BLOG 2/25/17. MUSLIMS: OBJECTS OF CHRIST’S LOVE?

BLOG 2/25/17. MUSLIMS: OBJECTS OF CHRIST’S LOVE?

The diatribe against Islamic immigrants to this country, coming out of some in high places, and echoed by a whole set of politically vocal people in this country is disturbing to me. I am, before all else, a follower of Jesus Christ, who is the expression of God’s love for the world. I am a follower of Jesus who made disciples of despised Samaritans, Syrians, and Roman soldiers, … and who left his followers the mandate to make disciples of every ‘people group’ / nation in the world. O.K. thus far?

Some several centuries later, there emerged the Prophet Muhammed and the genesis of the Islamic religion in the middle east, which became a huge religious community, and its sacred book, the Quran, became the formative document among untold millions of Muhammad’s followers. A whole culture with many marvelous artistic and scientific accomplishments followed in its wake. It has both its stricter and more militant wing: the Shia, and its larger wing: the Sunni—but that’s a whole study itself. That’s not where I want to go here.

So, we have a huge community of Islamic folk in this country, and many more wanting to immigrate because of the violence within the Islamic community in the middle east. They are our neighbors. How are the followers of Jesus to process this evident animosity against Islam from some segments, even of the Christian community? I may not be the best person to raise this question because I do not have any immediate Muslim neighbors that I know of, but there is a large community of Islamic folk here in Atlanta. There is a handsome new mosque right behind Georgia Tech, and a large community in a neighboring village to where I live. I have Hindu neighbors, and Buddhist neighbors (… but most of my neighbors are evidently post-Christian, typical urban nomads).

Face it: Yes, there are violent and nasty Islamic folk, who behead Christians, etc. But then there are also some violent and nasty folk who profess to be Christian. We do not always occupy the moral high ground. But, as with our Christian encounter with all our neighbors, it is primary that we become Christ’s agents of love to them. “God so loved the world …” So, you may ask: How, exactly, to we do that? It begins with knowing and listening to their stories. It can be initiated by hospitality, and a simple question over a cup of tea: “Tell me about yourself. What is your story? Where do you come from? What was it like growing up in (Egypt, Iraq, wherever)?”

In another setting, I have always been challenged by the late Lesslie Newbigin, who went as a young missionary to South India (Madras). He became hugely influential because he immersed himself in the Hindu culture, and learned the teachings of his Hindu neighbors so that he knew more of their religion than they. He listened. He socialized. He was loved and respected by his Hindu neighbors though he was a foreigner and an advocate of Christianity.

I think if I had Muslim neighbors I would want to acquaint myself more thoroughly with the Quran. I, frankly, find it difficult reading, but I know that it mentions the Prophet Isa (Jesus) many more times than it does Muhammed, and claims him as a true prophet–even the messiah. I also know that Islam is a religion of law, of obeying the teachings of the Quran if one is to achieve paradise, … while the message of Jesus Christ is one of unmerited grace, of unmerited love, because of Jesus. I should, albeit, be able to affirm the great achievements and positive teachings of the Quran. And to that end, may our Muslim neighbors come to see and know of God’s reconciling love in Christ for them through our reconciling love to them. To that end: Come Holy Spirit!

In this troubled nation, with all its current prejudices against Islamic immigrants, the sons and daughters of God in Christ, should be contagious in their love for these strangers within our gates, whom our God loves with an infinite love. The un-reached people have come to us and we are to be God’s agents of true gospel, and embrace them in care and love. What a calling!

About rthenderson

Sixty years a pastor-teacher within the Presbyterian Church. Author of several books, the latest of which are a trilogy on missional ecclesiology: ENCHANTED COMMUNITY: JOURNEY INTO THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH, then, REFOUNDING THE CHURCH FROM THE UNDERSIDE, then THE CHURCH AND THE RELENTLESS DARKNESS. Previous to this trilogy was A DOOR OF HOPE: SPIRITUAL CONFLICT IN PASTORAL MINISTRY, and SUBVERSIVE JESUS, RADICAL FAITH. I am a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, a graduate of Davidson College, then of Columbia and Westminster Theological Seminaries.
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