Christians respond to insult differently
We’ve all heard from friends, seen on TV and cable news, and read in the print media various opinions about the Charlie Hebdo massacre. The following article by john Stonestreet of the Charles Colson Center for Christian Worldview is a bit unique as it discusses the nature of the Christian response to insult — a response which is in stark contrast to the radical Islamist terrorist attack which left members of the Charlie Hebdo staff in pools of blood. Mr. Stonestreet’s article appeared first at breakpoint.org as: Radical Islam, Secularism and Christianity.
I would like to add that our response to insult to ourselves and to all that we hold dear should be the Christlike response. As the Apostle Peter said: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9) And, Jesus Himself said: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5: 11-12) RMF (originally posted here)
The horrific acts of terror in France offer a reminder to Christians. Christ’s kingdom advances in love, not force. I’ll explain.
G.K. Chesterton once said, “It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it.” Well, if that is indeed the test, then recent events in Paris prove that radical Islam fails miserably.
The horrific attacks in France were sparked by cartoons published by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. Throughout the years, many of Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons have mocked various religions and religious beliefs, including Muhammad and Islam, something that outraged radical Muslims. For example, an imam in London (that’s right—London), Anjem Choudary, wrote in the wake of the massacres that the twelve victims brought their deaths on themselves. Said Choudary, “It is time that the sanctity of a Prophet revered by up to one-quarter of the world’s population was protected.”
On one level, of course, Christians can agree that mocking the religious beliefs of others is deplorable. In fact, we face that kind of mockery ourselves. …