Hi EveryoneNormally I don't reply to these news posts and this one has has offended my sense of decency. So:
There is something deeply troubling about invoking Christianity while encouraging people to treat Muslims, transgender people or anyone else as enemies in a spiritual war. Christianity is not supposed to be a weapon for dividing humanity into those who deserve compassion and those who deserve condemnation.
Jesus made the central obligation of faith unmistakably clear in Matthew 22:37-39:"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
The same teaching appears in Mark 12:30-31:"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."
This command did not begin in the New Testament. Its foundation appears in Leviticus 19:18:"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."
These passages do not say to love only the people who share your religion, politics, identity or understanding of the world. They do not permit Christians to turn Muslims or transgender people into symbols of evil. They command believers to love their neighbours as themselves.
A person cannot credibly preach the love of Christ while encouraging fear, hostility and suspicion toward entire groups of people. Calling such hostility spiritual warfare does not transform it into righteousness. Quoting the Holy Spirit does not excuse ignoring the commandments attributed to Jesus.
Faith should call people toward humility, mercy and love. It should not be used to provide religious cover for prejudice.
Erika publicly identifies as a Christian. Her words do not reflect the teachings she claims to follow. So I have one word for her, that describes her:
Hypocrite.
Best Wishes AlwaysSarah BGlobal Moderator