Rev. Pat Robertson (A "Christian" minister, for heaven's sake) has commented about the Haitians, and it seems that in his omniscience he has determined them to be “deserving” of the devastation of the earthquake.
This self-righteous arrogance is like the comments that were made in 2005, that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment on the sins of New Orleans. There is a passage of the New Testament (Matthew 7:1) that such condemnatory and self-congratulating types need to memorize: “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
There is only one appropriate Christian response to this disaster, and that is help. We may think that a person in trouble is our ‘enemy,’ but the example of Jesus’ teaching (read Luke 10:29-37 again) reminds us that the ‘enemy’ is our neighbor, and the only limitation to those who are our neighbors is our openness to accepting them. If parables are too vague for some folks, then take the Lord’s direct teaching from the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5:43-48).
St. Paul says the same thing. “Do you want to get your laughs by ‘heaping burning coals’ on the heads of your so-called enemies?” he asks. “Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink….Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good” (Romans 12:20-21).
How many times do we have to be reminded of the teaching of Jesus in the parable of the sheep and the goats: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least ones, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40; see also v. 45)?
I feel constrained to write about what is the fundamental teaching of Jesus, to which every single Christian should be committed. There should be no need for a post like this. And yet…
This self-righteous arrogance is like the comments that were made in 2005, that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment on the sins of New Orleans. There is a passage of the New Testament (Matthew 7:1) that such condemnatory and self-congratulating types need to memorize: “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
There is only one appropriate Christian response to this disaster, and that is help. We may think that a person in trouble is our ‘enemy,’ but the example of Jesus’ teaching (read Luke 10:29-37 again) reminds us that the ‘enemy’ is our neighbor, and the only limitation to those who are our neighbors is our openness to accepting them. If parables are too vague for some folks, then take the Lord’s direct teaching from the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5:43-48).
St. Paul says the same thing. “Do you want to get your laughs by ‘heaping burning coals’ on the heads of your so-called enemies?” he asks. “Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink….Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good” (Romans 12:20-21).
How many times do we have to be reminded of the teaching of Jesus in the parable of the sheep and the goats: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least ones, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40; see also v. 45)?
I feel constrained to write about what is the fundamental teaching of Jesus, to which every single Christian should be committed. There should be no need for a post like this. And yet…
...and yet, it is good to be reminded! Aidan
ReplyDeleteRe: Matthew 7:1
ReplyDeleteAfter much contemplation and prayer, since (I have had a problem understanding the real essence of this message). I have come to understand that it is more that we not oondemn the person, but I have come to believe and understand that it is acceptable to reach out (in love) when someone is in error, for the sake of the greater good of that person/and the
Body of Christ as a whole (so to speak). Perhpas if people had cared enough to reach out to Fr. Cutie and his mistress, a priest would not have fallen. Jesus did not affirm St. Mary Magdalene in her sin, nor did he dismiss it, but rather lifted her up to a higher level from where she had been. HE chastised the others for their condemnation of her rather than strictly focusing on the condemnation of her sin, since they were also sinners. Love the sinner, hate the sin. I believe that to love one another is to help one another achieve a higher plane/level, even to the point of perhaps at times having to point out certain errors, even if it is uncomfortable/unpleasant. I hope my brothers and sisters care enough to do the same for me when I am unable to see my own errors and short comings.