voices of faith q & a

July 10, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

McClatchy Newspapers

Q. How can people of one religion justify killing those of another?

ALL HUMANS ARE EQUAL

Rabbi Mark Levin of Congregation Beth Torah, Overland Park, Kan.:

A. The Bible states clearly in Genesis 1:27 that all humans are created as equals in the divine image. Nonetheless, we continue to maim and murder that image.

Part of this flows from biblical misinterpretation. The Good Book brims with admonitions against transgressions. Some biblically forbidden capital crimes are high-minded, like the prohibition of murder, obviously universally outlawed by all religions regarding their own believers. Others, like collecting sticks on the Sabbath, appear less serious in our modern, global society. But they are both biblically punishable by death. That execution may either be by God’s judgment or by a human court of justice, depending upon the biblical law. Onan and Achan in the Bible died for their sins.

Tragically, some humans appoint themselves as God’s agents to mete out God’s punishment with their own hands. Nowhere in the Bible are such rights delegated to mere individuals.

Nonetheless, too often people presumptuously designate themselves divine judge and in their rebellious temerity transgress God’s prohibition against murder.

The hallmark of modernity has been the willingness to accept all people as possessing “inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” We gain these from the simple fact of our common humanity. To murder because others believe differently returns us to a medieval world that denies the essential equality of all humans, created in God’s image.

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

The Rev. Fran T. Cary, pastor of Trinity A.M.E. Church, Kansas City, Kan.:

A. From the time of Malachi, there was always war. People were struggling for pecking order, which brought about a lot of division and chaos. However, with Christ, there is no pecking order. As the founder of Christianity, Jesus was not a violent man at all.

According to Scripture, there is no justification for killing under any circumstance.

As a matter of fact, Jesus teaches us in Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you.”

By telling us not to retaliate, Jesus is saying that by loving and praying for our enemies, we can overcome evil with good. As Christians, this act of love will show that Jesus is Lord of our life.

2010, The Kansas City Star

I am reminded of the Scripture that says, But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. When we are wronged, often our first reaction is to get even. Instead, Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us. Our desire should not be to keep score, but to love and forgive.

Christ also teaches us, “The second most important commandment is this: ’Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”’ (Mark 12:31). No other commandment is greater than these. In love we can seek to love others as completely as Christ loves us. What a wonderful world this would be.