I say God is love but many follow a different theology. The Bible appears to be conflicted on this issue and in fact on many theological points. One can find a Scripture to back up about any belief you'd like to embrace on the "after life" as an example. There's Scriptures that indicate: heaven, hell, no hell, purgatory, annihilation, reincarnation, etc. Yes, some arguments are more powerful than others, but the truth remains that the Bible is a library of contrasting opinions. Why not! It was written over thousands of years by dozens of authors.
I see an inclusive God not an exclusive one.
It's sad that Mother Teresa was scolded and frowned upon for loving and taking care of Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist children. The Catholic church wanted her to spend more time with "our own". Our own? Religious wars benefit no one and hinder us all.
From the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) to the Christian (New Testament), the conflicting views arise. The Hebrew scriptures predominately spoke of God's affection, love, and care for Israel. The Jews were His chosen people after all. And yet right there in the middle of the Torah we read, "The alien who resides with you shall be to you as a citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself." Leviticus 19:34.
That doesn't seem fair now does it? The Bible is a text in travail.
We see the same debate in the Christian scriptures with John 1:9 saying that "the true light which enlightens EVERYONE was coming into the world and that had to be matched with II Cor. 6:14 which said there was to be no fellowship or communion righteosuness and lawlessness." I'd been taught all my life that if one mixed dirty water with clean water you'd come out with dirty water.
True metaphor, but bad theology. Me, I'm inspired by LOVE!
Didn't Jesus mix with the dirty water, touch the unclean women, lay hands on the lepers, and break bread with the tax collectors and prostitutes? For me God is truly LOVE and our destiny is to love in return: first God, then our neighbors upon which the whole law of the prophets hangs (Matt. 22:37-39).
What's your take?
Ernie Fitzpatrick
Author Bio
ernie@lrchouston.com
