Interesting thoughts for Christians. We know Jesus’ answer to the question about who is my neighbor (anyone who is in need that we have the means to help), and we know the answer to what we are expected to do to our 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 causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5. 43-48, NASB)

But who is our enemy? If we count Muslims as our enemies, as many Americans do, Christians are held to the standard of praying for them and loving them. Does this characterize my perspective toward them? Not always, if I’m honest. I don’t generally hate them, so I may be better than most, but I fall far short of the standard set here by the Messiah. How can I get to know Muslims better, and better love them? I also need to be praying for them, especially those who hate me most and wish to persecute my brothers and sisters in their countries (think some in Egypt, Lybia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, etc.). Thanks to Matt Hunter to pointing me to information about a new book that I have added to my Amazon.com wish list. Here is an intro from the author. You can find a couple more videos here.