Charlie Hebdo

Yesterday I heard about the brutal killing at satirical cartoon office Charlie Hebdo in France.  The two gunmen killed twelve people while shouting praises to Allah, then they escaped.  This brutality is thought to spring from Charlie Hebdo's satirical cartoon depiction of the prophet Mohammed, as well as inflammatory jibes they made about ISIS and Muslim extremism.  France and the world mourn the tragic event.

Sometimes I really don't know what to think of Islam and other religions.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father but through me." (John 14:6)  However, countless people around the globe are finding light and purpose from religions other than Christianity.  Some zealots use their religions as excuses for brutality, such as ISIS.  Others promote peace and lovingkindness, such as Mahatma Ghandi.  In the same way, some Christians, such as the members of Westboro Baptist Church, use their religion as a weapon to wound their fellow man.  Others feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and minister to those in prison.  If there is both light and darkness in all religions, then how can we say that ours is better than any other? 

I find peace, hope, and goodness in following Jesus and trying to live according to the Bible's teachings.  It would be really easy for me to point to John 14:6 and say, "There is proof.  No other religion is valid."  Many Christians do that.  However, isn't God bigger than a verse in a book?  Isn't he more vast than our minds can comprehend?  Didn't Satan quote scripture while tempting Jesus to sin?  Wouldn't it be easy for us to wave our Bibles at the rest of the world today and testify against respect for the Muslim religion since the Charlie Hebdo gunmen were shouting praises to Allah while they killed people?  Is that what Christ would do?

Jesus came to bring living water to those who are thirsty.  What if Muslims aren't thirsty?  What if their religion is just as meaningful and satisfying to them as Christianity is to me?  What if Buddhists are already filled with peace and deep regard for life?  Are they wrong?  Am I wrong for not wanting to convert them to Christianity?  Is it wrong to say that I respect the religious beliefs of others as long as they aren't harmful to other people, animals, or the planet?

Jesus made bold claims about who he was and who God was.  He stood in the synagogue and quoted Jewish prophecies, then told the religious leaders that He was the one fulfilling them.  He defied some of the religious rules of the day, preached radical teachings, and went on an angry rampage in the temple.  Clearly He wasn't afraid of upsetting other people's religious beliefs to make his point, so why am I so hesitant to make waves?  Why do I feel such a strong urge to support and validate other people's beliefs?  Well, Jesus was the son of God, and I am definitely not.  He had a lot more authority to make claims about who God was and what people should do in response to that.  I'm just a woman with a Bible, trying to figure out how to live life with as much love as possible.

Still, God gave us his Holy Spirit to live inside of us and to help us discern what God wants to say today.  How much do I cling to the teachings and ideas of my youth, and how much do I listen to that inner voice?  How can I separate truth from the lies?

God, please help me to find truth and live according to it.  As I navigate the murky waters of religion, give me eyes to see you through it all.  Please comfort the families and friends of the Charlie Hebdo victims as they grieve this tragic loss.  Be in the midst of the political and religious fallout of this event.  May goodness and justice prevail.  The Muslim extremists honestly believe that they are doing Allah's work by killing "infidels."  Come, Lord Jesus, and bring light to the darkness.