If we are really afraid of Muslim violence (a reaction we choose to nurture in our thinking), or even of Muslim influence, maybe we should take what is in Luke 12 to heart:
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.Muslim's aren't 'the one' to fear.
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
According to the above passage, who should we fear, or deeply respect? "Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell." The only one who will ever have that power is God. But do we need to really be afraid of God? "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."
Jesus, as far as I can tell, didn't ask any of his frequent dinner guests (sinners and tax collectors) to change, to be transformed, prior to eating with them. Notice I said 'prior'! They came for the grub, and the companionship!
See, it is possible to eat and drink with people of different backgrounds, because Jesus did it!
Was he afraid that a vagrant or criminal would stab and kill him? Where would God's plan be, then? Yet Jesus didn't have any bodyguards!
Was Jesus afraid that they would convince him of some dangerous philosophy that would steer him off course? Of course not! The suggestion is absurd! God has NOTHING to fear from any of man's thinking!
And Jesus asked them for their benefit, not his own. He was concerned about their health, safety, and well-being. And just so, we should be thinking about the Muslim next door! What would benefit them? Would it be to turn them away? No.
So let the Muslim come. Let the Buddhist, the Hindu, and the Atheist come. We have NO REASON TO FEAR!
In this post I was in NO way saying that we have any reason to expect a certain behavior from Muslim people! I am merely trying to discuss and deal with common fears and attitudes, and they have to be discussed at their level, which is fear of death.
ReplyDeleteAlso, after making this post I realized that some may think that I endorse 'Love bombing' which is the practice of acting like you are someone's friend to get them into church, and it's used by many cults. I despise 'love bombing' because it is not true interaction. It is a lie. What Jesus did, I'm sure, was not 'love bombing' but taking a sincere interest in another's life. That's the point.