Jesus And Other Religions

  Ok, here we go...You knew we had to get into the sticky, gooey, messy issues sooner or later didn't you?  There is a church in Gainesville, Florida that, unfortunately from my point of view, is getting world-wide press because they are sponsoring an event to burn as many copies of the Koran as possible on September 11th.  I have been getting asked about this at my church in Sanford Florida, so I think it is time for me to begin addressing the issues presented here.

     This event raises many questions.  How should people who claim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior relate to people of other faiths?  What are the differences between faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and other faiths?  How should people relate to each other when they disagree about their fundamental views of reality?  There's no way I can tackle all of that here and now, but I want to give you a few thoughts to chew on, and then I'll look forward to reading your responses (I think). 

     Because there is often a slippery, non-commital approach in America to truth, and because we live in a time when people are often creating their own religions by borrowing a little of their faith from one religious website and a little more from another religious website, it is important for me to say that truth matters.  There are right beliefs and wrong beliefs, beliefs that lead to good life and wholeness and beliefs that lead to death, confusion and destruction.  What we believe as true directs the decisions we make and the quality of lives we experience.  Some people believe it's true that their God is pleased that they fly planes into buildings, killing thousands of people.  Some people believe that it's true that their God encourages them to amass great wealth while ignoring the poor and weak of the world.  Some people believe that their God will be pleased if they attack other religions and burn what is sacred to them.  Interestingly, these beliefs can be found in all different kinds of religions, including Christianity.  Truth matters! 

     Here are some basics of what I believe.  Though I have not studied all of the details of every other religious faith, what I have studied and been exposed to has led me to believe that salvation (wholeness of self and everything created) is through the life, death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ.  Furthermore I believe that as I learn to live in and for Jesus Christ and his Kingdom, I will be made whole, and I will be more fully living a life that will help others find wholeness in him.  That is the truth that I am pursuing.  This God who loves his creation so much that he is willing to die so that it can live is who I understand to be the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

     So how should I and other people who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior relate to people of other faiths?  What record does the Bible put forth regarding this?  As I read and understand the Bible, God emphasizes the importance of God's people remaining completely faithful and devoted to God alone, being living examples (witnesses) of God's way of life, and challenging/inviting others to embrace the one true God from whom all life comes.  The emphasis is not on actively pursuing and destroying other faiths, it is on finding life in the one true God.  Even in the Old Testament where there are troublesome instances of  "Holy War," the emphasis seems to be on keeping God's people pure in their devotion to the one true God, not on actively pursuing and destroying other faiths. 

     In the New Testament, Jesus is shown eating with, healing, teaching, exorcising, and inviting into his Kingdom the pagans and prostitutes and vulnerable of the world.  Any time Jesus is harsh and judgmental is when he addresses his own people!  Even if some people go beyond being different to being our enemies, Jesus commands that we love and pray for them so that the world might see the same love the Father has for us (Matthew 5: 18-38)!  Jesus instructs his followers how to deal with people outside of the faith when he reveals the reason he came "not to condemn the world but to save it (John 3: 16-17)."  Finally, Jesus says, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them (Matthew 7: 17)."  These are some strong clues about how Christians are called to relate to people of other faiths!

     Early Christians, like Paul, are shown to be actively sharing their faith that salvation is through Jesus Christ with people of all other faiths or no faith at all by preaching, teaching, inviting, and living in such a way that the quality of their lives reveals the one true Kingdom of God.  Yes, conflict ensues because their understanding of truth opposes what others believe.  Christians are even put to death.  But in witness to the belief in the life-giving power of the resurrected Christ, Christians aren't shown actively seeking to destroy other faiths, they are shown witnessing to the truth that Jesus is the living, resurrected Lord who has conquered sin and death and evil.  Christ-followers are called to live differently, teach differently, and invite people to find life in Jesus. 

     Because this is how I view God's teaching to Christians about how to relate to people of other faiths, I have a hard time accepting the burning of the Koran as a practice consistent with Jesus' way of doing things.  It makes more sense to me that we host open forums to foster peaceful understanding of other faiths or find ways to work together with people of other faiths to promote peace and wholeness in our communities.  In the context of these relationships we can present our differences and give an invitation to people of other faiths to find life in Jesus.   

     Today, if those of us who call ourselves Christians spend more time and energy on following Jesus by feeding the hungry, releasing the captives, helping the blind to see, caring for the poor and widows, and proclaiming good news that salvation is through Jesus and less time burning what is sacred to others, I wouldn't be surprised to see more people drawn to the new life of forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, love, and service that Jesus came to bring.  May God give us grace to live differently, teach differently, and challenge and invite people to find salvation in the love of Jesus. 

     I'm still learning and growing too, so I welcome your comments and thoughts.

     To see and hear more on other topics, visit my video sermon archives.

     To stay up to date on what's happening at the church in Sanford, Florida, see us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/lakesidefellowshipumc.