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Love Your Enemies


BELOW IS A TRANSLATION FROM THE FRENCH, A FACEBOOK POST FROM MR. ASAAD CHAFTARI’S ACCOUNT. THIS IS A REAL STORY THAT TOOK PLACE IN AUSTRALIA IN 2003.

One night, always in Australia, sitting with my friend hicham in a Lebanese restaurant whose owner had welcomed us with the affabilité of our country, the latter, after making sure that nothing was missing, asked the permission of If with us. He presented himself, said he knew me and kindly décocha to have been my prisoner during the war, a member of the Syrian nationalist social party (Psns). Remembering nothing, I was inquiring about the conditions of her incarceration, expressing my apologies and asking her forgiveness. He told me that his situation was not unbearable, which me, and then, speaking of the past, revealed that he was a military officer of an area in Beirut-West. Then I saw hicham suddenly crisper and then, with a voice with a trembling accent, asking for details: that day during fighting against such movement were you dressed? Did you run the attack unit? All perplexed, our host replied in the affirmative. “so it was you who killed my brother in such an alley”, lui hicham. All Ébahis, we were there, trio of executioners-victims of the civil war, formed in Australia by the most pure chance, decades later. Isn’t it sad that this only happens to three people and a foreign land? Who will take care of others, put an end to the pain of some, to the désarrois of others, if not their nation? And when?

Assaad Chaftari in “the truth even if my voice trembles” Editions Dergham.
For more information on Mr. Chaftari see (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assaad_Chaftari)
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Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[h] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[i] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. – Matthew 5

Hesham Shehab

Hicham [pronounced HESHAAM] grew up in a world of bitter animosity between Muslims and Christians, which he experienced personally in a physical attack when only about 7. By age 13 he was recruited by an extremist Muslim group and later fought against Christians in the 1975 war in Lebanon. He was preparing to become a Muslim Preacher (Imam) when a car accident laid him up for a year. In 1980, in his first semester in college, his brother was killed by Christian militia. Hicham's response was to study by day, and by night take out his revenge in attacks on Christians. However, hearing the Sermon on the Mount, in a course of cultural studies (in college), brought him to faith. Later, Hicham earned an M.A. in the history of the Arabs and did Ph.D studies in the history of Islam. Hicham finished his pastoral education at Concordia, Fort Wayne, IN, and is currently in the Ph. D program there. Presently, Hicham, and ordained LCMS minister, pastors Salam Christian Fellowship and works as a missionary to the Muslims with the Lutheran Church in Illinois.