May 2019
Violence and intolerance can occur when a religious leader teaches them as divinely ordained duties. When a religious leader teaches violence and intolerance, and validates harming people, then flee from such leaders. Flee from any religion or place of worship that teaches or promotes intolerance and violence. I am a follower of Jesus and I adhere to His teachings. He taught us to love our neighbors, love our enemies, and to forgive one another. Also to be humble, and to show compassion for the weak and for strangers. Christ taught servant leadership and for us to empower others.
Children Matter
Violence against children is wrong. Jesus taught, in the strongest terms, against harming the little ones: "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:6). Jesus was displeased with his disciples for rebuking the children who came to see Him. "Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God'" (Mark 10:13-14). A church is closest to the kingdom of God when she loves, trains and blesses the children. Flee from any religion or any place of worship that harms or promotes violence against children. Any religion or place of worship that rebukes children shows that it abhors children, who are just beginning to build their relationship with God.
Women Matter
Violence against women is wrong. The Bible teaches protection and the empowerment of women in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, "But if out in the country a man happens to meet a young woman pledged to be married and rapes her, only the man who has done this shall die. Do nothing to the young woman, because she has committed no sin worthy of death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him" (Deuteronomy 22:25-26). Jesus protected a woman who had committed adultery (John 8). Jesus did not condone adultery, but He was against harming the woman. Flee from any religion or place of worship that discriminates against women or promotes violence against them.
Older People And Parents Matter
Violence against older people, senior citizens, and parents is wrong. The Pharisees taught that tithing to the religious establishments should take precedence over honoring your father and mother. Jesus taught that it is of primary importance to take care of our family. "He went on, 'Well, good for you. You get rid of God’s command so you won’t be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions! Moses said, "Respect your father and mother,...But you weasel out of that by saying that it’s perfectly acceptable to say to father or mother, "Gift! What I owed you I’ve given as a gift to God," thus relieving yourselves of obligation to father or mother. You scratch out God’s Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this'” (Mark 7:9-10). Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:8 that a man is "worse than an unbeliever" if he does not provide for his family. Any religion or place of worship that does not teach the need to honor parents and elders will negatively impact the generations yet to come.
People Matter
Violence against human beings is wrong. Flee from any religion whose leaders teach and promote violence and intolerance. Flee from any place of worship that teaches or promotes violence and intolerance. Jesus said, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other” (John 13:34-35).