Pastor's Blog

We have seen much in the news recently about attempts by those who call themselves the Islamic State (IS) to establish a new Caliphate—a sovereign state governing the entire Muslim world under Islamic law (Sharia), derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (the example of Muhammad). Here is an example of the “wisdom” of Quranic jurisprudence: As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hands. It is the reward of their own deeds, an exemplary punishment from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise (5:38). Pardon me for not thinking this very wise. We might call it jurisprudence without the prudence. A thief, presumably, is unwilling to work for his own support. After the imposition of Sharia, he is rendered unable to work, at least not at full capacity. How, exactly, is this any better for him or for society? And l est you are tempted to think that this is an archaic penalty no longer applied, you might want to view this video , but not if you have a weak stomach. Contrast...

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but  y ou shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you  i ncur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but  y ou shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the   Lord . ~ Leviticus 19:17-18 ~ The purpose of this passage is, in part, to set a limit to the measures an individual may take to personally redress a grievance he has against his neighbor. If his neighbor has sinned against him, he may confront him and “reason frankly” with him. The Hebrew word ( yākah ) means to rebuke, reprove, or correct . [1] What the law has in view here is precisely the situation Jesus had in mind when he said, “If your brother sins [ against you ], rebuke him, if he repents, forgive him” (Lk. 17:3). Such verbal correction, it should be noted, is not merely permitted, but encouraged. Rebuke for wrongdoing is beneficial. “Whoever heeds reproof,” Solomon says, ...

9   ”When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.   10   And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the   Lord   your God. ~ Leviticus 19:9-10 ~ The gleaning laws of Scripture express the Lord’s concern for the well-being of the poor. This is a concern that he requires us to share with him—and not in words only, but also in deeds. “If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 Jn. 3:17-18). The Lord looks kindly on those who are themselves kind to the poor. Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the L ord ,          ...