? The Tao of Elections | Main | Wisdom on the bus ?
September 22, 2004
Taking it to heart
President Bush offers “a brighter vision of a planet with less hunger, disease and oppression.” It’s ironic that it’s By Force!
UN secretary general Kofi Annan said the invasion of Iraq was an "illegal" act. President Bush was unapologetic and said that his decision “helped to deliver the Iraqi people from an outlaw dictator.” But many of his critics worldwide are asking who will deliver the world from an outlaw President?
There is also an old saying in Proverbs 16:32 that says “He who rules his spirit has won a greater victory than taking a city.”
Jesus tells us to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Luke 6:27 The Tao Te Ching, 63 tells us to “respond to anger with virtue.”
Speaking to the United Nations, the leaders of France and Brazil asked the international community to come up with ways to narrow the growing gap between rich and poor. They said there were more than one billion people living on less than $1 per day. This gap is also a problem in the United States where affordable housing is becoming scarce.
The quote I posted yesterday was written centuries ago, but is equally valid now. We still have the same problems and can’t seem to figure it out.
Jesus was against violence, even at his own defense when they came to take him away. Jesus tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Jesus said, “All who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) And when he talks about love, we are told to love our enemies and to love others AS ourselves. (Matthew 22:35-40)
Many people in this world speak the words and claim their goodness, offering a brighter vision of a planet with less hunger, disease and oppression, yet they don’t take the words to heart and apply it in their thoughts and actions. Maybe politicians don’t have to live it, they just have to say what people want to hear and we will vote for them. Maybe we don't have to live it either. We can just mouth the words and call it good.
In Mark 7:6 Jesus says, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocries, as it is written,
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.
You abandon the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."
In Matthew 23:14 Jesus says, "Alas for you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for as pretext for your piety you pray long prayers, yet cheat widows out of their houses."
And for good reading on today and yesterday's topic, try Luke 16:13-15. And Matthew 6:21, and finally, for President Bush, Luke 9:25
I'm still looking for a good man of Tao to vote for.
Posted by carl1236 at September 22, 2004 11:59 PM | Love your Neighbor