Previously we said that God cannot be tempted by evil, but He allows evil to occur as a consequent to man’s deeds. Also we talked about the words of Joe Wright the minister that came rooting the teachings of Christianity and Islam and today we shall continue it with unshakable values.
Christianity called for work and exerting efforts as in the words of Solomon the wise: “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.”
Also Islam called for the same two values: “And We placed therein gardens of palm trees and grapevines and caused to burst forth therefrom some springs – That they may eat of His fruit. And their hands have not produced it, so will they not be grateful?”
Christianity rejected murdering the soul: “You shall not murder”; and in Islam: “And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin.”
Christianity mentioned the role of fathers in education: “Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.” Also in Islam: “And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith – We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.”
It is known that the true power is to God- Glory to His name- as for the power of man in Christianity: “He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. “For by strength no man shall prevail.”
In Islam: “And if only they who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they will be certain] that all power belongs to Allah”. Also Christianity rejected the bribe: “And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.” And in Islam: “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].”
All religions rejected lust, in Christianity the Holy Bible mentioned: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s”
In the Holy Quran: “And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty”.
However man polluted his life with sins, obscenity and Homosexuality; regarding that Christianity said: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” And: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age…”
Islam warned: “But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil -Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all.” “And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, “Do you commit immorality while you are seeing?Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly.”
As for the values of the ancestors, Christianity said: “Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you”. And in Islam: “and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.”
The Pandemic that the world is witnessing today is really a message from God to man: evil spread massively throughout the world rather than man’s increasing rejection to walk in the path of life and goodness!!
It is a message from God to all people who are away from the path of goodness, who walked far away from Him and they are only sufficient with themselves and their lives. The lines of this message are also to every man whose worship became just an appearance not meaningful; the aim of this consequent plagues is their repentance and return. But: Do you realize the purpose of the message and respond to?! The Holy Bible said: “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands…”!!
I hope no one thinks that those who got infected with that pandemic are evil or the worst people, Christ said: “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.” “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish…”
Stories about Beautiful Egypt never end!
General Bishop,
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
