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July 07, 2005

More Terror

It appears that we live in a world that continues to respond to pain by inflicting pain on others. I am aware that many in the Arab world have felt for many years that their cry for a homeland for Palestinian people has fallen upon deaf ears yet I cannot condone or have sympathy for those who are determined to get their way by violent means. My heart goes out to those in London who even as I write are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives, make sense out of what appears to be sheer evil and go on with life. Jesus lived in a time when it would appear that violence was needed to secure the human rights of his people yet he never advocated the violent responses we see from terrorists who ask us to be sympathetic to their concerns.

I realize that the continual conflict between the Palestinian people and the nation of Israel coupled with the war in Iraq are events that are complicated. I do not profess to be an authority on what produces terrorists outside of the condition of sin. I pray for anyone who allows hurt to make them hate to the point where they would kill not only those who have hurt them but to kill indiscriminately. My prayer also is that those of us who are disciples will realize that when we allow disagreements with others to consume us that our anger and hatred smothers out the love of God in Jesus Christ.

I call upon all Holston Conference United Methodist to:
1. begin praying on a scheduled basis for the intervention of peace and to find ways to promote sisterhood and brotherhood especially with people who are not like us.
2. find ways to setup prayer circles in your congregations in which we seek ways that we can advocate for peace in our communities, in our states, in our nation, and around the world.

Please don't let this hurt cause you to forget him who is the Prince of peace

Posted by Bishop at July 7, 2005 12:50 PM

Comments

On this day when the folks in London are facing more cowardly acts perpetrated by those who use fear and terror as weapons, how many of the citizens are prepared to cry out, "I know I am supposed to love those who would persecute me, but I have no love left in my heart. I have only anger and resentment towards the people who have no value of life, not even their own."

Yes, we must pray to the Prince of Peace for His power and presence to envelope the hatred of the world, but today, let us be especially mindful of our brothers and sisters in England, and say a prayer for them. Let us pray that their hearts will not become hardened, and they will be able to resist the temptation to be overcome by evil and find the strength to overcome evil with good.

Grace & Peace

Posted by: Gregg Bostick [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 21, 2005 11:21 AM