October 12, 2012 (Friday)
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old girl in Pakistan, who insisted on getting an education, was shot twice by a member of the Taliban, a political movement rooted in extremist religion. The girl survives, but, if she lives, will probably never be able to talk. The would-be assassin believed her to be disobeying God in her desire to receive an education. In his mind, his religious beliefs justified his attempted murder of a young girl, whose only desire was to have what is freely offered to every American girl in this country. Obviously, the attacker of this girl was devoted to his religion, which led him to commit an unthinkably horrible and vicious act. Religion, in itself, can be good or bad. In this case, it is bad, very bad. The Taliban has promised to kill Malala if she survives this assault.
If our religion leads us to hate someone, hurt someone, or make life miserable for someone, we need to rethink everything we know about God. As we have come to know our God through our faith in Jesus Christ, we believe with all our heart that we should treat other people with respect and love. This is basic and is what Jesus taught us to do.
As a child of God–a follower of Jesus Christ, hatred should have no place in my life. Jesus taught us to go beyond the world’s standards of behavior and to treat others as we would like to be treated. The “Kingdom of God” is a spiritual kingdom that exists in your heart and mine as we obediently follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who loves all people so much that he died for each and every one of them.
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (Galatians 5:24-25 NLB).
These things are true whether or not we are in the midst of a political campaign. God does not grant us time off for bad behavior.