The One God Problem

As Christians, we believe that forty days after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, he ascended into heaven.

Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." - John 17:1-3

In today's Gospel reading, John has Jesus telling his disciples that he will be leaving them in a blaze of glory, and they do not yet understand what he is talking about.

But there is something else he tells them that gets my attention in light of the recent attacks on Christians in Egypt.

He tells them the key to eternal life is to know there is only one true God.

We are led to believe Christians are being targeted because they do not believe there is only one God, and here we have Jesus proclaiming that to his disciples.  So what gives?

If we can reconcile our faith to the fact that there is one God, shouldn't we be able to live in peace with those who use our understanding of the nature of that one God against us?

Look, I am not naive.  I do not truly believe the attacks against Christians are about religion, but instead use religious beliefs to promote fear and hatred among many.

And I doubt that educating people about the faiths would change behavior.  Those who are attracted to self-destruction and murder of innocent people would probably not be receptive to hearing about Jesus or even Mohammed, for that matter.

They are chosen because they are already on a suicidal path, and they are being used.

I feel sorry for them, for they know no love, and yet they need help, help no one can give, for they are unreachable.

So, this is not a problem of faith and belief.  It is a problem of self worth and extreme evil.

So, as we celebrate the return to the one God of the one he sent to show us the Way of Truth, let us pray for the destruction of evil and the much needed help for those it traps and uses.

Let us pray too for all the souls who have been murdered.  May they be at peace.

More to come...