But there IS Truth, I wailed while walking down the street after attending a conference in Columbus, Ohio. Matt and I were in a heated argument about a recent conversation about Muslim/Christian relations. Your fixation on being right, he calmly replied, will be the very thing that inhibits you from loving your neighbor as you love yourself… or in your case, like you love your Truth.
His words ricocheted in my head and ached in my heart. Had I been so tethered to trying to convince others that my way is the right way that I have missed opportunities to love my neighbor as I loved myself, my Truth, and my beliefs?
In light of the horrific events occurring and images produced in Egypt, one image has moved me, convicted me, and challenged me to re-evaluate my relationship and interactions with those who fundamentally think different than me.
Two Christian men protecting a group of praying Muslims in Egypt.
A group of Egyptian Christians have set themselves in harm’s way to protect their countrymen and their right to pray. What are we doing to love others like we love ourselves? What are we sacrificing to show those who are different than us that we care about who they are?
May we be a generation of leaders and community changers who are known for more than what we don’t accept. May we be known for how we loved others more than we loved ourselves. [John 13:35]
This one is so hard for me! I'm NOT saying you're wrong, like at all, but I DO have questions:
How do you love without seeming like you agree? Or do we leave that all up to the Holy Spirit and his conviction?
i think its loving your enemies, ppl know if you care about them or your principles more, you end up being a pharisee and like cruficying the ppl jesus came to save, you never partner with sin, but the ppl who sin are no different then who we were before we knew Him. been there done that. the more you remember your sin the more compassion you give. peace
It's important to be strong in our foundational beliefs. We need to know what we believe for it to revolutionize our lives.
When engaging with others who don't believe the same thing I do, the last thing I want to do is fight with them. I don't have a recipe or guide to traverse this road, but I do know that it was the Samaritan who helped the Jew, Ruth who is in the lineage of Christ, and Rahab who saved the Hebrew spies. Sometimes our lives speak greater than our beliefs.
Isn't marriage a beautiful thing? Laying your faults at your feet and humbling you to be more like Christ becomes a daily thing. Thank you for your honesty and openness.
Much love, CK!
Great post and reminder to check ourselves.
Thanks for this post Bianca! So proud to be an Egyptian Christian in a time like this! We have to pray for all the people of Egypt.
Oh my favorite Egyptian! I didn't know you still read the blog! 🙂 Good to hear for you. And yes, I am praying for Egypt.
Of course I read the blog! I never miss a post! I check it every morning before I start work! Glad you remember me 🙂
This is something I struggle with especially in the subject of christian-muslim relations. Having done research and tons of reading on islam, the conclusion I came to was “be gentle as a dove but wise as a serpent.” I greet them, I say hello with a smile, and I think that’s as far as it goes. Seeing your posted picture and reading your blog has got me thinking about my way of thinking. I’ve been on such a crusade for ‘truth’ that my love has vanished all in the name of I’m right and they’re wrong. I guess we can all get caught up sometimes. Great blog. Definitely something to get one thinking and reflecting.
Dear Tony,
Thank you for your honesty. I was wondering if you attempted to have a conversation with any Muslims in your area? A friend of mine introduced to Bianca's blog and I love to read it because it expands my understanding of the Christian religion. I have many friends with different faiths and some who don't believe any organized religion. We have health debates and just try to learn. I guess my hope for the world is to just start talking to people before we decide that they are wrong. Sorry for the long post.
I love that we can all dialogue! Thanks so much Tony for your honesty and thanks, Huda, for sharing your heart 🙂
We have been charged with a mission to LOVE…not to agree, like, argue, or contend.
We have no problem buying designer clothes which were produced by designers who lead "quuestionable lifestyles". We buy coffee, daily, from certain enterprises without questioning their politics or religious beliefs. However, we have trouble cracking a smile at our Muslim, Jewish, or homosexual neighbors. Where is the LOVE on a day-to-day basis?
It is true Bianca that we will be known as Christians by our LOVE not our conviction to be right.
Great discussion! And isn't it just like God to connect you to a husband that pushes you to think, live, teach, and be better
Wow Nakeia, awesome!
wow.. feeling even more convicted.. never even thought of that.. great job!
amen. so important. thank you for raising up the standard of love. that does seem to be the measure that Christ raised.
Werd.
Love this picture…
One of my favorite posts ever. Moving. Stirring in the Spirit.
I love you, Kati. I really do!
Huda, I'm excited you have felt safe and welcomed to share your comments! The fact that readers are challenged is something is exciting and engaging.
Though our beliefs systemically differ, I hope you know that this is a place where you can speak and Christ is preached in love. Much love, B
Thanks B. I felt safe and feel safe because I don't believe anyone is wrong, I believe that everyone comes from a different place and different believe system. My parents taught me their belief system and this is the one I chose to stay in once I became an adult. But this does not mean that I am do not believe in other religions. Did you know that we believe in Jesus as a prophet? and that the Bible is one of the holy books from God? Islam believes in all the religions and all the books and we must (this is in the Quran) respect them and not defame them. We just believe that Prophet Mohamed was the last of the prophets and we follow his message from God. At the end of the day, we all pray to the same God: how we do it and where we do it differ but he hears our prayers and watches over us.
Thank you Bianca. Growing up in church I learned there are many religions, however there is only one truth. We are encouraged…commanded to spread the truth. We are instructed to love one another and love our neighbor. There hasn't been (in my experience) any further discussion as to how do this with those who's fundamental thinking are different than ours.
I appreciate the honesty and thought provoking nature of your blog. Thank you for the challenge: What are we doing to love others like we love ourselves?
My friend Huda (who has commented above) and I true healthy debates. Our fundamental thinking may be different, but our friendship, appreciation for one another, and respect for one another is strong and continues to grow.
Love this B. Where did you find this picture? I would love to see the source.
Me too! Worth framing.
My brother and sister-in-law live in Alexandria and decided that regardless of what the US Embassy said they would stay in their new home. Their love for the Egyptian people has touched my heart so much. Throughout the protests my brother would take food and coffee to the older gentlemen who were protecting their apartments from looters, only to join in their efforts. Though this situation was absolutely horrific they became closer to their neighbors and Arabic friends just for staying.
we were just talking about this in my sunday school class. great post! it helped me better understand my sunday school lesson because i left feeling a bit torn. thank you.
So poweful & so true!!
I love this! Way to raise the bar.
Thank you
what a powerful post….i think what Matt said can apply to all of us in one way or another….
This page seems to recieve a large ammount of visitors. How do you promote it? It gives a nice individual twist on things. I guess having something authentic or substantial to say is the most important factor.
how do we show that we are not trying to give people a hard time about becoming a chriastain but rather seem kind and caring?
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sorry abuot the coment above that is me megan needham not my mom
but how do we do that i would also like to know how to trust my mom with my feelings because i dont think i can
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