Why does it so often appear that the voice of the Vatican sounds louder when Muslims suffer in war than when Christians are persecuted or Jews are threatened by rising antisemitism?
While churches in Africa are burning, Christians in the Middle East are being driven out, and Jewish communities around the world are facing hatred and violence, papal responses often seem more restrained. That makes it all the more striking when Tehran of all places praises the pope for criticizing America and Israel. The problem lies not only in his words, but in the perception of a moral imbalance.
Anyone who speaks quickly about Western or Israeli military operations, yet less clearly about Islamist violence, the persecution of Christians, or hatred of Jews, risks losing credibility as a universal moral authority. That is precisely why this matters so much: for millions, the pope is not merely the head of the Church, but the highest moral authority, indeed for many a representative of God on earth. People expect from him clarity, truth, and justice according to biblical standards. But when his...
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The True God of Israel is Not the God of this World’s Religions
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes always worked and lived by the letter of the law. They appeared as having virtue amongst the people, but were so out of balance; always quoting and reinforcing the letter of the law, as it was according to their own interpretation. They operated without the spirit and wisdom from God. And without any ‘personal conviction’ for their sins and transgressions. Although, Jesus knew their hearts, and He knew that they lived according to their own laws and beliefs in one aspect, but denied the truth, and the power of God in many of their ways. They lusted after honor of men, and positions of preeminence in their religious circles. They were deceivers, liars, deceiving themselves in their own hearts, and lying outwardly even though they professed Biblical standards. But Jesus looked deep into their hearts, and He knew their attitudes, their ambitions, their true motives and objectives, and He also declared that they were deceitfully evil and wicked in their hearts.
Matthew 23:7-12 KJV
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:13-28 KJV
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
The First Commandment of God
Mark 12:28-31 KJV
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.