Peace.

                                                                               

How are we to bring peace between the Religious Right and the Religious Left?

To make one Temple of the House of Judah and the House of Joseph?

Both are Biblical.

But they differ in interpretation.

The Religious Right is literal.

The Religious Left is metaphorical.

The Religious Right is faithful through obedience.

The Religious Left is faithful through love.

Both seek to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth.

But they differ in their vision.

So, rather than trying to win out over the other, perhaps we should heed the words of Jesus and love our enemies.

We should pray for those who attack and oppose us.

Pray for them to overcome their fears and see more clearly.

That both sides use the words of the Bible.

The Religious Right in an orthodox way.

The Religious Left in an unorthodox way.

But both are Biblical.

To give precedence to the words of Jesus:

"'Blessed are the peacemakers.'"  Matthew 5:9 (NRSV)

"'"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."  This is the greatest and first commandment.  And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.'"  Matthew 22:37-40 (NRSV)


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]   

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