Now, I admit that we ministers here at SYPH and GH tend to have a lot of negative things to say - granted we are conservative soap-boxers - but there are times when an encouraging word is most welcome. What I just had the pleasure of experiencing was amazingly simple at most.
A gentleman just walked out of my office. He is not Canadian by birth, nor is he of Christian faith. I'm okay with that. We, here in Canada, have been granted the freedom of religion and the freedom to practice our chosen faith. This man is a successful business man and owns a successful company. He is well-groomed and well-dressed, well-spoken with an Indian accent. I'm okay with that.
This being the Christmas season, our mailboxes are being filled with requests for non-perishable food items, money, toys, etc. from an assortment of profitable and non-profitable organisations. Many include small gifts in hope of inspiring us to also give. A lot of these flyers end up in recylcing or the garbage. This gentleman received something from a Christian organisation and it came with some sort of Christmas bauble. Rather than tossing it away, he brought it into our office, knowing there are Christians who work here and perhaps one of us could make use of the item. "I mean no disrespect to Christianity, it is just that I will not use it and did not want to throw it out." He said as he left the room.
While I do believe that Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life, I can't in good conscience mock other reliegions. If my convictions are so strong, who am I to tell another who feels as equally convicted that they are wrong? I was impressed that this gentleman would avoid tossing this little religious freebie and instead bring it somewhere where he figured someone could appreciate it.
I believe that there is a lot that can be learned from other religions of the world. Respect being one of them. If a Muslim man (I believe he is Muslim) can respect a Christian item, who am I to poke fun a things of other faiths? Whether I believe them right or wrong, someone somewhere finds value and importance in such items. What a simple way to open a door - respect! (And while I say this figuratively, men - it wouldn't hurt you to open doors for women.)
A gentleman just walked out of my office. He is not Canadian by birth, nor is he of Christian faith. I'm okay with that. We, here in Canada, have been granted the freedom of religion and the freedom to practice our chosen faith. This man is a successful business man and owns a successful company. He is well-groomed and well-dressed, well-spoken with an Indian accent. I'm okay with that.
This being the Christmas season, our mailboxes are being filled with requests for non-perishable food items, money, toys, etc. from an assortment of profitable and non-profitable organisations. Many include small gifts in hope of inspiring us to also give. A lot of these flyers end up in recylcing or the garbage. This gentleman received something from a Christian organisation and it came with some sort of Christmas bauble. Rather than tossing it away, he brought it into our office, knowing there are Christians who work here and perhaps one of us could make use of the item. "I mean no disrespect to Christianity, it is just that I will not use it and did not want to throw it out." He said as he left the room.
While I do believe that Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life, I can't in good conscience mock other reliegions. If my convictions are so strong, who am I to tell another who feels as equally convicted that they are wrong? I was impressed that this gentleman would avoid tossing this little religious freebie and instead bring it somewhere where he figured someone could appreciate it.
I believe that there is a lot that can be learned from other religions of the world. Respect being one of them. If a Muslim man (I believe he is Muslim) can respect a Christian item, who am I to poke fun a things of other faiths? Whether I believe them right or wrong, someone somewhere finds value and importance in such items. What a simple way to open a door - respect! (And while I say this figuratively, men - it wouldn't hurt you to open doors for women.)
Nicely said.
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