I would like to comment on an online image I discovered recently while
browsing the news. The photo in question showed Muslims and Coptic
Christians in Egypt throwing stones at each other.

As you may know, similar to the Syriac Christians, the Coptic Christians
represent some of the oldest Christians in the world, having first heard the
Gospel during the First Century when people such as Philip, Mark and Peter
made it known to them.

I find it appalling that the modern-day descendants of these Early
Christians would take up stones against their enemies. This certainly is not
the way that Jesus and His Apostles taught us to act. As the Lord said two
thousand years ago:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and
hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your
Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on
the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love
them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the
same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do
not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect."
Matthew 5:43-48, KJV

While loving our enemies may be very difficult for many of us to do, in my
view, physically taking up stones to cast at our enemies is a lot worse, a
very poor demonstration of our faith, and a reproach to the Cause of Christ.

The Apostle Paul likewise instructed us to endeavor to live peaceably with
all men, as we see here:

"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
Romans 12:18, KJV



Jeff Snyder, SysOp - Armageddon BBS  Visit us at endtimeprophecy.org port 23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your Download Center 4 Mac BBS Software & Christian Files.  We Use Hermes II


--- Hermes Web Tosser 1.1
 * Origin: Armageddon BBS -- Guam, Mariana Islands (1:345/3777.0)