The difference between our faith and their 'religion' is we don't murder those who do not believe. So yes, you can blame them because everyone in their conscious knows that murder is wrong. They know this because GOD convicts and sets it in the mind that murder is wrong. If you think I'm wrong saying this, then prove how one can stand before Christ on judgment day and say "I did know murder was wrong, I was deceived"?
What will they blame us for? Spreading love about Christ?
Hi there Chad. Are you differentiating 'Christianity' from 'religion'? You may need to explain this further. Reading between the lines I am guessing that you are saying that institutionalised religion is not Christianity or vice versa. Is that an acknowledgement of Christianity's sometimes violent past in the hands of (for example) Catholicism and a statement of your disassoiation from it? If so, that makes a certain kind of sense and I can happily accept that.
I wouldn't, for a second, want you to think that I believe anybody on this forum has violence in their heart. I accept that the nature of most believers is one that promotes peace and love. people are people though..and that meansthat there is always going to be a breakaway element within the wider community that expresses itself in an extreme manner, hence my reference to religious hate groups that call themselves Christian.
In reference to murder by Christians, there has been a number of murders of abortion clinic doctors in the USA and beyond (please do not read this as any kind of sanctioning of abortion on my part). So, yes, it does happen but I accept that this is in no way an indictment of Christian people as a whole.
Yes, I accept that murder is wrong and that Christ upholds the tenet of peace.
Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
No, I cannot prove anything about judgement day except to share a another lovely sentiment expressed in
Matthew (CH:5) that has stayed with me since my childhood...and which serves to remind me of the true heart of the Christian faith.
<SUP>5</SUP>Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
<SUP id=en-KJV-23241>6</SUP>Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
<SUP id=en-KJV-23242>7</SUP>Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
<SUP id=en-KJV-23243>8</SUP>Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
<SUP id=en-KJV-23244>9</SUP>Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
<SUP id=en-KJV-23245>10</SUP>Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
<SUP id=en-KJV-23246>11</SUP>Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. <SUP id=en-KJV-23247>12</SUP>
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Oh...and NO, I do not think that the bulk of Muslim people would condemn Christians for following their convictions of faith or for spreading their gospel. In fact, a personal example I can give is time spent in a Muslim prison in Abu dabi (no, not me. It was a friend caught drinking in a dry territory of the UAE). He was there for a month and it was not much fun for him. Anyway, he was advised to tell the judge that he is a Chrstian (he is a non-believer) even if he had no faith. Reason? Because it would be looked upon favourably that he was a person of faithful conviction and that it is believed that (in the words of his lawyer) "those who sincerely seek god will surely find truth".
Again, I am not trying to defend the Muslim faith. Rather, I am just saying that sometimes we (you, me, us) can sometimes lose sight of the fact that people are generally 'good' and want to live in peace, regardless of their beliefs.
Love and respect