{"id":866,"date":"2017-06-08T12:51:33","date_gmt":"2017-06-08T12:51:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/?p=866"},"modified":"2017-06-08T12:51:33","modified_gmt":"2017-06-08T12:51:33","slug":"christians-response-hatred-world-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/2017\/06\/christians-response-hatred-world-today.html","title":{"rendered":"The Christian’s Best Response to Hatred in Our World Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"cross<\/a><\/p>\n

Our world is currently at war. It isn\u2019t a war of vans hitting pedestrians, suicide bombers or knife-wielding lunatics.\u00a0 Those are just the consequences of this war.\u00a0 We currently are in a war of ideas<\/em>.<\/p>\n

These ideas range from whether people should be able to freely practice their religion \u2013 or not. Or whether women should have the same freedoms and opportunities for education and professional advancement as men \u2013 or not.\u00a0 And whether ideological differences give one human being the right to attack another \u2013 or not.<\/p>\n

It is a war of good ideas against evil ideas. In this war, then, as Christians it is our job, nay our responsibility, is to spread good ideas<\/em>.\u00a0 That is the only meaningful weapon that we have against the evil that currently pervades our world.<\/p>\n

The first thing that we can do to spread good ideas is to stop being too shy to express what we believe. Very often, we don\u2019t want to share what we believe because we don\u2019t want to annoy or offend others with our beliefs.\u00a0 So, we say nothing.<\/p>\n

However, we can share our beliefs without being condescending. For instance, I can tell someone that I am a Christian (and that I believe in turning the other cheek and in serving others) without implying that the other person is wrong-headed if they practice another religion.\u00a0 As Christians, what we want to do is to participate in an exchange <\/em>of ideas with others.\u00a0 That means that we aren\u2019t running around trying to \u201csave\u201d people by telling them that their religion is wrong.\u00a0 That isn\u2019t helpful.<\/p>\n

Instead, we need to begin the conversation by telling others what we believe about God and life. We then we need to listen to what they believe about God and life.\u00a0 And hopefully while talking to one another, we will find areas where we have common ground.\u00a0 That common ground then will be the basis on which we can work together.<\/p>\n

Importantly, if we are going to tell others what we believe, we have to practice what we preach. We can\u2019t talk about Christian love, and then insult Muslim women who wear a head scarf.\u00a0 We can\u2019t talk about Christian service, and then turn a blind eye to refugees.\u00a0 We can\u2019t pretend to believe in peace, and then excuse excessive use of force by our police.\u00a0 And we can\u2019t espouse Christian justice, if we refuse to support gay rights.\u00a0 When we do, our Christianity is shallow and our ideas are unpersuasive.<\/p>\n

Christianity is a religion that, at its heart, is about how we can live more harmoniously together. The New Testament gives us a blueprint for creating a world in which we treat others with kindness, and in which we care for those who struggle.\u00a0 It is a religion that is all about holding ourselves to the highest standards of ethics and morality.\u00a0 These are ideas that are worth sharing and spreading.<\/p>\n

But the greatest power that Christianity has in this war of ideas is the Christian message of hope<\/em>.\u00a0 The Christian message is that no matter how terrible things may appear, we are not alone.\u00a0 God is with us.\u00a0 The message is that no matter how many mistakes you have made, God loves you.\u00a0 And there is no mistake that you can make that is so great that God will not forgive you.<\/p>\n

That is the most powerful message that we, as Christians, can send to would-be terrorists, skinheads, white supremacists, and suicide bombers. God loves you.<\/em><\/p>\n

People who are attracted to groups that promote hate and violence are people who do not know God\u2019s love. They are people who feel left out of society.\u00a0 They feel unloved, unaccepted and forgotten.\u00a0 They probably have felt the sting of rejection or the pain of abuse.\u00a0 So, they are attracted to groups who condone their venting their anger at the world.<\/p>\n

If we want to stop these individuals from going down the wrong path, we need to share with them the love of God. We need to be ambassadors of God\u2019s love on earth by treating every person that we encounter with kindness and respect.\u00a0 And maybe, if they feel that love of God from us, groups like ISIS, the KKK and others won\u2019t seem so attractive anymore.\u00a0 Maybe then we, as Christians, can truly rid our world of hatred and establish heaven on earth.<\/p>\n

(Photo Courtesy of Pexels)<\/p>\n

My new book, The Secrets to Success for the Working Mother<\/a><\/em>, is now available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback formats.\u00a0\u00a0If you purchase a copy, consider writing a review.\u00a0 I would be delighted to hear your feedback!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our world is currently at war. It isn\u2019t a war of vans hitting pedestrians, suicide bombers or knife-wielding lunatics.\u00a0 Those are just the consequences of this war.\u00a0 We currently are in a war of ideas. These ideas range from whether people should be able to freely practice their religion \u2013 or not. 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