The Midge said:
What does "respect" mean?
The new testament teaches us to respect all authority. If we make a stand against we have to live with the consequences even if we are doing right. If I were travelling to an Islamic country I would still have to obey their laws or be subject to prosecution.
Ultimately Gods law is the law of Love. Love requires respect even if we disagree about fundemental beliefs.
My 2 !/2p
My dearest joy: Christ is Risen!
Excellent response.
Religion is man's attempt to please God as man understands God. Therefore many religions are false, because without God's revelation, man cannot know God.
The Church is God's attempt to save man. God who saves man cannot save man without his consent. Therefore, God doesn't force Himself upon us. We can freely accept Him or reject His salvation.
Truly we have to accept a legitimate governmental authority. Was the previous Iraqi government legitimate? I don't think so.
However, if a government, say - Saudi Arabia - has forbidden Christians to worship, then we can disobey that government, but it may mean our death, and we have to be willing to pay that price. If that government has adopted the Islamic religion and demands that we turn in Christian converts so they can be martyred, should we obey those laws? Certainly not.
I think we should love all people, as Christ commanded us. However, respecting their belief systems is another matter entirely, especially when their beliefs may call for human sacrifice as in the Mayan and Aztec religions! What is dangerous here, is that some people want to see a resurgence of the Aztec human sacrifices. God forbid.
I am not being anti-Muslim, anti-Aztec, anti-Jewish nor anti-Christian. I am against their use of murder in the name of religion. That means I am against murder and the death penalty in the name of Christianity also, such as the Crusades and the Inquisition.
Something to think about.
Yours in Christ,
Elizabeth