YOURSAY ‘The pastor should just have the cross re-installed. God has already spoken …’

Church forgives protesters, awaits ‘God's order’

Ima realist: Congratulations Community of Praise Church members, your deeds are as Jesus taught in the gospels. And congratulations Malaysians for Malaysia members, In giving out flowers to the residents today, you have done what both Jesus and Muhammad would have done.

Fair Play: Wow! The 10 percent religious minority could give a compelling lesson in humility and respect to the 60 percent religious majority in the country. I am religious too in the sense of knowing right from wrong and live my life accordingly.

But waiting for instructions from God? Hmm. What about this adage - God helps those who help themselves. Why would God want to play nanny from cradle to the grave?

SteveOh: To the Taman Medan church, I would say put the cross back where it was and move on. No need to ask God what is obvious. Don't be cowardly. Pray for your persecutors and continue to build up the saints.

The church would not have to worry about unofficial spokespeople, had the senior pastor of the church Paul Packianathan come forward to take charge at the onset.

Christians elsewhere are being thrown overboard refugee boats and slaughtered in their homes, pastors and Christians beaten by Hindu extremists in India and ordinary Christians executed by Islamic State fanatics along with Muslims.

Thank all who gave the church support especially those Malays and Muslims who denounced the vigilante mob. The real winner is the community.

The state and federal governments should continue to educate the public about freedom of religion and people's rights and denounce bigotry and bullying. The guilty ones should apologise to the church or be charged in court.

Anonymous_3e86: The church may have forgiven the protesters but the law must be upheld. The protesters must be charged for sedition. There were others who were hurt by the actions of the protest group. This group must not get away with its seditious actions.

Fairplayer: The pastor should just have the cross re-installed. God had already spoken through the Selangor government.

Proarte: As a measure of his stature as a politician and potential future PM of Malaysia (yes, that includes Sabah and Sarawak), Azmin Ali has a golden opportunity to show his sincerity.

He should accompany the church elders in their restoration of the cross to their church. Wouldn't this a wonderful boost to his credentials and political ambitions? He must not be a moral coward like Anwar who would be concerned about the negative reactions from the Muslim extremists.

Let Azmin set the Islamic tone and not PAS or Umno. Azmin should project an Islam that is tolerant, just, kind and compassionate. Azmin, don't squander this golden opportunity which Umno laid on a platter for you to take advantage of.

Odin: Pastor, has it not occurred to you that God has given his instructions through, say, the Selangor MB Azmin Ali? I mean, He does not have to speak to or through only a Christian, does he? After all, all are his creations. And as we have often been told, God works in mysterious ways.

Anonymous_3e06: To the pastor can I ask these questions. Did you ask God whether you should build a church there? What did he tell you? Did your God tell you what colour the cross should be?

Now the whole nation has stood by you and the government has told you to put up the cross and you are telling you need to listen to God.

Does God speak through people and through natural justice? If I were you, I will put back the cross. This is what God is telling me through the voice of the people.

Fair&Just: By taking down the cross, the pastor can be deemed denouncing his faith though discretion in this case, is the better part of valour. But now the pastor should know his constitutional rights and must put back the cross quickly.

Christians will be facing bleak days ahead as this not the first time those hooligans have offended this religion. To forgive will be seen as weak, meek and cowardly by these bullies.

Sam04: Just put the cross back up please.

Hearty Malaysian: Be courageous, stand up to the bullies, put up the cross, it is your religious freedom to worship what you believe - no one can stop you.

This is Malaysia, not some kind of Taliban state or IS controlled territories. You can forgive the protestors but do not give in to them for you may set dangerous precedents whereby minorities have to give in to the majorities in terms of religious freedom.

The constitution is loud and clear, you do not have to wait for your lord to communicate with you to restore the cross at your church.

Takeiteasy: You don't read the meaning directly from the words. What he actually means is when everything has calmed down and attention is no longer given to the protesters and the case, then it will be the right time to put up the cross.

Listen to the wise man - confrontation is no good. There are many ways to tackle the problem and the soft approach is one.

Malaysia Ku: The Lord makes use of His creations to speak. Selangor MB Azmin Ali has already given you the go-ahead to put up the cross.

You should listen to how God acts through humanity. But your forgiveness of the protestors is testimony to the loving and almighty God that you serve. Your God is love indeed.

Kuasa Rakyat: Wait for God's order? Thought God has already said that He will not acknowledge those who do not acknowledge Him before men? Don't use one's own fear to stand before men to hide behind "God's order".

Progressive: Galatians 5:1 - "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Paul Packianathan! God has given you instructions in the Bible. Just follow it and not be a coward, sir. We are behind you all the way.

RCZ: My view to the church and to the protesters is this. Do not bring your religion into this. It is your constitutional right to worship as you please and have a cross as your symbol.

The leaders have said that, the police will not disturb that and your menteri besar has said that. Why all this martyrdom now? Put up your cross as it is your constitutional right, and in doing that, tell the world that you are exercising your rights under the constitution.

Spirit of Malaya: Say what you want, pastor, sir, but don't take the easy way out by saying that you are waiting for God's signal. When you removed the cross, did you wait for God's signal?

REAL TRUTH: To forget is human, to forgive is divine. May the lord be praised and give a vision for Malaysians to be united.

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