Muslim hatred of Western Civilization continues to root its ugly head. It seems like every other day we are faced with a tragedy caused by Muslim hate. The most recent tragedy being the school hostage situation in Russia. I can't believe anyone would kill innocent children to make a point. Obviously, they must have a deep hatred for us.
Laura Bush had this to say at the Republican National Convention:
"These last three years since Sept. 11, have been difficult years in our country's history, years that have demanded the hope, grief and perseverance that our soldier's husband wrote about. We've learned some lessons we didn't want to know -- that our country is more vulnerable than we thought, that some people hate us because we stand for liberty, religious freedom and tolerance."
I have to disagree. True, I'm no first lady, but the Muslims don't appear to hate us because we're free. They hate us because we are immoral and we try to spread our immorality into their cultures in order to profit from it. We're hated because of our porn, our fast food, our Hollywood, our music, our indulgence in extravagant lifestyles, our invasion of their culture to profiteer, etc.
Here are a few good links on why they hate us. We're clueless and our support of oppressive regimes. Our cultural decadence and hyper-materialism. We have killed thousands of innocent children in war in the Middle East.
This doesn't give them an excuse to do what they do, but I can understand their frustration. I'm frustrated with the immorality of our culture, and I'm hit with it every day. I can't watch a commercial break and not be worried that Isaac is seeing something he shouldn't. (Have you seen that new Burger King commercial with the woman riding the mechanical horse? I can't believe that it is on t.v.) Imagine if I wasn't slightly immune to it.
We failed to take the tragedy and turn it into an opportunity for anything other than taking over the world. September 11 was a call to examine ourselves. (That doesn't mean that God caused it. It also doesn't mean he didn't. We can have another discussion on that someday if we are so inclined. But God would use a terrible thing to make us better.) We immediately looked for someone else to blame. That seems like the attitude of an immature kid on the playground when being made fun of.
Now, don't use the excuse that they're going to hate us anyway. That might be true, but a Bible verse addresses that issue.
(1 Pet 3:16-17 NASB) "Keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. {17} For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong."
They don't hate us because we are democratic and have freedoms. Despite what Laura Bush and all the other politicians have said since September 11, they don't hate us for our good. I would be fine if they hated us because we were building them houses, giving the naked clothing, visiting their prisoners, feeding their hungry, or sharing the good new of the kingdom. However, they hate us becaue of our immorality, and we seem to be willing to kill them for that.
There should be a major difference between Muslims and Christians. They react to their enemies by flying airplanes into towers, by blowing up embassies, by blowing up airplanes, and by taking schools or theatres hostage and killing away.
If I was to examine our culture, I would have to say we respond to our enemies by shooting missiles at them, by forcing them to live the way we do, by riding tanks into their cities, and by manipulating them to be more democratic.
Neither culture takes the Christian approach.
(Mat 5:43-48 NASB) ""You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.' {44} "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you {45} in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. {46} "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? {47} "And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? {48} "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
(Luke 6:27-29 NASB) ""But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, {28} bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. {29} "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either."
We are called to a life of love. That life of love is extreme. It extends all the way to when terrible things are happening to us. It extends all the way to the doer of evil things to me. It extends to all of our enemies. When someone is trying to kill me, I need to love them. When someone is trying to kill innocent children, I am called to love them. It is a radical life, but it is what we are called to when we take the step to follow Christ.
If I am to be hated, I am to be hated for doing right, nothing else. If I am hated for my evil actions, then it is time to change. Let the world hate us for our love.
I think it is time for a change in America. Either quit calling ourselves a Christian nation or try to be like one. Loving one's enemies is a central tenet to the Chrstian life. America is hurting the name of Christ.
A Christian fights the war on terror by being more loving and more moral.
