Islamic Center of Murfreesboro members will pass a field lined with 13 white crosses in front of Grace Baptist Church on Bradyville Pike on the way to their new mosque once it opens.
“It was more or less to make a statement to the Muslims about how we felt about our religion, our Christianity,” said Mack Richards, a Middle Tennessee Baptist Church member who built the crosses at the request of Grace Baptist member and friend Bobby Francis. “We wanted them to see the crosses and know how we felt about things.”
“That’s what the church voted to do,” said Francis, who has been a member of Grace Baptist since the 1970s when it was on Dill Lane.
Francis explained three of the crosses, including a taller one, represent the Trinity. He said he sees the crosses as being part of the “Great Commission,” a Christian reference on what Jesus called his followers to do in spreading the news about him to the world.
One of the Muslims’ response:
We love our neighbors, all of them, including the church next door,” said Sbenaty. “As Muslims, we believe in Jesus, as well. Jesus said love thy neighbors. They are our neighbors, and we must love them.
"It was more or less to make a statement to the Muslims about how we felt about our religion…" No, it wasn't. It was to create an offense to the Muslim congregation, and could even be perceived as trying to instill fear/apprehension. More telling is the quote "We wanted them to see the crosses and know how we felt about things." That sounds like something a Klan member would have said in the '60s.
This is the exact opposite of the Great Commission – you're not drawing any nonbelievers to Christ with this display, you're pushing them away because it makes you look bigoted. The Muslim statement gets it right – love thy neighbor, not "love thy neighbor if he/she is exactly like you." Christ drew people to him with love and relationship, not by building a wall outside the temple with religious symbols. Why not build a relationship with your Muslim neighbors, open up a dialogue with them, see what similarities and differences you have, and try to show the love and light of Christianity by being an example of exactly how that love and light works? Oh, because that takes work, and it involved actually talking to non-Christians. Never mind.
This kinda crap right here is why I have no respect for "christians". I'm sure that is the way your god wanted you to treat people.
People that use Christianity as a cover story for hate are not true Christians.
It appears the local Muslims may have a better grasp of Jesus' teachings on the matter.
Read the Koran. If you think Muslims are friendly, kind and loving, you are very mistaken. They would kill all Christians (infidels) if they had the opportunity.
Kool Aid drinkers. You can't reason with evil.
Larry, have you read the Bible? There is more death and calling for death in the Bible than in the Koran. Even if Muslims call for the death of others Jesus said to love our enemies and pray for them. This is NOT loving or praying.
I'm not a universalist, and as such I could argue that Islam is evil in its opposition to Christianity even it's converts are kind and loving. However, in this situation, in this mosque, in this town- are the *people* who are driving past those crosses evil people? Or just lost people? Then what would be the most Christlike way to treat them? Contempt? Intimidation? Is that what you're suggesting?
It would appear that the members of Grace do not understand "Grace"