A Prayer For The Fourth Day of Christmas: Love Toward People Of All Faiths (And No Faith)

posted by Ghezal Safi, shared by David Kreider

^"All who are wicked will be punished with trouble and suffering. It doesn’t matter if they are Jews or Gentiles. But all who do right will be rewarded with glory, honor, and peace, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. God doesn’t have any favorites!"

Romans 2:9-11 (Contemporary English Version

I've never been one to promote the idea that all religions are the same, that we should just forget about our differences and blend together into one generic faith. On the contrary, I feel that whatever I or anyone else truly believes as their "way, truth and life" they should freely promote and affirm.

But we can't get others to even consider our faith if we are inconsiderate of theirs, and certainly not if we are hostile toward them. Jesus never lashed out against Samaritans or called them heretics. Nor did he ridicule or insult the religion of Romans or of other Gentile idol worshipers of his time. In fact, the only religious teachers or teachings he lashed out against were unloving dogmatics within his own strongly held Jewish faith.

Certainly if we are to love even our enemies we should love and respect all of our many friends around the world who follow the faith of their choice--just as we would have them respect ours. It's the Golden Rule.

Besides, we'll never be able to influence people we can't love.