A RESPONSE TO THOMAS KELLY (Religion)

by dhw, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, 10:19 (4558 days ago)

THOMAS KELLY (translating Matthew 5, 43, 44 and 45): You heard it said serve your neighbour and neglect your enemy. Different to it I say to you serve your enemies, benefit those who curse you, work for those who neglect you, and pray for those who resent you and persecute you so you may be the sons of your Father who is in the heavens, because he makes his sun rise on harmful and righteous and sends rain on just and unjust.-Darby Translation next.-Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy.
But *I* say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who insult you and persecute you, that ye may be the sons of your Father who is in the heavens; for he makes his sun rise on evil and good, and sends rain on just and unjust.-Thomas, you are welcome to this site, which is an open forum whose purpose is to discuss all subjects concerning the possible existence and possible nature of God, the origin of life and the universe, evolution, the role of science and philosophy (including religion) etc. Contributors over the years have included Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, panentheists, process theologians, atheists, agnostics...However, it is not meant to be a vehicle for sermonizing, or for advertising a particular book, and so I hope that your motive for joining us is to enter into a discussion of your beliefs.-To that end, let me challenge the above quotation. Do you think that the surviving children of Houla, for instance, should willingly serve / learn to love / pray for / bless Assad and his soldiers who have slaughtered their brothers, sisters and parents? Do you think that prayers and blessings are more likely than an armed uprising to end a brutal regime?
 
What does "so you may be the sons of your Father" actually mean? Don't Christians believe that all of us are God's children, including Assad, his soldiers, and his victims? Since God makes his sun rise on harmful and righteous and his rain fall on just and unjust alike, is this not an indication that it makes no difference to him how we act? Please explain the exact logic behind the words you have translated, especially the significance of the clause beginning "because".-I hope you will not regard the above as offensive. I'm simply trying to understand what lies behind your posts.