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Have We Forgotten Who We AreW
by Ron Quinlan Watching the news lately I wondered if we've forgotten what it means to be a Christian nation. Judging by the emails I receive we seem to think that the presence of the words "in God we trust" on our money makes a difference. The words under God in the Pledge of Allegiance and Merry Christmas being said by retail clerks also seem extremely important. But do words on our money or on our lips really matter? Isn't it the love in our hearts that make us Christian? Didn't Jesus command us to love our enemies? Aren't we to pray for others even those who persecute us? Aren't we to forgive and forgive? Isn't this the real heart of the Christian message? Isn't this the real test of a Christian nation, the willingness of its people to love the unlovable and forgive the unforgivable? Isn't our God to love others as ourselves and God's job to judge? Aren't all of us guilty of sin and in need of Redemption? Isn't that the truth of the gospel? Didn't Jesus die for all of us with no exceptions? Where then is the love and forgiveness for Casey Anthony? Where are the emails calling on people to pray for her conversion? Isn't that what Jesus would want us to do? How will Casey Anthony come to know Jesus' love and mercy except through Christians? There are certainly plenty of people willing to talk to her about justice but who will express God's love and mercy? Is this really who we are called to be, a people full of anger, incapable of extending mercy? Are we really supposed to be like the Pharisees concerned with the externals, the words on the coins and other hot issues but failing to love? Is this what we think will lead people to Jesus? Will our anger and condemnation lead people to God? One of the most famous conversion stories of recent years is that of Abby Johnson who quit her job as director of a Planned Parenthood clinic. Wasn't her conversion the result of the prayers and love of the participants in the 40 Days for Life vigil? Isn't this the kind of people God wants us to be? Shouldn't we be a people willing to stand up for the truth but in love praying for those who oppose us? Shouldn't this be our response to Casey Anthony? Shouldn't it be our attitude toward President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and other politicians who disagree with Church teaching? Shouldn't we be praying in love for the conversion of our government officials, judges and corporate executives? I am a former Catholic School teacher, now working as a caregiver in South Carolina. I have written pieces for Catholic Exchange and Catholic Lane including God's Valentine and A Faith Worth Dying For. You may read more of my work on ronquinlan.wordpress.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |