When I think about the Muslims moving close to the 9/11 site I find myself "feeling the tension." My mind is being pulled in many different directions. Clearly many Christians still look at the nation of Islam as an enemy. I am a Christian, so I must strongly consider this view. Clearly the Muslims have not forgotten what the western world has done to their people throughout history. It is understandable why they wouldn't like us. Especially when we are still raising our voice against them to this day. To truly express my opinion on this matter I will begin with a true story that came from a book called the "Emergent Church" by Brian McClaren. The story goes like this. A family living in a middle class suburban neighborhood in the U.S. has just returned home from a shopping trip. The youngest little girl gets out of the car and sees her neighbor Muslim mother and daughter also getting out of the car. She looks at the head dresses and asks her mother very loudly so even the Muslims themselves could hear, "Mommy why do those people wear sheets on their heads?" The Muslim mother listens intently to hear what the mother would say before entering her house. Then the response, "they wear those because they want to show everyone that they love God." "Oh," replied the daughter. The Muslim mother was taken back at this answer and came over with her daughter and said "Thank you so much for telling your daughter that, you do not know how much that means to me." From there a budding relationship was built (this is not quoted directly from the book so no quotes needed). This is how I see we as Christians should respond. The Muslims will never listen to the Gospel when they are treated like enemies. Jesus says to love our enemies. Paul the Apostle says, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers in this dark world, and wicked spirits in heavenly places."(Ephesians 6:12) Again he says "To the weak I became the weak, to the win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by some means win some." (1 Corinthians 9:22)
So, I choose not to look at this situation as "the enemy gaining ground," but an opportunity for Christians to take a step forward in a healing process that will open the door for the Gospel to impact the Muslims in the U.S. We of any other country have perhaps the greatest chance to do that on our own soil. It all begins with forgiveness and love that expresses itself in action. The only way the enemy will advance in this situation is if we either do nothing and continue to fight against them. Even if they should still despise us, we must continue to love them. I believe this is another act of divine orchestration. It looks to me like they will be moving into that building close to the 9/11 site. God has put them in our way. What will we do about it? Continue to fight or begin to love?
Thank you for "Facing the Tension" with me, if you read my blog. I would be eager to hear your thoughts and opinions on this very important matter.
i agree with everything. the only comment at the end, will we "continue to fight or begin to love." I do think there are times when God calls us to do both. We are called ALWAYS to love, but then choose our battles wisely. Its when we battle without love that is anti-Jesus. Like when they wanted to burn Korans in Florida. I don't agree, but that still doesn't mean I can disagree with building a mosque and at the same time loving the people. And just like Jesus chooses to give Himself a face through us, the enemy needs a face as well. We don't fight against flesh and blood, but I'm certainly convinced satan needs flesh to move.
ReplyDeleteI think it will be important for the church to recongnize that the difference between those radicals and others, like you have mentioned. Listen to Jesus and what His heart is saying. We need to stop responding out of ourselves and start listening and I even believe that story that came from your book was Jesus living through that woman. Jesus gave Himself a face through her. I think in "facing the tension" the answer is always that there isn't one. It's more about listening to Jesus, and making things not about ourselves.