Pope Francis' Message “You cannot hate in the name of God”

In light of all the horrific and terrible things happening in our world, I wanted to close out the month of August with a video message from Pope Francis. Pope Francis is not the leader of all Christians around the world. He is the leader of Roman Catholics (Western Church) which is the largest denomination in Christianity, but regardless I believe that this message should be the focus of all Christians around the world at this moment in time with any and all support possible, especially our prayers. Consequently, I am sharing this post on both Arango’s Apologetics Page and on Unifying the Faith.

ROMEREPORTS.COM wrote as follows:

"Pope Francis expressed his concern for the situation in Iraq during the Angelus prayer. He firmly assured that these crimes gravely offend God (http://en.romereports.com)."

Pope Francis said the following in his message:

"Children dead from thirst and hunger during the escape; women who are abducted; people slaughtered; violence of every kind; destruction everywhere, destruction of homes, destruction of religious, historical and cultural patrimonies. All this greatly offends God and greatly offends humanity. You cannot bring hatred in the name of God! You cannot make war in the name of God (http://en.romereports.com)!"

The link to the video is below.

Pope Francis: “You cannot hate in the name of God”

Demand Religious Freedom

Christians and Jews are indeed being persecuted around the world. It is time to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves as Proverbs 31:8 states. The religious right is starting to raise awareness which is strange since they are usually busy politicizing issues that normally should not be politicized.
My problem with people like Ralph Reed is that they will most likely make millions in income politicizing things like this issue of persecution as a "God business." Credits to Frank Schaffer on the "God business" phrase I just used. I am just surprised that they are showing concern for Assyrian Christians in Iraq and Coptic Christians in Egypt because honestly many of on the religious right did not consider that these brothers and sisters where actually Christian based on the limited worldview on that same religious right. Unless, this is just some new scheme to help the Republican party. I personally do not think that our Faith needs to be supporting any one political party, but instead leave that up to the individual as a choice. Our job is to follow Christ. But, I do think the religious right is right on this one or at least on the right track for now. So, the link below is one way of communicating the injustices and human rights abuses being experienced by our brothers and sisters around the world. If anyone comes up with a better idea, please share, and I will try to promote it.


Demand Religious Freedom

Is Christ Divided?

St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians (epistle) was most likely written from Ephesus during his stay there around 53 to 57 AD. About 1, 959 years ago, St. Paul was already confronting the issue of ecumenism in the church. Sadly enough, at the very start of Christianity there was already “quarreling among” brothers and sisters on matters of our common Faith. Moreover, St. Paul appealed “by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” that they would “be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”In the latest post in my other blog, Arango’s Apologetics Page, which I consider the older sibling to this one I used several Scripture references; however in this post I plan on using only eight verses from the New Testament. This blog seeks unity among all those that call themselves Christian, as well as all of humanity. One of the questions we must ask ourselves is what can we do to make unity in Christ a possibility, if we truly believe that this was the desire of Jesus? The question St. Paul asked about two millenniums ago in the First Letter to the Corinthians was “Is Christ divided?” The answer to this question is that He is absolutely “Not “divided. I simply wish to share First Corinthians 1:10-17 with you the reader and allow you to ponder on this idea of ecumenism, and why it is so important, and also that you ask yourself why we are so divided as denominations and groups of the same Faith? I Corinthians 1:10-17 reads as follows:

"BRETHREN, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispos and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power (RSV Bible)."

Reference:

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible