Opinionated, influential Christians scare me!
I heard the other day (yes it is hearsay) about an internationally recognised christian evangelist and teacher who preaches that the 'mark of the beast' is not bar codes, nor 666, nor even secret script embedded in Microsoft windows, it's Muslims.
Apparently, he announces that a 'good Muslim' wears symbols on his forehead and wrist and these mark him as an Anti-christ. (I seem to remember the Christian Scriptures advocating that Jews were to wear these same symbols of allegiance.) He goes further and suggests that any Muslim that is not intentionally seeking the destruction of non-believers, is in fact a 'bad' Muslim.
This kind of preaching scares me, I believe it is not only inflammatory but wrong, and I reject it!
Too often people sprout ill informed, biased opinions grounded on stereotypical, politically motivated agenda. Their pronouncements aim to inflame emotions by perpetuating and celebrating differences, of which there will always be multiple, rather than seeking and encouraging the common ground.
It would seem to me that this agenda of 'division' is itself anti-christian. Didn't Jesus seek to unite and include? Even when people opposed him ('Anti-Christs') he identified them and then sought to include them - accepting them as they were first and attempting to transform them by relationship.
I have some amazing Islamic friends: people that I respect, trust and honour. People that are open to dialogue, men and women for whom acceptance, love and peace are life scripts.
It's easy to have and declare an opinion - it's much harder to have and develop a relationship. If I'm serious about influencing people (and proving that my faith relationship is worth having) then I need to stop talking and start being a friend.
