While as a Muslim I have my own holy book to draw from, I would like to remind our forebears, the silent Eastern Christians of the teachings of the wise and holy man Jesus of Nazareth:
'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
I have been looking through the bible for a part where it says "thou shalt ignore the suffering of others if thine acting could be to thy detriment" or "though shalt obey and support tyrants who permit you to celebrate Easter and Christmas in peace to slaughter unbelievers."
What I found instead was "They shall know we our Christians by our love". Perhaps open support of a brutal dictator who mocks you with a Sham of a constitution is what Paul meant by love? Perhaps silence during oppression and turning away from murder due to bigoted stereotypes about "Salafis" and extremists make their blood have less value.
Is this what Jesus meant when he pronounced "Love thy neighbor"? Perhaps it is a matter of interpretation?
'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
I have been looking through the bible for a part where it says "thou shalt ignore the suffering of others if thine acting could be to thy detriment" or "though shalt obey and support tyrants who permit you to celebrate Easter and Christmas in peace to slaughter unbelievers."
What I found instead was "They shall know we our Christians by our love". Perhaps open support of a brutal dictator who mocks you with a Sham of a constitution is what Paul meant by love? Perhaps silence during oppression and turning away from murder due to bigoted stereotypes about "Salafis" and extremists make their blood have less value.
Is this what Jesus meant when he pronounced "Love thy neighbor"? Perhaps it is a matter of interpretation?
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