I love the idea of a Christian, Jew and Muslim “Trialogue”. It was put together by Bob Roberts, pastor of Northwood Church in Keller, Texas. It worked like this: Members of the church and the mosque went to the Jewish worship service Friday night at Temple Shalom. Then they all went to the Muslim worship service on Saturday at the mosque. Then they all went to the Christian worship service on Sunday at the church. Afterward each service the three leaders fielded questions.
Ed Stetzer interviewed Roberts on his blog (you can also read the Dallas Morning News report). Here are a couple of key quotes:
I work with people of different religions all over the world– I don’t think we in the West know how to speak of faith and treat people with respect at the same time.
How can we build relationships if we don’t speak honestly to each other. I’m tired of having to be religiously politically correct. I’m also tired of the arrogance of some evangelicals who don’t know how to disagree and treat others with respect.
When asked about worshiping at the mosque he said:
It was an educational event. I don’t view it as “satanic” or “demonic” these are people that are sincere and seeking God. Going into bars, movie theatres, and banks are probably a lot more “satanic” than anything else! I want to know how they think, etc., Paul did it in the synagogue and at Mars Hill. Those people who are seeking God the most, are the ones I want to relate to. I want to be like Paul in this regard.
Worshipping with Muslims? At first I would have said no – but worship isn’t about the space it is “the hearts affection and the mind’s attention” as Jordan Fowler says – so I can worship anywhere, anytime, anyplace – as long as I am right with God and my focus is directed toward God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In my car, in my study, in a mosque, in a catholic church, in a synagogue, on the side of a mountain, in an airplane – the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave me when I walk in places he goes before me and guides me into those places as long as the primary focus is to glorify God.
When describing how he is received by Muslims, he answers:
I’m being introduced as “This is my evangelical friend,” and after a moment of someone looking at me in horror the following, “but he is a good guy – he isn’t mean to us.” I was in Gaza last week – and I was taken around like a “trophy” by some, everytime being introduced, “he is an evangelical pastor – but he is ok.” It has always left me with this question, “what have we done that they don’t mind our view of Jesus – but they do mind us?”
In the comments section he responds to a Muslim friend (who had also left a comment) by saying, in part:
Multi-faith says the basis of our relationship is respect – not agreement. In the service you heard me say I want the whole world to be Christian – the Imam said he wants the whole world to Muslim. It is because we both believe we believe the truth. The question is not do I want someone to be a Christian, in my religion with the Great Commision and yours with the Dauwa that is part of our Holy Books. The question is can I love you without an agenda. Jesus healed, related, and went places to people he considered sick, evil, demonic, etc., and he loved them all – Paul did the same.
Many in the comments section of Stetzer’s blog disagree strongly, but I like this comment from a woman who attended the events:
I attended all three events this past weekend and I was excited, nervous and deeply moved. The Jewish and Muslim people were more kind and generous than some of the people in my own congregation. I wept openly as I watched fathers worshiping alongside of their young sons in the Mosque on Saturday. I kept thinking of my own son and how I want those Muslim boys to know my son now and in heaven. I saw more dedication and focus during 7 minutes of prayer from these young boys than I would even expect from my own children. It was moving and eye opening that these people love their family and their god just like I love mine. I pray we raise our children to know and love people from all walks of life so that just maybe, one day, I can sing and dance with those people before the throne of the one true God. It can only happen relationally and with the love of Jesus Christ.
HT: Vitamin Z
While I like the idea of organized visits, something just doesn’t sit right with me after reading the various comments, particularly those from the Christian perspective. It seems remarkably naive.
I can’t quite form it into words, perhaps because it’s early in the morning yet, but my initial reaction is frustration, not joy or happiness.
I’m going to have to agree with MrsGendy. It is a sad thing that anyone is ever horrified to learn someone is a Christian, but there are two things Roberts said which make me uncomfortable.
First, he said that the muslims in the mosque were seeking God. Paul clearly tells us in Romans 3:11-12 that “no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;” It seems to me that unless men have been called by the Holy Spirit, all such “seeking” is merely another form of rebellion.
He also said he wants to love them without having an agenda. It seems to me that you cannot love someone truly without also desiring that they would be saved. If all he meant was that he can love a person without manipulatively scheming to convert them, then good, I agree by all means. But if by love without agenda he meant being content to see them remain where they are (which many do mean), I will have to disagree.
Activities like this certainly are good ideas, because it is important that our misconceptions, as well as theirs, be corrected. Yet it seems all too common today to forget that our ultimate desire must be for reconciliation with Christ, not ourselves.
Sorry Andrew but I have to disagree about them not seeking God. When Paul went to Mars Hill he saw the alter erected “to an unknown god”, and then used it to proclaim “here’s the God that you’re looking for!” I believe that is what Pastor Bob Roberts is attempting, and what he means by his statement.
I think we need more of these kinds of discussions, because without them, we can’t begin to work through theological, cultural, or social issues. For example, this thread about seeking God. I think Andrew speaks truth when he says that only by the God’s leading that we seek Him. But we’re still human and we make mistakes. Just as Christians muddle our way to God, so will Muslims. Or Jews or any other person belonging to any system of belief. Now, as an evangelical, I would hold to what I think is the truth in terms of the mechanism by which a relationship with God is established, but is doesn’t preclude that fact that others are sensitive to God’s prompting to seek Him. In fact, I would suggest that in some cases, Muslims are closer to the some of the truths of God than some evangelicals. I’m interested to try this kind of experiment in my city and with my church, not necessarily to worship at a mosque or a temple, but to learn to understand my neighbors and to show that I love and care about them.