Role Model Options

[truth-finder]

There was a bloody civil war in our home country about 60 years ago. A believer in Christ lived in a remote area and was respected by people for his generosity and loving care for the social outcasts such as lepers. When the communist rebel captured the area, their number-one target was this believer because even the underprivileged respected him more than the communist ideology of equal share. Because they could not find any fault in him to accuse of, they found some in his two sons. They carried out public execution of his sons in front of the father and other people. Some time later the area was recaptured by the government troop and the rebel leader was arrested by the army. For his atrocities including the execution of the innocent two sons, he was about to be executed by the army. When the father learned about the execution, he went to the army captain to beg for the life of the rebel leader. He told the captain that the death of two lives would be enough and that he did not want more death of precious lives. Eventually the captain was persuaded by his honest and genuine request for the release of the rebel leader. Later the father adopted this man as his own son, because he did not have his sons anymore. More surprisingly this heartless man was moved and touched by the genuine love of his new father to become a follower of Jesus Christ. In his biography the father wrote that he learned this unconditional forgiveness and sacrificial love from Jesus Christ, his Savior and Lord.
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:28)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (as a sacrifice for our sins) that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16)
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)

Due to the choice of forgiveness (instead of revenge) of a believer in Christ, one more precious live was spared from execution and furthermore became a messenger of forgiveness and love for other human beings. This believer in Christ is the role model of many Christians including me in our home country. Please feel free to share your comments with other readers.

You deserve much better than who you are now. You were born for much better than who you are now. You were created to be loved by God, not to perform religious duties and rituals. Let us not miss our full potential as true human being whose heart overflows with joy, thanks and freedom in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

This post has been edited by truth-finder: Jul 7 2010, 07:33 AM

[truth-finder]

Recently I have seen quite disturbing scenes posted by Muslims about atrocities done to Palestine people by Israel army. I also remember seeing similar images posed by Israelites that showed atrocities done to Jews by Palestine. Over the years I have seen numerous retaliations after retaliations to each other. I have wondered why this vicious bloody cycle of violence has happened and whether it would ever end. My conclusion is that unless both of them or at least one of them renounces the old law of eye for eye and tooth for tooth, and adopts the new law of grace opened by Jesus Christ, there is absolutely no hope for peace between the two countries. The old law of eye for eye and tooth for tooth promotes only retaliation, while the new law of grace leads to unconditional forgiveness. Thus the solution to the vicious bloody cycle of violence between Israel and Palestine is Jesus Christ, who demonstrated His unconditional love for us by dying on the cross to forgive our sins.

You deserve much better than who you are now. You were born for much better than who you are now. You were created to be loved by God, not to perform religious duties and rituals. Let us not miss our full potential as true human beings whose heart overflows with joy, thanks and freedom in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

[truth-finder]

Religious zeal and the love of God are two different things. But many people are confused about them. People with religious zeal are very sensitive and explosive, while people with the love of God are very tolerant and joyful. People with religious zeal are easily offended, while people with the love of God are just smiling.

People with religious zeal believe religion is the most important, while people with the love of God believe God and human beings are the most important. As a result those with religious zeal carry out cruel things on their own people for the glory of their religion. But those with the love of God show their love for God through their love for fellow human beings. Mother Teresa was one of good examples who had spent her whole life living with lepers and caring for the social outcasts.

As I look back to the history of our belief, there were some shameful times in the past when religious zeal dominated our faith, which is called the Dark Age. During this period our spiritual ancestors did many cruel things to humanity through the Crusades, the Inquisition and some other means in the name of religion and God. We are glad we do not live anymore in this shameful dark age of the past caused by the nationalization or institutionalization of belief.