Thinking about this dreadful day some 13 years ago and especially about what is going on today can get some people sad. Others may become vengeful and angry. While I grieve over the atrocities of Al Qaeda and now more recently Isis I do know that Islam is more than just these splinter groups just like Christians are not all represented by Westboro Baptist or Pat Robertson. WHile I disagree with the general message of Islam I actually think that Muslims can teach us something. All truth is God’s truth. Here are a couple of verses from the Quran that I feel are rather insightful:
Say: “O People of the Scripture! Stress not in your religion other than the truth” (5:77 MP/80 AYA).
Do ye enjoin right conduct on the people, and forget (to practice it) yourselves, and yet ye study the Scripture? (2:44 AYA).
Maybe instead of pointing our finger at Muslims
Claiming that Islam is religion of hate
We could start practicing what we already know
Like The truth
Not a bunch of propositions (although these are important)
But some practices we seem to have forgotten
Since the era of Constantine
Like loving your enemies and turning the other cheek
It’s a shame that we are not known for being peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)
since we follow the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
Every Muslim is not a terrorist
Just like every Christian is not a white suburban right wing bigot
Let’s get past the stereotypes, hasty generalizations, and misinformed interpretations
And learn to love our neighbor
It’s time to practice what we preach
If you want to get involved in peacemaking particularly with Muslims you can check out the ministries of Rick Love and Carl Medearis
