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"You have heard it said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:43-45).

Norway has experienced the carnage of anti-terror terrorism.  My heart goes out to all those suffering, and I pray those who truly belong to King Jesus in Norway rise above this anti-gospel insanity.

While I do not want Sharia Law to influence the American political and justice systems in any shape, form or fashion, I do want Muslims who are devoted to our Constitutional Republic to be free to worship here.  I am a Baptist, and it strikes me that my Baptist forebears moved here to escape religious oppression, only to face it at the hands of Catholics and other Protestants yet again in New England.  This was why Rhode Island became a colony, and the Baptists were instrumental in the early framing of our freedom of religion.  

There must be a balance here somewhere, right?  I mean, personally, I understand the Koran at times endorses violence against non-Muslims.  But, only the truly "text-driven" followers of Islam embrace this doctrine.  Many Muslim Americans simply do not endorse terror or acts of violence against their non-Muslim neighbors.  Those who do, we should treat as criminals, like any other murderers among us.

[Oddly, there is correlation in the Christian realm here, as many people who worship as "Christians" are not text-driven either.  If they were, they could never endorse the homosexual lifestyle, multiple divorces and remarriages, never teaching the Bible to their own children in their homes, and so on.  But I digress.]

What has happened in Norway, however, should cause all of us Americans to pause and seriously ponder our future.  It remains to be seen whether this nation can actually continue to be a place where freedom-loving Muslims and Christians live side-by-side in peace.  

For the most part, the history of Islam and Christianity has been bloody, with plenty of shame and blame on both sides.  But America until recently has been a refuge for all who are weary of the religious blood-letting.  But now, we have scores of people protesting mosques being built, and even burning mosques to the ground.  (To be sure, I do think certain locales are not suitable for mosques, such as Ground Zero). 

For decades we American Christians have been horrified by Muslims burning churches down in South Sudan.  But now, where are the Christian voices speaking out for the Muslims who have had their places of worship burned?  Where are the Christians who will actually give aid to suffering Muslims in America?

Do not misunderstand me, I do not think churches should raise funds to build mosques!  We do not want to endorse or support their false religion or teachings.  But, as Americans we surely do want to protect their right to worship freely and peaceably, don't we?

More importantly, we as Christians are commanded by our Lord and Master to love Muslims.  And, we must love them in word and deed.  To pray for Muslims.  To speak the gospel to Muslims.  The way of the Master will help us find the balance we so need.  The way of Christ is our only hope of finding our way forward in these trying matters.  Fighting fire with fire is not the way of Christ among our neighbors, co-workers, and schoolmates.  We are called to leave the fire-bombing to God alone:

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vegeance is Mine, I will repay says the Lord.'  To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, given him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom 12:17-21).

This is the way forward, but we shall never find it if we do not stay on our faces before God, crying out for enabling grace, a gospel heart full of the love of Jesus, and an undying passion to reflect His holiness and goodness to our lost and dying neighbors, including Muslims.  

And as of now, in America, we still have a form of government that actually provides us a grand opportunity to live out the way of Jesus, and to offer Living Water to every thirsty soul.  May God keep us free, but even if He does not, may He give us grace to show ourselves true "sons of the Father."