Okay, I'm weighing in on this issue.
I've seen several FaceBook friends post about it. It's an emotional issue. I think it needs to be handled carefully.
First...it has been said that taxpayer money will be spent on this project. I don't believe this is accurate. I'm sure taxes are being used to prepare the area for buildings...but not on the buildings themselves. This is common practice. It's how we revitalize areas of blight.
I understand that radical Muslim terrorists see the building of a Mosque on the sacred ground of the World Trade Center as being a victory. However, just because THEY see it that way doesn't mean that it is so.
Muslim people died in the towers, too. According to the best data I could find, about 60 Muslim men and women died in those towers. Jews died there, too. So did Christians. I'm sure there were some agnostics and atheists also. This was an act of terrorism by extremists against America--Radical Jihadists against the "Great Satan".
As Christians, we need to remember that Christ loves us all. He doesn't see the color of our skin, hear our accents, care where we were born, or count our sins. Nowhere in the Bible is hate condoned...except for God's hate of sin. Jesus never forced anyone to believe in him or accept him as their Savior. We are not called on to judge others but to plant the seeds of the truth of Christ in others so that the Holy Spirit can work on their souls. God gave us free will. Do we really think we should have the power to take it away?
One friend recently said, "It's just not necessary. It's provocative." This is a good point...but it should've been made sooner by the administration of the city of New York. If we wanted this to be seen as "Sacred Ground" it should have been zoned as a park or memorial and left alone. It wasn't. All the rules were followed, permits were secured, and obstacles cleared...except for the emotional ones. Actually, the mosque won't be located on ground zero--but near it. How close is too close?
One friend recently said, "It's just not necessary. It's provocative." This is a good point...but it should've been made sooner by the administration of the city of New York. If we wanted this to be seen as "Sacred Ground" it should have been zoned as a park or memorial and left alone. It wasn't. All the rules were followed, permits were secured, and obstacles cleared...except for the emotional ones. Actually, the mosque won't be located on ground zero--but near it. How close is too close?
I believe that we need to be very, very consistent in upholding both clauses of the freedom of religion...otherwise, someday, we could lose OUR rights to practice Christianity. I'm glad that this country supports our ability to exercise the free will that God gave us. We are lucky to be American. I love this country and the freedoms that have been won through hard battles by people of all religions that serve in our military.
The politically correct answer is the emotional answer. It will get votes in upcoming elections. It says..."These murders were done in the name of Allah. No mosque should be built near Ground Zero!"
No. People...these murders were done in the name of jealousy. There is no Allah. We should be praying for their souls.
