Bigotry: The Dark Danger
Christians Must Heed Jesus
Chapter 4:
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Mercy is a subject that must be very well evaluated. It is God Who teaches us mercy. If God so willed, nobody on Earth might know of such a feeling. All people would live bereft of the feeling of mercy. It is therefore the height of ignorance and a crime to seek to produce as evidence against God something that He has created and teaches, or to have the effrontery to seek to teach mercy to Him [may God forbid]. God is infinitely merciful. It is Almighty God Who best knows how people's natures are created, and who deserves mercy and who merits punishment. Nobody will suffer the slightest injustice in the hereafter. God is infinitely just, and everyone will be justly judged in the hereafter. Some passages from the Gospel that refer to our Lord's infinite justice are as follows:
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to Him Who judges justly. (1 Peter 2: 23)
Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. (Colossians, 3:25)
There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil... but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good... For God does not show favoritism. (Romans, 2: 9-11)
God "will repay each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. (Romans, 2:6-8)
God is not unjust [God is surely beyond that]; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. (Hebrews, 6:10)
God reveals thus in the Koran:
We will set up the Just Balance on the Day of Resurrection, and no self will be wronged in any way. Even if it is no more than the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, We will produce it. We are sufficient as a Reckoner. (Koran, 21:47)
If every self that did wrong possessed everything on Earth, it would offer it as a ransom (as a provision for wrath). They will conceal remorse when they see the punishment. Everything will be decided between them justly. They will not be wronged. (Koran, 10:54)
What is explained above are great facts that motivate a person of faith. The outlook of a person who really loves God and thus seriously fears of having any flaws in his role as a servant of God is totally different from of that other people. Such a person does not commit unlawful deeds and does not neglect acts of worship or remain heedless to the voice of his conscience. In brief, he remains extraordinarily meticulous in everything he does in order to earn God's good pleasure. Such a person is scrupulous, not egotistical, and until the end of his life, he remains self-sacrificing and compassionate. Such a person never does any harm to others, and greatly fears doing something for which he will not be able to account to God. He lives every moment of his life aware that he will account to God for his actions and that God watches him every moment. Aware that the real life is not in the life of this world but in the hereafter, he feels the joy and fervor of loving God. This fervor in no way abates until the end of his life. Therefore, a person who has a fear of God lives in abundance and blessings.
In the Gospel, fear of God is described in the following words and thus Christians are called to have fear of God:
… live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear [of God]. (1 Peter, 1:17)
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. (2 Corinthians 5:11)
… Your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding Your servants the prophets and Your people who revere Your Name, both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the Earth. (Revelation 11:18)
… let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. (Hebrews 12:28)
If a person is not in awe of being a good servant to God, and he claims to have love of God but does little to nothing to earn God's good pleasure, yet still asserts that merely his love of God suffices for deliverance in the hereafter, then that person is making a grave error. Such an idea is not compatible with the sincerity God asks for. Fear of God is the most basic element that encourages man in being a better servant to God. Therefore, someone who regards fear of God as unnecessary (surely God is beyond that) and who thinks that love of God alone is sufficient will not live in a state of fear and hope. That will prevent that person from constantly striving to earn God's approval and mercy, and constantly lead him to sloth.
This is the position of some Christians who reject the importance of having fear of God, and simply maintain that love of God is sufficient. Consequently, these people need to reflect once again over the meaning of the fear of God in the manner as it is described above and to abide by the call of the Gospel, that is, "[to] worship God acceptably with reverence and awe."
Those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabaeans and the Christians, |