive them but will not forget their actions.
Sudiegirl
November 27, 2007 at 7:52 am
Brilliant!
kip
November 26, 2007 at 4:42 pm