ALL RELIGIONS OR JUST YOURS?

I have friends who are rather conservative politically 

And these aren't just Facebook "friends" - although most of the things I am responding to here are from Facebook postings - these are actual people who I know from church, I know from my rural community.

We just don't talk politics. 

But BOTH of them "liked" the following post:


"Right Wing News has no problems taking shots at radical Islam, but we don't normally run anti-Islamic images. Islam may be a false religion and Muhammad may not have been a good guy, but we do believe in showing a modicum of respect to people of different faiths. However tonight, after the Charlie Hebdo killings, we are going to make fun of Islam and Muhammad because we refuse to allow murderous fanatics to determine what we are and are not allowed to say in a free country. We think that everyone who cares about free speech should do the same thing." -- John Hawkins, Right Wing News, ‪#‎Nightofa1000AntiIslamCartoons‬


Sigh.

I don't consider myself a crazy liberal.

But I do consider myself a Christian.

Probably not the best Christian, but a Christian.

And the commandment "Love thy neighbor" must mean something different to me than those people I call friends.

Look, I'm not Muslim.

And I'm not excusing the horrible massacre done in France by people claiming to be Muslim.

But I know how upset I would be to see cartoons that showed Jesus Christ, who I consider my Savior and my Elder Brother, in, let us say, compromising positions with innocent people.

So I can understand how people who accept the Prophet Muhammad  would be upset about rude cartoons.

Not enough to justify murder, no, never.

But please, when Christians are using the behavior of a few loose-canons from Islam to act in the most un-Christ-like way....

Does anyone else have a problem with this?

DO UNTO OTHERS....

Matthew 7:12:  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

I was driving to church this past Sunday morning when a completely different way of understanding this commandment popped into and rattled around my empty head.

(And no, not like that on the left)

I have always taken "the Golden Rule" as a basic polite/harmonious way to deal with other people - simply think about how do you want to be treated by other people, and so then treat them that same way.
But at this particular moment, an entirely new vision came bursting into my brain.

It's not when YOU do something with the idea that it should/will be reciprocated - "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" (or in the words of Sherlock, "I'll scratch your back and then disinfect").

No, it's when YOU are doing something simply because it is a good thing to be done.

If you wish more people who compliment you...
 

Then compliment more people.

If you wish people were friendlier...

then be friendlier.

If you would like more recognition...

then give recognition to others.

You might call it karma - actions which bring upon you inevitable results, both good and bad.
I think it's called Christ-like behavior.