Why I Defended a Muslim

I recently wrote a post about Christians being racist and today I got to see the evils of such a reality on a very real and personal level. As I have mentioned before, I once spent a summer in the Middle East and while I was there I taught English to locals.

I have the privilege of still being in contact with many of my students, and I get to have conversations with them from time to time. Today, one of my former students posted a picture that contained a quote from the Qu'ran concerning the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. I had decided that I might respond to this and explain first that Christian belief in the Trinity is in fact a monotheistic belief. Before I could even start writing my comment I had my attention stolen at the site of a comment from that said student asking "what is a durka?"

My stomach dropped and I frantically began reading the other comments. I was hit with an overwhelming feeling of disbelief as I read the comments of these two men that raged against him and made comment after comment loaded with racism, poison, and ignorance. I left a comment for my friend and asked him to forgive the two racists for their comments and for being so blatantly disrespectful. Next thing I knew I found myself defending my Muslim friend against these supposedly "Christian" individuals.

Where ever there is hatred, ignorance, persecution, darkness, or chaos we must stand up and say "NO! This is NOT permissible!"

If I come across a Christian attacking anyone for the color, ethnicity, or religion I will ALWAYS stand up AGAINST them. This is NOT Christ-like in any way, shape, or form! This is evil and ungodly! It is taking the name of God upon oneself in utter vanity and misrepresents the Holy One. It is an affront to the Gospel and worthy of wrath and ruin! Lest they repent, God will most certainly silence them Himself.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself! These things are neither love nor service to God or man! What I saw today was the darkness of humanity and the evils that even those who claim Christ are capable of conjuring. They attacked an innocent man and counted him a murderer and a villain. They struck him with their words and sought to deprive him of dignity and value over his religious devotion. May Christ have mercy on them and forgive them!

God, forgive ALL of us for all of our foolishness and for all we do that dishonors Your Name and leads men astray! Correct Your children and makes us more like You and let us be found above reproach; that we would be Light where there is Darkness, Truth where there is Deceit, Knowledge where there is Ignorance, Peace where their is Chaos, and Life where there is Death!

 Grace and Peace,

Stephen

Justified Christian Racism?

"And love your neighbor as yourself..."

A few years ago I had the incredible privilege of traveling to the glorious country of Jordan and living among Iraqi refugees and teaching English to Jordanians and Palestinians. In my being there, I learned so much about culture, history, and humanity! Upon my return, however, I began to see an aspect of Christianity that I had never experienced before: racism justified by theology. 

Generally, when one hears the word "racist" they think of a white guy hating on a black guy because the color of his skin, or against a Hispanic for not speaking English very well. What I experienced, however, was very different and arguably worse. I spoke to someone about the possibility of going and being a part of YWAM (Youth with a Mission) and with a big smile he said "Great!", but then suddenly turning to a hard, grim face he said "just don't learn Arabic...don't learn Arabic." 

This was not the last time I heard something like this or experienced this kind of hateful disposition over my having worked with Arabs or desiring to learn Arabic. This distasteful attitude came out of some with incredibly Zionistic trends in their theology and overall worldview. My qualm is not with Christian Zionism, but instead with what is a very common side effect of that tradition: the belief that the enemy of the state of Israel is the enemy of the Church universal. 

There is a strange elitistic belief concerning Jews and Israelis, and more specifically messianic Jews. In my living in Knoxville, I have met people who believe that Messianic Jews are superior in Christ's Kingdom, and this disheartens me greatly! What makes it even worse that I myself used to believe this way and didn't realize it! It is sad that anyone should think less of any ethnicity simply over political issues and theological disposition that glorifies ancestry over the Gospel! Even if they are Christian, they may find themselves being tossed aside by their American brethren because they are seen as anti-Israel (such as the Palestinians in exile). 

The beauty of the cross and the Kingdom of Christ is that it transcends political and geographical borders. It goes beyond genetics, ancestry, dynasties, and time itself! 

One Christ, one baptism, one Church. 

The prejudice of the Church in America far exceeds mere Zionistic hatred of non-Israeli middle easterners. This is merely one way that I have personally experienced and continue to experience form time to time. My tendency is to shy away from confrontation, but I find myself unable to step back from this issue and to not address the unjust, unbiblical, and unChrist-like attitude. 

It is WRONG! Pure and simple. We are to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves, and that means ALL of our neighbors, especially if they are those within the Kingdom of Christ. Kingdom citizenship supersedes all other nationalities and racial backgrounds at all times and all places!

Let us examine our lives (as well as our theological beliefs) to ensure that we are living with Christ above all and that we are honoring the King whom we represent on this world full of racism and hatred between the peoples of the earth. 

Grace and Peace, 

Stephen

 

A "Race" to Self-Destruct

Humanity, that species of vast intellect, incredible physical capacity to build and create, and the greatest cluster of stupidity and self-destruction. Don't agree? you might be part of the problem (either that or you are a hermit living by yourself and no internet).

Looking at Facebook today I was bombarded with the insanity of humanity. People accusing and demanding justice even when they were not present and do not have the evidence in hand. All because some deemed it necessary to cry "racism", when in fact it is the one's crying out that are the racists. They accuse at the drop of the hat; not even taking the time to see the situation or the actions of the "victim". Now people are threatening to kill white people because the courts have declared a man innocent. They would rather that the man be thrown in jail over a flimsy accusation than to actually seek justice.

Paula Dean has been the victim of such a mentality, rejected for a mistake made over a decade ago and put to social shame and financial ruin for the sake of some being "politically correct". This foolishness is destroying our country from the inside out. The hearts of the people are set on themselves and cry out for rights that are not their own and demand recompense for deeds that cost them nothing.

It appears that "feelings", whims, and self-centered, victim mentalities are now what drive the actions of this once great people rather than logic, determination, and respect. For our country to grow and prosper we need to learn to look before we act and think before we speak. Stop being offended over every little thing, stop being hypocrites who punish for actions that you yourself are doing, and learn to respect your brothers and sisters in humanity.