(a 3 minute read) Not too long ago, every single person that practiced Christianity did two simple things as part of their expression of faith. One is ‘Crossing oneself’; that is to make the sign of the cross on one’s body to display reverence. Two is always included the ‘Lord’s Prayer’, every time one prayed. Why? Because Jesus said, “When you pray……”

On Oct 31 we celebrated ‘Reformation Day’, 500 years since Martin Luther pretty much changed the face of Christianity. Please know this is not about the Reformation, rather about simple human behavior, so please stick with me for a minute, three minutes actually 🙂

Joseph, a Catholic, heard the preaching of Martin Luther and was amazed. For the first time Joseph felt he could actually be filled with the understanding, the knowledge and sense a relationship with God like never before. What a fantastic experience. Joseph started attending a gathering of people that are like minded. He found himself in the same exact church he’s been attending all his life, and with the same preacher at the pulpit. It so happened that many of the people in his town were like minded. What a wonderful thing, right? No change in community, no hassle of finding a new church. Life was just grand.

One day Joseph entered his church, and as accustomed all his life, he half kneeled and started crossing himself as an expression of reverence. This time though, he sensed an arm grab his and halt his action. Shocked he looked up only to see it was his best friend Mark. They both walked out for a moment. “What’s the matter?” Joseph inquired. Mark almost whispering proclaimed, “You do not want people to think you are a Catholic. We do not do this crossing thing anymore. There are some things we do differently to differentiate from Catholics. Have you not noticed? The preacher no longer uses the Lord’s prayer much lately.” Joseph’s eyes widened with a smile, “I get it, yes, yes of course, we need to illustrate that we are indeed different.”

Today, in 2017, we have 1.5 Billion Orthodox & Catholic Christians that still cross themselves and use the Lord’s Prayer daily, while we have 900 Million Protestant Christians that do not use these expressions of faith. Therefore this fictional story of Joseph and Mark above is not too farfetched at all.

Sadly, also on Oct 31, 2017 a heinous, cowardice and detestable act of terrorism occurred at my beloved city of NY. Innocent people lost their lives at the hands of one deranged terrorist. My heart and prayers go out to all those affected.

I do not want to see our human behavior marginalize a humble & reverent expression like crossing oneself, or sideline the use of something as inspiring as the Lord’s Prayer, hence this plea to you and you;

The phrase Allah Akbar is NOT a terrorist call even though terrorists use it. As a native speaker of the Arabic language, Allah Akbar is simply ‘God is Great’. And if I say ‘God is Great’ you say…. ‘All the time’. ( Hi Larry 🙂 )  Here’s a list of ‘God is Great’ in several languages;

God is great

Dieu est grand

Dios es grande

Gott ist großartig

الله أكبر

לוהים גדול

भगवान महान है

Tuhan itu hebat

Gud er stor

God is Great

The use of God, Dieu, Dios, Allah, Elohim does not make it different, it is simply a translation……

Terrorists may kill us, but let us not allow them to hijack a beautiful phrase like Allah Akbar – God is Great.

My God, my Father, my Lord and my Creator, I hope and I lift up a prayer that somehow some way and in some fashion these people that commit these heinous acts of terror come to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are in no way shape or form serving You, and therefore STOP these acts committed in Your name. Amen.