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We Need Tolerance, Credibility and Transparency!

Comment on the Cartoons of Prophet Muhammad published by the
Danish newspaper “Jyllands Posten” and caused a lot of political
and economical problems. Some people are speaking here and there
about the freedom of speech.

No, I don’t think that there’s a relation between the cartoon
and the freedom of speech.

Why?

Because any cartoon has an only one phase to criticize things.
It holds a point of view that’s not discussable. Its technique
has only one message to impose that point of view.

The end point for the recipient is to accept it or refuse it.

In our case, the cartoon here is against religious beliefs and
that’s the crisis on it.

As a journalist with more than 30 years in press and in
defending the freedom of speech I am obliged to say all
religious beliefs should be respected. That doesn’t necessarily
mean untouchable.

If we’re discussing those beliefs on articles, reportages or
interviews that’s something else. This is simply because anyone
with a reversal opinion to that kind of topic can write about
it. We’ll be dealing by words here. But have you ever heard
about replying to an antagonized cartoon by another cartoon?

The press should lead and sophisticate the people. This is its
utmost morality. Now in the same area as a response to those
cartoons, a newspaper published some cartoons about the Queen of
Denmark. I think there’s no logic on them too.

I think that “journalism” as a noble profession should not open
the door to humiliation and hatred.

If any journalist has an open vision to the International
Culture and that’s to say, those cultural backgrounds on the
Globe from the Middle East to the Eskimo and from the Eskimo to
Siberia, he’ll never make a cartoon of a prophet with a bomb.
Not Muhammad, not Jesus, not Moses.

Why?

That’s simply because those prophets although they were human
beings, but they were and still respected and followed worldwide.

I wonder; if we do honour some people in high ranks or
hierarchical systems why not honour a prophet?

I don’t think that the cartoon has a logical point of view. In
stead it has damaged human, political and economical results.

The question now is that has that journalist seen the impact of
his work before hand or not?!

Journalism has a predictable message too! Well, I should say any
journalist should have this 6th sense to this profession.
Unfortunately some media sources in our World today employ even
university graduated journalists without vision.

That’s hurtful!

In regards to the Danish PM’s refusal to meet the Arab
Ambassadors, I think that’s what has fuelled the crisis of the
cartoon. At that stage the PM had an open chance to cool down
the problem. But he came lately to say on the BBC and CNN the
“debates are better to solve the problem” though he shared the
responsibility of creating it.

I wonder about the credibility and transparency of both the
journalist who represented the cartoon and the “Prime
Ministering” ones.

Apostles’ Creed “…from whence He shall come to judge the
living and the dead.”

Terry Dashner (www.ffcba.com)

The Bible emphatically states that there is coming a day of
judgment, for God has appointed a day in which He will judge the
world in righteousness. Jesus said that we will see the Son of
Man sitting upon the throne of His glory, all nations will be
gathered together before Him, and He will separate them as the
shepherd separated the sheep from the goats. John, author of the
book of Revelation, saw a great white throne in a great day of
judgment. Not only does the Bible declare it, but also the moral
nature of man demands it.

Dr. Kennedy, a man I greatly admire, tells an interesting story
about Elizabeth Kubler Ross. Ross once appeared on the Phil
Donahue show and was discussing her views about the after life.
Ross is a reflective thinker and a universalist and believes
that all men when they die go to heaven. During the interview,
Donahue asked her point blank if Hitler would be in heaven. To
which she replied, ‘Of course.’ There being a number of Jewish
people in the audience that morning, they became quite agitated.
They asked other questions about some of the various men who had
headed up the Nazi death camps at Dachau and other places. She
continued to affirm that all of these, too, upon their death,
went immediately to paradise. By this time the audience had
become so enraged that it appeared some of them were going to
rush upon her and gnash upon her with their teeth–because there
is something in the moral nature of man that demands that wrongs
will be righted and scores will be settled.

The coming day of judgment will be the ultimate theodicy.
(Theodicy is that which justifies the ways of God with men.)
Like you, I have many questions about this life and its
ostensible contradictions. I’m a rational being who wonders why
God would allow suffering in His world when He could snuff it
out with a wave of His hand. I wonder why some believers
contract diseases and die young, while evil men seem to prosper
and live long lives. I’m just one of many that has come through
the ages and cried out, “Lord, how long before you right the
wrongs of men?” I must admit, I’ve never received a suitable
answer to my cries, but I’ve never stopped trusting God’s
goodness to men in that He sent His only Begotten Son to die for
the sins of the world. And one day He will right all wrongs. As
a matter of fact on the day of the great white throne judgment,
God’s plan for the ages will be unveiled, and all will see for
the first time God’s perfect redemptive plan. At that time we
will see as God sees, and we will have perfect understanding.
His plan He has worked throughout time will make perfect sense
to us. He is the God of perfect justice. He will one day right
all the wrongs.

At the judgment scene all men will be judged according to their
works. John writes about this in Revelation 20: 11-15. Why will
men be judged according to their works? There are several
reasons for this. For one, sin is not the issue here. Jesus died
2000 years ago on the old rugged Cross and took in His body and
soul the sins of humanity. Sin was rendered powerless over
anyone who would receive His salvation. Another reason is this.
James in the New Testament says, “…faith without works is
dead.” There is no way to show faith and trust in God but
through the manifestation of faith revealed in works. I walk a
fine line here, realizing that this has been a subject of debate
since the Reformation; nevertheless, it is a true statement at
the judgment scene. Let me illustrate. At the throne the Son of
Man will reveal the entire lifetime of the one being judged.
Everything in secret or open will flash before him. The one
judged will offer his good works as his defense. The Son of Man
will weigh them in the balance and find that they fall far short
of His redemptive work on the Cross. Because the one being
judged never received the work of Calvary by faith, he will
offer his works in place of Calvary. But it won’t satisfy the
wrath of Almighty God. Only the perfect Lamb of God was good
enough, righteous enough to appease the wrath of God whose
holiness can not be compromised by any work of man but only
through what He has provided through the suffering, death,
burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

What will you offer for your defense? I can tell you I have
nothing to substitute for the mercy of God. That’s why I called
on Jesus many years ago to rescue me from my sins. Jesus heard
my cry and answered me. I believe that when I die and give an
account for my life–for we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ–Jesus, the

Apostles’ Creed “…from whence He shall come to judge the
quick and the dead.”

Advocate of all ages, will stand in my defense and plead my case
before the Father. I will enter into the kingdom of God because
of Jesus. The works that I’ve done in this life for the glory of
God will be noted, and I will receive rewards for them. The
works done by self-will will be cast into a fire and burned up.
I’m so thankful that God has provided the Way, the Truth, and
the Life for me. I’m so thankful that Jesus saved me from my
sins and gave me eternal life in Him. I need not fear the
judgment because Jesus will be there at my side. How about you?

If you’re not ready, call on Him and He will “…answer thee and
show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Keep the faith.

Stay the course.

Jesus is our soon coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Pastor T.