Revenge is not sweet
From the Revd Frank Julian Gelli Sir: Mark Steyn (The war Bush is losing', 24 August) is entitled to his very one-sided point of view on 'radical Islamism'. What he is not theologically licensed to do is to cite hate-tilled language or even actions against Christians to justify aggressive war against either Iraq or Islam.
First, the Church teaches that suffering persecution, violence or death for the sake of the Lord is to be counted a privilege for a Christian.
Second, the slightest suggestion that the wrongs inflicted on Christians should be avenged by visiting destruction in return on the persecutors, or anyone else, should be treated as unscriptural — indeed, blas phemous. 'Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, give place unto wrath,' writes St Paul.
Third, the proper Christian attitude towards those who seek to do us harm is that preached by Christ long ago: love your enemy.
Fourth, speaking as an Anglican priest and as the founder of the Arkadash Net work, a Muslim–Christian fellowship of reconciliation, I can assure Mr Steyn that I am honoured to count among my friends plenty of excellent Islamic clergy who do not incite their people to attack anyone. On the contrary, they are as keen as I am to promote friendship between our faiths and a genuine meeting of civilisations.
Frank Gelli
Brentford, Middlesex
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