Christianity turns the other cheek-Where is the outrage when a church is desecrated?

National Post Online ^ | 05/13/02 | Raymond J. de Souza

[ppaul]

One of Christianity's holiest shrines was profaned by armed terrorists.

No.
Don't you watch the news broadcasts?
They were Palestinian "militants" seeking refuge
from Israeli forced who wanted to assasinate them.
The UN and the EU have so declared.
They must be right, don't you think?

[sonserae]

Christ's church is not a building. Christ's church is written on our hearts...and no one can destroy that.

Matthew 5:38-47

An Eye for an Eye

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

[SlickWillard]

Christianity turns the other cheek

I wonder if the editor who penned this title even knows who it was that counseled this course of action?

[biblewonk]

Sounds like the Vatican is trying to rally another Crusade.

[Caipirabob]

Sounds like they're mad we're being "Christian" about it.

[CWRWinger]

Christ's church is not a building. Christ's church is written on our hearts...and no one can destroy that.

Absolutely correct. Only the world system puts its faith in brick and mortar.

[Asclepius]

The Church of the Nativity was desecrated. The Christian response was a disgrace.

And when the Hagia Sophia was desecrated?

[SouthernFreebird]

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.Matthew 28

[Asclepius]

Sounds like the Vatican is trying to rally another Crusade.

Cool idea. Maybe there's an e-saver to Malta. And I look smashing in Templar blue.

[browardchad]

I somehow doubt that Jesus Christ would also join in singing "Imagine" in the Roman Colliseum. OK, turn the other cheek, but don't rationalize the wrong in the name of "peace." When the Church does that, it blurs the line between good and evil -- a further confusion this world most definitely doesn't need.

[Smittie]

I know it's just a building of building of stone & wood, but what made me the maddest was the disrespect shown by the terrorists inside and those Arabs who supported them from the outside.

Can you imagine the outcry if anyone occupied the dome of the rock or the mosque at mecca?

[wheezer]

I was very pleased that the vast majority of Christians kept their cool while those with agendas attempted to get them riled up over the situation.

[Blood of Tyrants]

First, places are not sacred to Christianity (at least not the places that God has not declared as holy). A church is not the buliding, it is the people who go there to worship and learn about God and Jesus. Yes, it is damaged, but the building is just brick and stone and wood. All of which can be easily cleande or replaced.

Second, I hold the PLO in such low esteem that my opinion of them COULDN'T be worse. They are animals with no respect for anything. Even their supposed association with a false religion is a lie. They care no more about Islam than what sympathy and money they can get from other Islam countries.

[sonserae]

Why do you even expect respect from the Arabs about a God they don't believe in? That's ludicrous. Imagine you showing respect for the Arab gods for a minute....Didn't think you could.

[Jerez]

We do not 'worship' buildings, but they can be sacred to us. They hold meaning for us. They are the repositories of our history. They help focus our faith and our communities. But perhaps the greatest testament to this particular spot -- the only one SOME people will accept -- lies in the gospel of John. Mary herself said, "The place is sanctified." And should remain so. This IS an outrage. The seventy-times-seven has been reached and exceeded, still with no repentance in sight. In other words -- ENOUGH ALREADY! This Christian is very angry!

[Texas Mom]

It needs to be said. The occupation of the Church of the Nativity by armed Palestinian terrorists was a gravely anti-Christian act. Much has been made of how the basilica was filthy but not seriously damaged. To speak only of what happens to a church physically is to miss the point. One of Christianity's holiest shrines was profaned by armed terrorists. It is blasphemy to use the house of God as a military refuge. For more than a month, the faithful were denied access to the basilica to pray while the gunmen used its status as a house of prayer as a tactical advantage.

First of all, it's a building. Historical maybe but it should be treated with reverence and respect but Our Lord may have been born there, but he isn't there anymore and we are told when he returns he will make all things new. It broke my heart to see what they did. Not so much what was done but their under disregard for the place.

Christians can pray any place. They don't need to go to a shrine to pray. Thhe Muslims hate Christians as much as they hate the jews so this was no surprise to me when it was left like a pig pen. They didn't desacrate the place. They desacrated themselves by their hate that their relgion teaches and stresses. They will answer for it one day and I believe that day is coming soon.

[galt-jw]

did Jesus turn the other cheek when he overturned the money changer tables in the temple? turn the other cheek is merely a convenient way to avoid standing up for good, confronting evil.

[lavaroise]

Somehow I do not get in there where it means we need to encourage terrorists in their terrorism. If a terrorist wants to blow himself up, go blow yourself up with him too? If he comes to desecrate and do bad things in the name of the Lord and he asks you to go one mile with him there, would you go 2 miles?

I am sorry, but some christians out there have a completely twisted sense of the jurisdictions Christ was talking about. For there is a difference between making war or argument for jurisdictions we do not own, and making war and arguments for jurisdictions over which we are granted custody, despite our sinful nature.

1. Christ forbid people from testing the Lord. And not acting when the jurisdiction of loved ones is being desecrated is testing the lord.

2. Christ specificaly said that he came to bring us a sword against those aiming at invading the jurisdictions of those who worshiped him.

and indeed, desecrating his place of worship means we must use his sword that he sent:

[33] But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

[34] Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.