Since post 9/11 the
Middle East nations and African nations are engulfed of sectarian
violence. It seems that there is no end to violence and bloodshed in
the above parts of the world. Thomas Merton in his book “The
Seven Story Mountain”
took responsibility for atrocity committed by Hitler. I look at the
Middle East nations and African nations and all I see fire on the
above regions. I feel responsible for bloodshed in the above regions.
I also know that I cannot go to any nation and preach Christianity
about love of God, and loving one another. A question came to my mind
that how can we reach to the above regions and promote message of
peace to them, at the same time, we are contributing to peace making
and peace keeping of the regions? The very simple ideas that God in
Bible says John 13:34-35 “command I give you: Love
one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one
another”1
and Luke 6:29 “[i]f someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them
the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your
shirt from them.”2
It is very difficult to forgive others for what they do wrong to
others. It takes a lion heart to forgive others. It must be done. If
it is not done, the vicious cycle of violence would contribute to
unrest in cycle of many generations.
There is no doubt that when one person begins to seek vengeance
against another person, s/he is really following foot steps of evil.
If a person sustain injury from others, and s/he begins to think in
God and leaves matters in God's hand, the result of her / his action
would be fruitful. Recently, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
have claimed 1700 souls.3
The perpetrators are acting as judge, jury and executioners during
day light and convict their victims as infidels. God in the Bible
says Mathew 7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For
in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you.”4
Furthermore, even God in Koran 49:11 says; "O you who believe,
let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be
better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they
may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not
call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of
disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then
it is those who are the wrongdoers.”In conclusion, these
individuals are killing others in the name of God are not doing God's
work whatsoever. It would be vital for everyone to speak against
these individuals so that they understand what they do is wrong and
they are not doing God's work.
End note:
1
Bible Gateway
<http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13:34-35>
18 June 2014
2
Bible Gateway
<http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6:29>
18 June 2014
3
TIME <http://time.com/2878718/isis-claims-massacre-of-1700-iraqis/>
18 June 2014
4
Bible Gateway
<http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7>
18 June 2014
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