Reflections on Engaging our Muslim Neighbors
Evangelical leaders from around the world gathered at Calvin Theological Seminary from Thursday, August 24 through Saturday, August 26 to discuss Christian-Muslim relations. This was a private consultation and I invite you to read what participants have written about this.
Tony Richie: Consultation on American Evangelicals and Islam
Antipas Harris: How Can Christians and Muslims Relate?
I am grateful that my friend who participated in the Consultation, pastor-scholar Tony Richie, invited me to attend the public forum on Friday, August 25. This forum was appropriately titled, “Learning to Engage our Muslim Neighbors.” The diverse panel was made up of Rick Love, Marion Larson, Richard Mouw, John Azumah, Michal Muelenberg, and facilitated by Cory Willson.
Recently, the leadership at my church has been thinking about how hope, humility, and hospitality can be a profound way of expressing how we follow Jesus. Therefore, when Marion Larson used similar language to speak about stances to take as we approach conflict and welcome strangers, I was all ears. Three ideas she mentioned were Receptive Humility, Reflective Commitment, and Imaginative Empathy.
Part of Receptive Humility is being willing to receive gifts and hospitality. In my experience, this ability to graciously receive is something our Muslim neighbors understand much better than I do. We value being a good host, do we value being a good guest?
Having a Reflective Commitment is making a decision to be teachable, to intentionally reflect that I don’t have it all figured out and that I have much to learn. All of us need to be humble enough to recognize we are wrong about some things. I always want to be willing to let God surprise me.
What I heard in regards to Imaginative Empathy is taking the time get to know our neighbors, particularly to ask about and learn what their hopes and fears are. When I put myself in the stranger’s shoes, they are not so strange anymore and I learn we have much in common.
These ideas developed from research for From Bubble to Bridge: Educating Christians for a Multifaith World that Marion Larson coauthored with Sara Shady.
I’ve focused in on what most captured my attention, but there were many other things said that resonated. I really appreciated John Azumah’s story of coming from a Muslim background to become a Jesus follower. Both Rick Love, Michal Muelenberg, and one of the pastors in attendance spoke of how much transformation they have seen when Christians and Muslims sit down and share a meal together. Richard Mouw and others spoke of missiological concerns and how engaging with Muslims in our communities can and should be something normal and neighborly.
One of the panelists challenged the audience to rethink how we think of evangelism. Not “winning souls” does not mean we have failed in evangelism.
Michal Muelenberg, who identified herself as a Millennial, offered some practical advice in navigating cross cultural conversations. In an age not known for civility in public discourse, we should all be reminded how important it is to ask questions like, “What do you mean by that?” instead of assuming we already know. We should repeat back to those we are listening to what we understood them to be saying. Finally, something particularly relevant for lives saturated by social media: Avoid theological arguments online. Arguments in social media are only helpful for losing friends.
May you and I have the courage to see our Muslim neighbors with fresh eyes, sharing with them the love, power, and forgiveness found only in Jesus.
