I don’t think Jesus ever put state above faith. One cannot serve two masters you know. I’ll let the scriptures speak for the respect we should have of “other gospels”.
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8-9
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
>>They do profess to be descendants of Abraham, just as the Jews do and just as we Christians do.<<
The promise is to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God Specifically stated the lineage that was to be blessed as “sons of Abraham”.
Abraham released Ishmael and Hagar as slaves. At the age of fourteen, Ishmael became a free man along with his mother. Under Mesopotamian law, their freedom absolved them from laying claim to any inheritance that Abraham and Sarah had.
The Arabs have no special rights and the god they serve is NOT the God of the Bible.
>>Again, the pope is not perfect in all he says and does.<<
Non of us are perfect but when one openly receives the Muslims or any other who openly denies Christ as savior is “partaker of his evil deeds” and is to be condemned and avoided. I would suggest the Pope entered that category.
CynicalBear, I did not say that Arabs have special rights nor did I say that they serve the God the God of the Bible. If that is what you think I said, it is a misunderstanding.
I am well aware of the the story of Hagar and her son and the Arab/Muslim claim that it was Ishmael whom Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice.
I spoke of what they claim and how the pope may have been respectful of that in his actions. Isn’t it more important to start from common ground rather than what separates us?
Jesus went among and interacted with people that were prohibited to the Jewish people. He associated with sinners, a prostitute, lepers and tax collectors and by doing so, scandalized His fellow Hebrews.
Peter in the verse I gave you says quite openly that it is forbidden for him to be around Gentiles lest he be considered impure because of it. Yet, he knew the Holy Spirit had led him to do so.
Everyday I interact with people who are not of my faith. Am I to refuse service in my department store to a LDS family seeking to buy clothes for the son who is going on a mission? Shall I attack and curse the Jehovah’s Witnesses who come to my door? How about the many Indian/Pakistani/Iranian/Iraqi/Asian people I meet? Shall I curse them? Or can I be respectful without accepting their faith as truth?
Are they not children of God too? Does God not want them to be with Him in heaven for eternity?
For that matter, what of the protestant ministers who have attended mass or held prayer services with Catholics and people of non-Christian faiths? Remember those held after 9/11?
It is a complicated world in which we live. The pope, as do we all, must find a way to live in peace with others and pray that through our peaceful interactions we may be a light of truth for them.