Workers Were Living Their Faith
"You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." -- James 5:6
The news was horrifying. Ten unarmed medical workers murdered in Afghanistan. Six were Americans. The reason? The Taliban said they were spying and proselytizing christianity.
We don't think too much about people dying for their faith. Not Americans. We are free to worship as we please in this country. Sometimes we forget that many people in the world don't have that right. We take for granted our right to pray whenever we want, to attend church, to own and read our Bibles.
The 10 who died were helping people. That's it. They didn't have weapons. They were trying to do good to people who have seen so much war and poverty. In this passage of James, he warns rich people who don't help the poor. James reminds us that we are to use our wealth to help people. That's what those who died were doing. Helping the poor.
We've been studying different religions in Sunday school. Islam is the current chapter. Some call for tolerance toward their beliefs. Others, myself included, just find the entire religion scary. The religion condemns anyone who denies Islam or says anything against Mohammed or Islam. And, so, 10 people died because they were Christians trying to do good. The lone survivor of this attack? A muslim.
My mind tells me that there are muslims who want to live in peace with others, including Christians. I'm sure there are many muslims who condemn the murders. They don't speak out. Why? I don't know. I can only imagine that fear might factor into it. Fear that the leaders of their religion will silence them. Fear that Christians will blame them. It's an awful way to live.
I am so grateful we live in a country that allows us to express and live our beliefs. I feel sorry for those who now won't get medical help because it was taken away from them by the very people who oppress them. And I am so thankful for those who risked -- and gave -- their lives as they reached out to help the poor. Just like James said to do.
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