The film Agora has recently been played in Budapest cinemas and the film speaks much about the Christianity and the Christians in the end of the 4th century. The film is brutal, and does not at all show a “nice” picture of the Christians living at that time. Unfortunately that often creates a wrong picture of Christians today as well.

There is though one scene in the film that I would say was a key-scene, but unfortunately the wrong answer was given. Davus who has become a Christian asks one of his leaders after part-taking in killing several non-believers: “If Jesus has forgiven us, should not we forgive our enemies as well, instead of killing them?”

This is a key sentence dealing with all kind of cruelty done in the name of Christianity throughout history. Unfortunately the answer from his leader Ammonius is: “Are you comparing yourself with Jesus? He was able to do such things, but we are not. Do not compare yourself with God!” And that was it, and the cruelty went on!

But when we read the Bible we can see clearly in Jesus teaching that he did not support, nor wanted his followers to persecute and to kill. They were to turn the other cheek! When the disciples wanted to let fire down from heaven to punish a city Jesus stopped them! The revenge belongs to God, and not to us human. We are not to fight humans, but God who is with us will fight our battles.

But, as Christians we are called to exactly the opposite, to forgive! As Christ has forgiven us, we are to forgive those who treat us badly. This can be heard, but in God we have the strength to do so.

And in the end we all know that all persons will stand before God and give an answer for their lives, whether they have used it for good or for bad. The most important question on that day is though still if your name is written in the Book of Life or not!