Can't Buy Me Love

October 27

We in the U.S. have watched incredulously as hatred is spewed against us in the Middle East. Although we have supported these nations in overthrowing dictators; sent billions of dollars in order that they may build their countries and empower their people, though our leaders have apologized for the slanderous comments of a few that don’t represent the feelings of the many, yet, they hate us.

Perhaps the bottom line is that which the Beetles made famous in one of their hit songs of the 1960s—‘…can’t buy me love.’ Perhaps we in the United States (and in the West in general) must accept the reality that there is a great gulf between our way of thinking and the mid-eastern mindset that cannot be bridged by dollars or presidential apologies.

We know the irreverent rhetoric of a brief, sophomoric video was merely an excuse for the murderous behavior of hundreds of people. While we believe the words of Isaiah 55:7 which say, “The wicked should stop doing wrong and stop thinking evil thoughts; they should turn to the Lord who will have mercy on them and forgive them,” and we recognize that the perpetrators of evil should repent, it seems the mid-eastern approach is totally different. In their minds, it doesn’t matter who is held accountable, as long as someone dies. Vengeance rules their heart.

If we think we worship the same god, we are mistaken, for one is a god of vengeance while the other is the God of forgiveness and love. Recognizing that enormous distinction should make us reluctant to support ideologies that believe the solution to the differences between us is their effecting our demise. The one thing we have to benefit them is our prayers that they discover Jesus as their Savior and Lord. They need the cleansing only He can give and they need the mind of Christ’s love to replace the mind of vengeance they currently unleash when offended.