Merry Christmas Dear Reader,
On this day in 1170 Archbishop Thomas was murdered in
Canterbury Cathedral by four knights.
Whether King Henry II wished him dead or not is unclear but the knights
who did so thought they were acting on the wishes of the king.
It is the death of anyone who would further the cause of
Christ that occupies my mind today. The
problems that Thomas had with the church were political and I am not sure who
was correct. It does not really
matter. What matters is that I remember
that still today people are killed because of their faith.
The church universal has done some terrible things during
its history. This does not diminish that
people should not be killed because of what they believe. We have somehow as humans made a false connection
that if one believes differently from another that enmity must follow.
I am capable of thinking that someone is completely wrong
and still loving that person. This is a
primary tenant of the Gospel. There is
no room in following Christ for hating or killing someone who disagrees with
me. It seems, however, that we have
equated disagreement with hatred. This
leads down a most dangerous path.
As long as there is evil in the world those who have faith
will be killed for that faith. This is
not true for everyone but it is still true.
I live in a very safe world compared to others. My brother shared a story just last week
concerning the killing of Christ followers in another country. The power I wield is love. If I wield it well and in the spirit of
Christ then it will yield both love returned and hatred. True evil cannot abide the love of God.
My responsibility to Christ is love. I must remember those who die for that love
or I cannot truly celebrate Christ.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer
who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home
owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store."
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