"We can either stay within the Christianity we have mastered with the Jesus we have domesticated, or we can leave Christianity as a destination, embrace Christianity as a way of life, and then journey to reality, where God is present and living in every person, every human community, and all creation." - Samir SelmanovicPreaching a sermon in a couple weeks, "I believe in one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob". Looking for some conversation. We all know that we work and live with people of many differing faiths - how does one live committed to Christ and dialogue in this context? How does one talk enthuisiastically about what one is committed to, without being the superior condesending (don't judge me because I spelled that wrong) one? How can you be certain that you are right, and millions of others are wrong? Should you be certain? Does it matter if others are wrong? Is there truth in other religions? Do Muslims commune with the same God we commune with? And if they do, do they just commune with less knowledge of who he really is? Is this arrogant to think? Should you ever say that to a Muslim? Shouldn't we be visiting Mosques from time to time? If we shut out other religions, shouldn't we expect them to shut us out too?
Dan,
ReplyDeleteI wish I could get you together with one of my uncles on my mom's side who was (I think) a pastor at one time. He has read the Koran and would very definitely tell you that we do not worship the same God as I have heard him say a couple times that the Koran says to cut off your enemy's head if you meet him. He's also mentioned that the Koran isn't that big, no bigger than a paperback. I think that you would have some interesting conversations with him if you met him.
approaching ancient text can be tricky - I would hate for my non-christian friend to say that he does not want to worship the God of the Bible because Leviticus 26:7 says, "You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword". As Christians we are able to understand context, genre, etc. And we would also want to point out Exodus 23:4, "If you meet your enemies donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him". How might a Muslim respond to the Koran telling them to cut off the enemies head? Might it be productive to be in dialogue? According to one Christian, who was Muslim most of his life - he grew up in a Muslim family, "[he] has never met a Muslim relative or friend who would initiate or retaliate with violence. Violence was beneath them...to kill would be take a life one cannot replace and hence to which one has no right."
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