Hate Incidents

“Two city officials in a California town are being targeted for possible hate crimes over comments they made recently about the Christian and Muslim faiths.” Apparently, one of the city officials, Mayor Parris, encouraged the Christian community to keep growing. This little snippet of enthusiasm toward the Christian faith is now under fierce attack and Mayor Parris is being accused of a “hate incident.” Another city official, Sherry Marquez, has created quite the offense by posting biblical references on her Facebook and encouraging Christians to defend themselves. She has also posted quotations by Muslim leaders who have exhorted their own followers to convert the world to the Islamic religion. Marquez’s posts are also under investigation as part of the “hate incidents.”

Hate incidents?! The words that come to mind here are, “You’ve GOT to be kidding me!” Two Christians are trying to encourage and defend their Christian faith. And this in the face of Islam, the one religion whose holy book calls everyone who doesn’t believe in Allah “infidels” and proclaims they are deserving of death. The last time I checked, Christians aren’t going around suicide bombing people for not believing in their God! And Mayor Parris and councilwoman Sherry Marquez are being accused of “hate incidents?” That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. Woe to those who smile upon Islam and defend it against Christianity. Islam hates the world and all that dwell therein. Islam doesn’t even favor its own much less those who don’t adhere to her doctrine. Islam demands that her followers convert or conquer. Christianity demands that her followers preach salvation and love even their enemies. Tell me, who is really guilty of “hate incidents” here?

I Believe

What God declares the believing heart confesses without the need for further proof. Indeed, to seek proof is to admit doubt, and to obtain proof is to render faith superfluous. Everyone who possesses the gift of faith will recognize the wisdom of those daring words of one of the early Church fathers: "I believe that Christ died for me because it is incredible; I believe that He rose from the dead because it is impossible."

A.W. Tozer; The Knowledge of the Holy; p. 19