A group of Christians made a statement at the Texas State Capital in Austin this week, and I am ashamed. The Texas chapter of the Council on America-Islamic Relations annually sponsors a day when Muslims can visit the capital and learn about state politics. About two hundred Muslims showed up, but so did two dozen demonstrators. The protesters were Christians who carried signs objecting to the presence of the Muslims. They also shouted, "We don't want you here" and "Go home," to the visitors. One state legislator, Rep. Molly White, was part of the protest. Earlier Rep. White had stated that Muslims who visited her office would be asked to renounce Islamic terrorist and pledge allegiance to the United States. An editorial on the events in the Dallas Morning News was titled Ugliness Runs Rampant.
Do not get me wrong. I am troubled by the decline of mainline Christianity and the rise of religious diversity, but I am offended at the tactics used. I realize that some of the motivation for such actions are rooted in scripture. When God's children entered the Promised Land they were warned about the pagans now occupying the area. "Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy." (Deuteronomy 7:3) Later they were instructed to, "break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols." (Deuteronomy 7:5) Those instructions are found in the Old Testament, in other word Before Christ. Jesus changed all that. Jesus was all about grace. He made it clear that all were welcome in His Kingdom; "Make disciples of all nations." Jesus disciples discovered the scope of that command at Pentecost when individuals from throughout the world heard the gospel message in their own language.
Jesus sought to touch the lives of all people. He crossed the Jordan River and visited Decapolis. He ventured north of the Sea of Galilee into Syria. While a righteous Jew would have nothing to do with Samaritans, Jesus not only traveled through Samaria but invited the people to become part of his kingdom. Now, I think Jesus calls us to visit the Samaria's of our day. We are not to go to condemn but to offer peace and hope. We are to go to build relationships. Granted we are to share the Gospel message, but that can never happen if we do not go with an evangelical spirit. One of the judgments millennials make concerning the church is that we are anti other cultures, belief systems and lifestyles. That cannot be. All people, even Muslims, are Children of God. They need to be treated as such. Only when they see Jesus in us will we have the opportunity to share the message of hope that we cherish.
That's a good post. We are to be loving and spread the message of the gospel. There are a lot of good people out there of many different beliefs that still don't believe in Jesus. Unfortunate for them, but God will place someone in their path to share that gospel message. It would then be their decision to receive it and believe it for their salvation. But that's not for us to decide, our focus should always be on spreading the gospel of love and grace. Not hatred and dissension. When you really think about it, those who hate others for not believing in Jesus are really no better then those they hate. We are called to go and make disciples of all nations and that should always be our first and foremost task. But always with caution, because we still have an obligation to protect the innocent.
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