Tomorrow will mark 9 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. This anniversary stirs a lot of emotions including sadness, anger, and outrage.
Lately the news has been filled with stories about opposition to the proposed Islamic center on the site of the World Trade Center, churches planning to burn the Quran, terrorist groups threatening retaliation for Quran burning, and on and on.
If there’s one thing I wish everyone on the planet would get it’s that…
You can’t overcome evil with evil.
You can’t overcome hate with more hate.
As a Christ-follower, it saddens and angers me that many Christians seem to think it’s OK to hate on the haters. Some Christians are hating on the terrorists. Then other Christians are hating on those hating on the terrorists. Come on people, think about it… where does it end?
I love what my friend Malik posted to his Facebook wall the other day in response to the stories about the church in FL that’s planning a Quran burning…
This is a TRUE test of our Faith…As we are COMMANDED to love both this pastor and those responsible for the 911 massacre. (No one said it would be easy being a Christ Follower) We need to pray for all these radicals…. Because WE are forgiven by his Grace.
Let me leave you with one more thought…
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
–Romans 12:17-21
Thanks to Sarah Cunningham and Ed Cyzewski for inspiring this post. If you believe that only love can overcome hate, then spread the word. And may your blog posts, tweets, Facebook updates, and real-life conversations be filled with love this weekend.
What will you do to overcome evil with good?
You are so right on this one!
On the other we Europeans are shocked with the lack of leadership of Americans like the president and the NYC-major. Why don’t they listen to the relatives of the victims? Why do they hurt people’s feelings for the sake of ‘freedom of religion’?
We need to love our enemies, but on the other hand we also need to warn about the true dangers of islam! Time posted an article about Aisha, a woman from Afghanistan. She was punished by islamic law, and got her nose and ears cut of.
Love your enemies is a great Christian principle, but do we really want this (punishment like Aisha got) in our civilized western society?
The Bible warns about the mixing of cultures in several occasions. Strangely i hardly ever hear any Christian about that part. Sometimes it might be better to love with a little distance 😉
I’d rather we spend less worrying about Islam and more times loving people so radically that they can’t help but be drawn to the Author of all love.
I don’t recall Jesus ever loving anyone – Samaritans, lepers, adulterers – from a distance. Do you?
No, but … Jews had more problems with Samaritans, than the other way around, lepers aren’t enemies and neither are adulterers.
On the other hand look at the warnings that God gives about the mixing of cultures. That’s more like the situation with islam. Your examples are true, but on a personal level. Jesus was a Person, not a culture, not a nation. I speak with muslims on a personal level too, but in a group it already is a different story, and when we are getting the sharia into our legal system …
I get both of you, Paul and John.
Paul, you are absolutely right and love is the rule and should be, it’s the example we were given by Jesus when he walked this earth.At a grass roots level, we should be showing love to our muslim neighbours.
However, Jesus wasn’t a pushover either (note the temple lashings).
I don’t agree with John on loving from a distance.
But Jesus didn’t say “well I love these merchants in my Father’s house, even if they are thieving and lying so I’ll just let them stay here and say nothing” He still loved them, he died for them but he also drove them out of the temple, whipping them on the way!
I’m not suggesting driving out our Muslim friends. Many are law-abiding citizens who are working, bringing up families etc just as we are. But let’s not ignore the bad things either.
It is insensitive to put a mosque there at the 9/11 site.
There are, as with all things, two sides to every story. This is also a highly emotive subject (as witnessed over the internet, international news etc).
As I said before, from a grassroots level, let’s show love to muslims (“they shall know us by our love”) but let’s also not be quiet in denoucing something that is unjust and unfair.
i am finding very unusual things which had never happened in my life.. whatever tasks i carryout will not be satisfactorily fullfilled.. i got to know that i am depressed by negative energy.. give some tips to overcome it
things in my life are not appearing to be good…it is unusual and pushes me backwards…the people entering into my life are not the good one..i am hurt by them…can u suggest me anything that can take me out of this???