It escapes me how legal action can enforce respect. Nor am I in favor of following the Islamist example in matters of offense, crying "off with his head" like Wonderland's mad Queen of Hearts. One would think a senior leader of the largest Christian sect would be familiar with the teachings of the Founder. Nowhere did Christ indicate we should expect, much less demand, respect from this world:"Christians must not just sit back and say it is enough for us to forgive and to forget," Arinze said.
"Sometimes it is our duty to do something practical. So it is not I who will tell all Christians what to do but some know legal means which can be taken in order to get the other person to respect the rights of others," Arinze said.
"This is one of the fundamental human rights: that we should be respected, our religious beliefs respected, and our founder Jesus Christ respected," he said, without elaborating on what legal means he had in mind.
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me." Luke 15:18-21Filing suit is as useless as the recent order by an Italian judge for a priest to 'prove' the truth of Christianity. We build the Kingdom of Heaven and set ourselves apart by living out our faith, not by a legal mandate granted by the rulers of this world. Humanity is free to believe Truth is a deception and to prefer pulp fiction to scripture if it wants. God left that course open to us. Instead of Perry Mason, we need to focus on following Christ. He alone has the power to transform our lives into clear evidence of divine intervention in an ever-darkening world.
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16
3 comments:
History will say that the church turned to persecuting movies to enforce faith.
What is it in the nature of man (and woman), to seek the excitement of the unknown, to prefer the risk of conspiracy, to actively engage in the propogation of half truths and whispered suggestion.
Is this ridiculous media induced and hollywood/television supported "witchhunt", really about the truth of a novel actually SOLD as a work of fiction.. is it about our faith - or lack of it?...
For some of us, life has enough mystery in our day to day dealings with family and work. And we can read Fiction.. and enjoy it as Fiction.. without having doubts, without needing to know 'facts', without questioning our faith.
Faith that can't withstand the occasional insult isn't much faith at all. As Christians, we're supposed to call a spade a spade, and that includes noting when a movie has a clear agenda to confuse the uninformed (as Da Vinci Code does). But pointing that out with a shrug should be the end of it. Anything more smacks of a lack of confidence.
As noted in the post, none of the artistic attacks on Christianity should be anything other than expected. Shrug it off, and press on...
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