I caught this in the SacBee on September 10, 2010: "Sacramento Interfaith Leaders Plan 9/11 'Blessing of Peace' on Quran." I'm going to post the whole article at the end of this post, just in case it gets taken off the SacBee website, but I do want you to read it.
After you've read the article, here's your homework: The article mentions that in addition to reading from the Quran, several passages from the Old and New Testaments will be read (or were read, since this happened yesterday). From the NT a verse from Matthew 5, and from the OT a verse from Isaiah 2. Come on - do I even need to TELL you what I want you to do? Okay - I haven't blogged for a while, so you have forgotten how this works. :-) Look up those passages (and their contexts), and tell me what's wrong with using them for this purpose (other than the obvious "blessing the Quran" thing!).
Here, I'll make it easier for you: Matthew 5:9 and Isaiah 2:4.
Here's the article:
More than 50 members of Sacramento's interfaith community - including Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Quakers, Muslims and Druids - will meet at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of 9/11, for a "blessing of peace on the Quran."
The 7 p.m. event, on the steps of the cathedral at 11th and K streets, is designed to blunt the threats of Florida Pastor Terry Jones to burn the Quran.
Jones' associates said today that no Qurans will be burned, but organizers of Saturday's event "wanted to send an alternative vision from America - placing roses on the Quran as a symbol of peace and tolerance. The World Peace Garden in Capitol Park has agreed to supply us with three dozen roses," said the Rev. David Thompson, president of the Interfaith Service Bureau.
"Afterwards the roses will be given to Muslim families," Thompson said. "Whether or not the Florida pastor goes through with his scheme to burn copies of the Quran, we in Sacramento are hopeful of bringing cooperation and peace here as we try to undo the damage already done, to protect our troops and to affirm our Muslim brothers and sisters here in America and around the world."
Non-Muslims will give seven readings from the Quran.
"The passages are chosen to show there are peaceful, wonderful passages from the Quran," Thompson said.
Each reader will then place a rose on the Quran.
There will also be reading from Hebrew and Christian scriptures - "correctives from the faiths Terry Jones is supposed to be representing," Thompson said.
Father Michael Kiernan of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament will read from Matthew 5: "Blessed are the peacemakers. They shall be called sons and daughters of God."
The Hebrew scripture, from the second chapter of the prophet Isaiah, declares, "God will wield authority over the nations and adjudicate between many people; these will hammer their swords into ploughshares, their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training for war."
The seven blessings from the Quran each carry the message, "Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me," Thompson said. "Everyone in Sacramento who cares about this issue and wants peace and to show kindness to Muslims is encouraged to bring the gift of a rose and place it on the Quran. Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with us."
Don't let your brains get rusty, ladies..."Renew your mind..."
Matthew 5:9 - While God does want us to “love our enemies” (Luke 6:35) and we should avoid making unnecessary warfare, we stand on the Word of Truth. There’s only One. Hebrews 4:12 - “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” When Jesus is praying for his disciples (John 17:14-19) He asks God to sanctify them in His truth - His word is truth. How can we be sanctified in God’s truth if we’re using it to bless false teaching?
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 2:4 - Ummm ... I didn’t even need to read the passage to see what was wrong with the use of this passage. The title of the chapter in my Bible says, “The Future House of God.” Is that cheating to use the chapter title to build my argument? This verse is referring to the future kingdom of God on earth. Okay, if I can’t use the chapter title, how about the verses before when 2:3 says, “come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways...” As far as I know, Jesus is currently sitting at the right hand of the Father, not in a house on a mountain where we can go directly to Him and be taught. Although, can I say, that’s going to be awesome! You think you like the pastor of your church? Imagine saying, “It’s time to go to church, let’s see what Jesus is going to teach is today!” Pretty awesome! So, Isaiah 2:4 is taken completely out of context. This verse references a day when there will be no more warfare on earth. People will be fashioning their weapons into farming tools because Jesus will be reigning and there will be peace on earth. Even without a deep study, I don’t think anyone would argue that that time is now.
To WHOM is Jesus speaking in Matthew 5 (in the whole Sermon on the Mount, for that matter), and how does that play into the misuse of these verses?
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that both passages they chose are taken completely out of context, and that both have to do with the Millennial period, when Christ will physically reign on earth. At that point, His enemies will be defeated.
ReplyDeleteNot placated, not pacified, not appeased.
Defeated.
And yes, I believe that Islam is the enemy of Christ.
I see three problems with what happened at the Cathedral last Saturday:
1) Blessing the Koran (huh?!)
2)Taking Scripture out of context
3)Being essentially “unequally yoked” with unbelievers
As for the last comment about "to whom was Jesus speaking," I believe he was speaking primarily to his disciples (vs. 1-2, "His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach THEM saying....") It was Jesus instructing His followers about His kingdom.
However ~~~~ Can one of you please explain that one to me? Cuz I feel like it's a "pick and choose" situation. Sometimes we are told we are supposed to follow part of the Sermon on the Mount, but then other times (like now) we're told it doesn't apply to us. So..... ???
I know, I should know this......
I posed your question (Kim) to Bob...here's what he said - in its entirety (an p.s. -- he stole my answer...haha!). Note especially his plea for pie.... :-)
ReplyDelete"Jesus IS talking to His disciples. Kim is correct, but also incorrect since He is actually teaching the multitudes. The chapter begins, “And seeing the multitudes.” This doesn’t change the fact, however, that He is still talking to Jews about the Kingdom. What are we, as the Church, supposed to take from this? That’s easy. We can take the applications, but not the theology. The directives are for Jews not Christians. Does God still love the peacemakers, for example? Yes, but for us this is application, not directive. Notice in the previous chapter, verse 23, where it says what His specific mission/message was: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom.
This is the gospel of the kingdom, not the Gospel of our salvation.
This is pretty good:
Jesus instructed them in view of His announcement of the coming kingdom (4:17). Natural questions on the heart of every Jew would have been, "Am I eligible to enter Messiah's kingdom? Am I righteous enough to qualify for entrance?" The only standard of righteousness the people knew was that laid down by the current religious leaders, the scribes and Pharisees. Would one who followed that standard be acceptable in Messiah's kingdom? Jesus' sermon therefore must be understood in the context of His offer of the kingdom to Israel and the need for repentance to enter that kingdom. The sermon did not give a "Constitution" for the kingdom nor did it present the way of salvation. The sermon showed how a person who is in right relationship with God should conduct his life. While the passage must be understood in the light of the offer of the messianic kingdom, the sermon applies to Jesus' followers today for it demonstrates the standard of righteousness God demands of His people. Some of the standards are general (e.g., "You cannot serve both God and money" [6:24]); some are specific (e.g., "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" [5:41]); and some pertain to the future (e.g., "many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name?"" [7:22]). (Bible Knowledge Commentary)
This is the best I could do on short notice…with a mouth full of stitches…and limited time and resources…and no pie!"
-Bob
Ah, good stuff!! Come on out and I'll bake you a pie :D Thanks, Bob ~~ definitely clarified my thinking :)
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading through all this again, I was reminded of a favorite soapbox belonging to one of my college profs. Dr. Pilkey was constantly bringing to our attention the fact that if you look for it, you will see that the desire of all mankind for the "Millennial Man," is everywhere. Deep down we all desire that glorified body, and we all desire that time when peace and goodness will reign on earth (and through Christ, whether we know/acknowledge that at all). We all have that innate sense that "this" isn't all there is. We all have that "God-shaped hole" that can only be filled by Him.
So when we see anyone, or any group, striving for peace, it's really not surprising. The question is: will true and lasting peace be found via the efforts of man, or ultimately through Christ? (Rhetorical question :))
Great thoughts and words from all of you. I like reading your comments, they stir up my old brain cells. I thought that the Isa ref was a "no brainer" but actually was stumped a bit on the Matt ref. I guess because we ( believers ) think that since we are to show all the fruits of the Spirit in our lives we conclude that making peace is one of them. I got caught off guard and I think a lot of churches are caught off guard too while they try to placate the emotional side of man and forget to call sin what it is and just try to keep everyone happy.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the last time any of you heard anything about the "reality of hell" at church. I think if we truly pondered that serious thought ( the reality of hell) we might be more likely to have less fun in church and more time on our knees praying for the salvation of those around us. Don't get me wrong, I love peace, fun, (and of course, pie ) and warm fuzzy feelings, but in the meantime my neighbor is a lost soul.....and I'm convicted about that reality. Aunt M
Mmm...peace, fun, and pie! :-) I'm totally with you on the other stuff, too! How do the lyrics to that song "What if His people prayed?" go : "What if the family turned to Jesus -- stopped asking Oprah what to do?!" How powerful His Church would be if we would only embrace a little more about that conviction about the one real job that we have. Matthew 28:16-20
ReplyDelete