The Hospitality of Abraham icon depicts unity, and the welcoming of strangers
Posted on 12/13/2015 4:37:55 AM PST by lightman
The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Englewood, New Jersey
As Orthodox Christians, we take to heart the commandments of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, especially the commandment that He has told us is the greatest, that is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself†(Matthew 22:39).
We have watched with dismay as several public figures have played on the fear which they assume has swept over this country. Specifically, a recent news release from the Trump campaign has called for “a total and complete shutdown of all Muslims entering the United Statesâ€. We reject in the strongest possible terms both this specific call, and all speech and actions which would encourage hate and persecution against any group of people. We call on all leaders, in the political arena and in the faith community, to also reject this call, and to remember that such an action would bring dishonor to all of the brave men and women of all backgrounds who have given their lives to uphold the core values of freedom and dignity which we enjoy.
We have seen an alarming rise in recent days in the number of hateful and violent actions which have been perpetrated against Muslims, or those who are presumed to be Muslims. There is no doubt that such hateful rhetoric encourages those who may be inclined to violence to act out this violence. We condemn in the strongest possible terms any act of violence against any human being, and we are reminded that all human beings bear the image of God, and are to be respected as children of God. We also unconditionally condemn all acts of terror, such as the recent one in San Bernardino, California which brought pain to so many people.
The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America proclaims that all people must be treated with the respect and the dignity that is due to human beings. To single out people of an entire religion because of the senseless and horrific actions of terrorists actually assists the terrorists by reinforcing the divisions and fear which they wish to spread. We urge the civil authorities of the United States to use every effort to root out any threat of terror by legal and noble means.
As we journey through this Advent Season and prepare ourselves for the Lord to be born in a lowly cave in order to save us, we send up our prayers for all of the people who are suffering daily around the world, especially in the Middle East. We stand in solidarity with our friends and neighbors, and we will be of assistance to them in any way that we can. We ask our gracious and loving Lord to bring an abiding and lasting peace to the world, a peace that can only come from Him.
The Hospitality of Abraham icon depicts unity, and the welcoming of strangers
Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Grant victory to Thy Church over her enemies,
and protect Thy people by Thy Holy Cross!
As soon as Islam rejects the use of lying, assault, rape, enslavement, murder and war as a means of advancing their so called religion.
Bunch of faggots.
Lambs to the slaughter
Constantine XI spits upon them from the grave
Byzantium forever and ever.
And, they want to invite this into their house?
Islam should be allowed as much freedom of action as they allow other religions in KSA.
Sorry there Antiochians, but America is preparing for war. Your Muslim brothers are going to undergo an enormous change in lifestyle as a result.
Tell it to the Yaziidi mothers being fed the fresh of their murdered children
Good morning.
I appreciate The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America sentiments, but NO.
Coulter had it right after 9-11.
5.56mm
It goes both ways.
They can stop killing us too and treating us like the dirt on the bottom of our shoes.
*Hateful speech?* PC code words for *Don’t say mean things like we should limit muslim immigration until we get this muslim thing sorted out*?
THAT is NOT hate speech.
Allah is not the God of Abraham.
I’m speechless.
I’m speechless.
The notion that Jesus was a pacifist and not a nationalist is flawed. Proponents of that opinion often cite the Scripture that says that he who lives by the sword will die by the sword as evidence after Peter cut off the ear of Malchus in Gethsemane. That is cited incorrectly. True that violence is a last resort...but why was Peter carrying a sword in the first place? And you don’t think Jesus knew he was carrying it? The reason why God told the ancient Israelites to wipe out every man, woman child and animal when they took the Promised Land is exactly what you see today. The strife in the ME is a direct result of that disobedience. Coexistence is a myth. God said so and Israel didn’t listen. And we will suffer the same consequences in the West if we allow migration and “integration”. It is cultural and physical suicide.
The use of this Abrahamic icon to promote unfettered Muslim integration seems to be so out of context with the Biblical record as to stagger the imagination.
The diocese of Antioch Orthodoxy ought to be ashamed.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
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