Prayers for the families of those killed by hate religion

6.4.17

My prayers go out today to the people who have lost their lives in England both in Manchester and London. Four policemen were injured. On off duty.

On BBC there was an interview where I saw the mother of a man, Daniel, 22, who had some profound remarks. He who was in a bar and went outside for a smoke. One of the attackers took a knife and cut him in the belly from the front all the way to his back and screamed.
“This is for my family. This is for Islam.”

There were people who helped him with a tourniquet and the police carried him to help.
She said, “These attacks are absolutely senseless. These people saying their doing it in the name of God. That’s an absolute joke. The first commandment is ‘Thou shalt not kill. All faiths share that belief. If it wasn’t that they would find some other excuse. They are callous. They are barbaric. They are absolutely cowards. We will carry on as normal… we must carry on. If we…play this their way then they’ve won."

I am reminded that there is big difference between true religion and hate religion. Not all religion is good. A religion that teaches people to kill people in other religions is hate and violence religion. God is love. God teaches people to love other people. God teaches the respect for all human life and the greatest teachers even teach their students to pray for their enemies not kill them.

Matthew 5.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 John 4.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.