Posted on 07/07/2005 5:38:55 PM PDT by sionnsar
In times of great national tragedy, Christian leaders often feel the need to make public statements offering comfort and trying to describe What It All Means. One wishes that many of them would fight the urge. World Council of Churches Nobody Goes To Anymore head Samuel Kobia had this to say about the London attacks:
The news, images and stories of the terrorist attacks against civilians in London this morning filled my heart with sadness and concern.
I convey my condolences to the relatives and friends of those who were killed and express solidarity with the victims of these attacks. We pray to the Lord for peace and hope for all of them and for the inhabitants of London and the United Kingdom, who feel their lives to be in danger after these terrible events.
As Christians, we re-affirm our opposition to any form of violence. This radical rejection of violence has led the ecumenical movement to promote the "Decade to overcome violence: Churches seeking reconciliation and peace (2001 - 2010)". Peace is the only way to achieve justice for all. When, as it seems on this occasion, violence is deliberately targeting civilians and willing to create terror in the population, it could be described as a crime against humanity. There is nothing that can justify the killing of innocent people anywhere.
Deliberatly targeting civilians "could
be described as a crime against humanity," Gracie? I'd call it a pretty good bet. But the key phrase here is "our opposition to any form of violence." With it, Kobia implicitly equates terror attacks against civilians with the sorts of things legitimate governments do to prevent terror attacks against civilians. This is a monstrous distortion of the Scriptures considering that Kobia's Bible contains the following:
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil(Romans 13:-1-4).
Since the attacks took place in London, what did the Archbishop of Canterbury say?
The appalling events in London this morning have shocked us all. So I want first and foremost to extend my personal sympathy and condolences to everyone who is suffering and grieving at this time.
All those caught up in this tragedy - and that includes of course the emergency services whose selfless dedication and commitment is so vital at times like this - all are in my own prayers and in the prayers of a great many people.
As it happens I have spent this morning with Muslim colleagues and friends in West Yorkshire; and we were all as one in our condemnation of this evil and in our shared sense of care and compassion for those affected in whatever way.
I have no doubt that Dr. Williams has Muslim friends. But considering the post below this one, I have serious doubts that His Grace and his friends "were all as one in our condemnation of this evil."
The choice of the word "colleagues" was unfortunate. This online dictionary says the word means:
A fellow member of a profession, staff, or academic faculty; an associate.
Since my gracious lord of Canterbury heads a Christian church and is supposed to believe that:
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture(John 10:9).
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live(John11:25).
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me(John 14:6).
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved(Romans 10:9).
Among other things, all of which Muslims don't believe, one wonders what Dr. Williams does with his Muslim "colleagues."
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Jim,
This ranks among the top five most beautiful things I've seen in my life.
Thank you.
Quite a number of us miss Arlin.
Timothy 1:7 -- For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power,
of love and of self-discipline.
Excellent, thanks for posting this.
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