Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [Prov 25:21, 22] |
Subject: Denounce militant Islam? |
Bible Note: I can't believe I read the whole thing. Although there's a slight urge in me as a fellow human to agree with you, there's a Holy Spirit within me endorsing what my conscience is whispering. Yes, we see great cruelty and very horrible actions from the militant Islam but then so did those who lived through the Spanish Inquisitions and the Crusades before that. That's one of the world's most recurring themes throughout its history, the struggle depicted between good and evil but even so with all that as a given fact, we're still told by Christ, the Ruler of this world to "forgive our enemies and bless them that persecute us." I agree with you, sometimes this is VERY tough to do, especially with a genuine heart of love and NOT feel what our gut instinct tells us to feel. We must repeat over and over to ourselves that we must hate the sin but love the sinner, as does our God above. I was brought up in a military family and have been myself involved in supporting the military war machine in the overseas theatre and I do support our country's attempt to right the wrongs in the Middle East and try to get those folks started toward a more sane form of self government but we also should realize Christ's way is the best way. You post comes dangerously close to inciting a riot so I would remind you and all other readers only the "peacemakers will be called sons of God," Matt 5. After all, if we retaliate as you're suggesting, we're no better than the evil they are perpetrating on the world. Now, as a practical matter, I do hope and pray that countries across the globe will unite with us and try to form a united front and literally ostracize this terrorism element and try them for the crimes and carry out the proper punishment as determined by the courts. But this must be done with a focus on some semblence of justice instead of vengence. That's the only way, we could hope to get God's blessing on our actions. Blessings to you. Country Girl |