Thursday Thinking - Neighbors and Terrorism

Tim Gombis teaches New Testament theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He blogs at Faith Improvised where he recently posted about the importance of Christians being committed to loving our Muslim neighbors in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack.

For most of us, the situation in France is something we can't do much about. What we do right here in America is a different story. All of us must be careful to consider what we can do in our own lives–our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and marketplaces. How do we love as Christ loves? How will we treat and think about the Muslims in our own communities?

I'm attaching just enough of Tim's article to get you started. I hope you will click the link to read his short but very wise post in its entirety.

Loving our Neighbor in an Age of Terror
by Tim Gombis   

I had an interesting conversation with my son last night about the terrible violence in Paris. Among other things we talked about the increase of anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe and here in the United States. Life will be increasingly difficult for average Muslims who are law-abiding and peace-loving citizens of France, other European countries, and the U. S.

We wondered aloud about how to be faithfully Christian in a climate of violence, anger, confusion, denunciation, suspicion, and fear. Those are inevitable responses on the part of many citizens to what has happened. But what about Christians who belong to the Kingdom of God? How do we obey Jesus’ command to love our neighbor as ourselves?

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