What do you think of my response to a newspaper opinion article?

[Romans922]

In our local newspaper some 'Christian' wrote in an article called "Love our neighbors; welcome a mosque".

This is in response to a particular city's debate about whether or not to allow a Muslim Mosque to be built in their city. Many Christians argued against it, thankfully, but this person wrote some of the following:

"As a Christian and a United Methodist I am greatly concerned about something which has been in the news for weeks and I feel I must speak out..." He then goes on to show that Constitutionally the Muslims have a right to build their mosque. Then he says, "But the fact remains that most Muslims are peaceful, law-abiding people who only want the right to worship in peace, the right guaranteed them in the Constitution. Christians, Muslims and Jews are all the children of Abraham and the children of God. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors. Shouldn't we love all our neighbors, and not just the Baptists or Methodists?"

I agree that constitutionally they have a right to build it, but my response (the italicized) is currently the following, please correct me in any way.




"Mr. _____ says, "Jesus taught us to love our neighbors." He also commanded us to love the Lord alone and have no other gods (Ex. 20:3), to keep His commandments (1 Jn. 5:3), to worship Him in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24). Jesus says, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” To love your neighbor and forsake the truth of the Lord is blasphemous.
You can say you love your neighbor all you want, but to abandon a love of the truth you thereby forsake loving the only living and true God. “Shouldn’t we love all our neighbors…?” Yes, we should. But that means that we speak the truth to them in love. The point? As Christians loving our neighbor does not mean that we stand with open arms to any false religion. It does not mean that we all worship the same god and so we should accept pagan practices. No, Christians worship the triune God and they stand for the truth."






How can I make this better?

 

[Zenas]

You're impliedly stating the crux of the disagreement is how one defines "Loving your nieghbor". Expressly state it, and then define it Biblically. After that, conclude that the writer to whom you are responding is correct: we are supposed to love our nieghbor. However, loving our nieghbors is not what he described as he has obviously misunderstood. Rather, loving our nieghbors is speaking to them the truth of God's means of salvation for people, i.e. Christ and Christ alone; not letting them continue down a false path.

 

[Wayne]

No, Christians worship the triune God and they stand for the truth."[/I]

Suggestion:

"No, Christians worship the one true God who exists eternally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and they stand for the truth."

OR

"No, Christians worship the one true God who exists eternally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and they stand for the truth that only through Jesus Christ can we be made right before God. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)."

 

[Zenas]

"Mr. _____ says, "Jesus taught us to love our neighbors." He also commanded us to love the Lord alone and have no other gods (Ex. 20:3), to keep His commandments (1 Jn. 5:3), to worship Him in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24). Jesus says, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” To love your neighbor and forsake the truth of the Lord is blasphemous.
You can say you love your neighbor, but to abandon a love of the truth by accepting falsehood you thereby forsake loving the only living and true God, against what He has commanded. “Shouldn’t we love all our neighbors…?” Yes, we should. But how is loving your neighbor defined? It means that we speak the truth to them in love. Christians loving our neighbors does not mean that we stand with open arms to any false religion; that would in fact be hating them and allowing them to continue down a path Christ tells us is wrong. Rather, we are to speak the truth and be salt and light to the Earth. We do not all worship the same god and so we should not accept pagan practices. Christians worship the triune God and they stand for the truth."

I amended your statement some. Use it as you wish.

 

[BobVigneault]

It's a great response Pastor Barnes, thank you for standing in the gap.

 

[Christusregnat]

In our local newspaper some 'Christian' wrote in an article called "Love our neighbors; welcome a mosque".

This is in response to a particular city's debate about whether or not to allow a Muslim Mosque to be built in their city. Many Christians argued against it, thankfully, but this person wrote some of the following:

"As a Christian and a United Methodist I am greatly concerned about something which has been in the news for weeks and I feel I must speak out..." He then goes on to show that Constitutionally the Muslims have a right to build their mosque. Then he says, "But the fact remains that most Muslims are peaceful, law-abiding people who only want the right to worship in peace, the right guaranteed them in the Constitution. Christians, Muslims and Jews are all the children of Abraham and the children of God. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors. Shouldn't we love all our neighbors, and not just the Baptists or Methodists?"

I agree that constitutionally they have a right to build it, but my response (the italicized) is currently the following, please correct me in any way.




"Mr. _____ says, "Jesus taught us to love our neighbors." He also commanded us to love the Lord alone and have no other gods (Ex. 20:3), to keep His commandments (1 Jn. 5:3), to worship Him in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24). Jesus says, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” To love your neighbor and forsake the truth of the Lord is blasphemous.
You can say you love your neighbor all you want, but to abandon a love of the truth you thereby forsake loving the only living and true God. “Shouldn’t we love all our neighbors…?” Yes, we should. But that means that we speak the truth to them in love. The point? As Christians loving our neighbor does not mean that we stand with open arms to any false religion. It does not mean that we all worship the same god and so we should accept pagan practices. No, Christians worship the triune God and they stand for the truth."






How can I make this better?

It is a very good response.

You may also choose to point out that tolerating false religions is not love, but hatred of our neighbors.

Cheers,

 

[jwithnell]

Brother, I agree 100 percent that we need to stand against the spreading stain of Islam and that most ecumenically-minded folks are just wrong-headed; however, I wonder if the newspaper opinion page is the place to fight this battle? The not-taking-a-brother to court thought comes to mind here; same with not casting pearls before swine.

 

[Tripel]

You may also choose to point out that tolerating false religions is not love, but hatred of our neighbors.

Can you speak a little more to this?

 

[TimV]

As long as you can substitute words like Muslim and Mosque with Jew and Synagogue I think it's good. If you can't I think it's bad. And the same with motive. If you are more passionate about keeping a Mosque out of town than a Synagogue, I'd meditate a bit on my motives.

 

[A guy]

In our local newspaper some 'Christian' wrote in an article called "Love our neighbors; welcome a mosque".


"Mr. _____ says, "Jesus taught us to love our neighbors." He also commanded us to love the Lord alone and have no other gods (Ex. 20:3), to keep His commandments (1 Jn. 5:3), to worship Him in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24). Jesus says, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” To love your neighbor and forsake the truth of the Lord is blasphemous.
You can say you love your neighbor all you want, but to abandon a love of the truth you thereby forsake loving the only living and true God. “Shouldn’t we love all our neighbors…?” Yes, we should. But that means that we speak the truth to them in love. The point? As Christians loving our neighbor does not mean that we stand with open arms to any false religion. It does not mean that we all worship the same god and so we should accept pagan practices. No, Christians worship the triune God and they stand for the truth."
How can I make this better?

I don't see how a group being allowed to build a mosque is the equivalent of openly accepting any false religion. There are many things people have the freedom to do that I do not accept. I can reason with someone about worshipping the true God alone, but I cannot force him to do so.

I don't think preventing a mosque from being built will turn him to Christianity, any more than a muslim preventing a church from being built would turn me to Islam.

 

[Puritan Sailor]

I would also add a line about who the true "children of Abraham" really are, only those who believe in Christ (Gal 3, Romans 4, etc.).

 

[Zenas]

In our local newspaper some 'Christian' wrote in an article called "Love our neighbors; welcome a mosque".


"Mr. _____ says, "Jesus taught us to love our neighbors." He also commanded us to love the Lord alone and have no other gods (Ex. 20:3), to keep His commandments (1 Jn. 5:3), to worship Him in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24). Jesus says, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” To love your neighbor and forsake the truth of the Lord is blasphemous.
You can say you love your neighbor all you want, but to abandon a love of the truth you thereby forsake loving the only living and true God. “Shouldn’t we love all our neighbors…?” Yes, we should. But that means that we speak the truth to them in love. The point? As Christians loving our neighbor does not mean that we stand with open arms to any false religion. It does not mean that we all worship the same god and so we should accept pagan practices. No, Christians worship the triune God and they stand for the truth."
How can I make this better?

I don't see how a group being allowed to build a mosque is the equivalent of openly accepting any false religion. There are many things people have the freedom to do that I do not accept. I can reason with someone about worshipping the true God alone, but I cannot force him to do so.

I don't think preventing a mosque from being built will turn him to Christianity, any more than a muslim preventing a church from being built would turn me to Islam.

It's not the mosque building that he's rejecting, it's the suggestion by the author that Islam is a valid religion and that you're not being a "good" Christian unless you accept that premise and welcome the mosque. The author of the original article has confused "loving your nieghbor" with "allowing your neighbor to do what he wants to be happy". Loving someone, and doing what it takes to make them happy, are often two different things. I love my baby, but when they're here, I will often have to do things that will not only not make them happy, but make them unhappy. Why? Because I love them.

 

[Tripel]

The author of the original article has confused "loving your nieghbor" with "allowing your neighbor to do what he wants to be happy".

You're attributing something to the author that isn't so evident.

Loving someone, and doing what it takes to make them happy, are often two different things.

Of course they are. Please show me where they author said otherwise.

 

[Zenas]

I'm withdrawing from the conversation because I am given to become angry with Daniel and become uncharitable.

 

[Tripel]

Andrew,

Your conclusion is

The author of the original article has confused "loving your nieghbor" with "allowing your neighbor to do what he wants to be happy".

Mine is that when the author points to "love your neighbor" he wants to avoid making a stink and moan every time people are publicly practicing their religion.

So yes,we have different conclusions.

 

[jwithnell]

Now, had the Pastor not been charitable in his response, it could be questionable

No doubt it is a charitable response.

.. just trying to raise the thought of "keeping it in the family," although I fully recognize that the mainline churches push the edge of what is still family ...

 

[Webservant]

Andrew,

It is not standing with open arms to allow someone to purchase property and to use it in a lawful manner. Also, just as there is no "I know God says... but" there should be no "I know it's Constitutional, but...". You either have rights or you don't. If they have already purchased the property, and you are depriving them of a lawful use, in my opinion that's the same as stealing. I can't agree with this unless there is a statute or law requiring prior approval - which, if based on zoning laws is constitutional - but if it's based on the religious use of the property, is not.

Now, before the arrows start to fly - I wouldn't want a mosque in my neighborhood anymore than you all would. My concern is that when you hand the govt a weapon, isn't there the chance that they are going to use it against you? My former church had a 6 year legal battle before they could build. I have seen it happen.

Edit: I see this is in the "Theology" forum. It would have been at home in the "Government and Politics" forum as well.

 

[A guy]

My concern is that when you hand the govt a weapon, isn't there the chance that they are going to use it against you?

This.

 

[Pergamum]

I would just like to state that if the zoning laws do not favor you than the Mosque has a right to be able to build.

In light of our pluralistic society (which does not prohibit the freedom of even false religions to gather peacefully) I would point out in the article that while we have laws to allow free assembly in order to worship, that churches all across the muslim world get burned or closed every week.

This should give us pause on why the Muslim world desires tolerance for itself in the West but does not reciprocate this tolerance once in the majority.

 

[JennyG]

You have a day's work here just to sift through all the suggestions/amendments!
No way will I quibble about what you're actually saying, but if you'll forgive me, can I suggest a grammatical improvement?

You can say you love your neighbor all you want, but to abandon a love of the truth you thereby forsake loving the only living and true God.

Either:

to abandon.....is to forsake

Or:

if you abandon........you thereby forsake

Point 2, I'm also not sure about "forsake loving", just as an expression. I would have said you forsake a person, not an action. Why not repeat the verb "abandon"? It strengthens the point if anything.

"to abandon a love of the truth is to abandon the love of the living God of truth"

 

[VilnaGaon]

As long as you can substitute words like Muslim and Mosque with Jew and Synagogue I think it's good. If you can't I think it's bad. And the same with motive. If you are more passionate about keeping a Mosque out of town than a Synagogue, I'd meditate a bit on my motives.

Good point Tim, Orthodox Judaism is even more hostile to the Lord Jesus than Muslims are. Orthodox Jews blasphemously refer to the Lord Jesus as Yeshu Ha-Notzri, Yeshu being an acronymn for ""Yimmach Shemo Vezikro""---(may his name be blotted out)(ref to book ""Escape from Jesus""). Muslims at least have a superficial respect for Jesus. In the Shemoneh Esrei prayer in the Siddur, Orthodox Jews call on God to wipe out the Christians(Minim).
In Israel Orthodox Jews harass Jewish Christians continually. Gentile Christians are tolerated out of fear of the West and for Tourist Dollars. On the other hand Jewish Churches have been burned. And you can see on youtube, videos of some of these confrontations in Israel.

 

[JennyG]

I would just like to state that if the zoning laws do not favor you than the Mosque has a right to be able to build.

In light of our pluralistic society (which does not prohibit the freedom of even false religions to gather peacefully) I would point out in the article that while we have laws to allow free assembly in order to worship, that churches all across the muslim world get burned or closed every week.

This should give us pause on why the Muslim world desires tolerance for itself in the West but does not reciprocate this tolerance once in the majority.

Plus ca change....historically it's always been exactly the same with Rome

 

[Albatross]

This.

Profound.