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I enjoyed my breakfast with Mohammed. We met at a cheap diner with bitter coffee and worn Formica in the city. A former student who has become a friend, he lives in New Jersey, just across the river from Manhattan. He’s a quiet and calm twenty-something, with the cat-like walk of an athlete. His degree was paid for by a soccer scholarship, and he just finished his MBA. Mohammed did not always go by his first name, which was given in Nigeria, but lived most of his live by a moniker less foreign to American ears. During his senior year in college, something changed. He realized that he was hiding, took a deep breath, and embraced his given name, Mohammed. My friend is a devout Muslim. According to US government estimates, there are 7 million Muslims living in the United States, about two percent of the total population. Mohammed goes to Mosque and professes his faith, gives to the poor, prays daily, and keeps Ramadan. Some day, he hopes to visit Mecca, keeping the pilgrimage that is the final pillar of Islam. According to Jen’nan Ghazal at Duke University, in 2001 the U.S. Department of Justice recorded a 1,600 percent increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes from the prior year, and these numbers rose 10 percent between 2005 and 2006. The Council on American-Islamic Relations processed 2,647 civil rights complaints in 2006, a 25 percent increase from the prior year and a 600 percent increase since 2000. The largest category involved complaints against U.S. government agencies (37 percent). I wonder how the church should respond to hate crimes against Muslims. In my last post, several responses were vehemently against the Muslim faith, but also seemed to be opposed to Muslim people. I wonder, as the church pursues biblical justice, why Christians are not the first line of defense for Muslims in America. Shouldn’t we be the ones who stand up for the dignity of their lives, insuring they are given the same protections and enjoy the same freedom that we enjoy? I don’t want to be naive about this. There is a group within Islam that is hell-bent on destruction. I agree with Thomas Friedman, who wrote for the New York Times on Sunday, “It is a war within Islam, between an often too-silent Muslim mainstream and a violent, motivated, often nihilistic jihadist minority. Theirs is a war over how and whether Islam should embrace modernity.” But how do we respond as that struggle is playing out? Can the actions of Christians help strengthen the resolve of the “too-silent mainstream?” Would that be a good thing? I suspect that Mohammed is troubled by the caricatures of Muslims in the US. He and others at his mosque likely are distressed by the possible acts of people who fear what they don’t understand. With the comfort of his faith, he presses on. I wonder what a Biblical response to their fear is. I wonder what would happen if the Church walked with him. |
Comments
Very thoughtful and thought-provoking piece, Mark. Thanks.
Mike
Thanks for this profound post, Mark.
After a screening of my documentary, Purple State of Mind, in Austin, Texas, a med student approached me. He said, "I feel just like you do." I asked him in what way. "Just as you are sometimes embarrassed to be called a Christian, so I am often embarrassed by my name--Muhammad." He explained how he used to be proud to be associated with a boxer like Muhammad Ali but in the past few years, it had become increasingly problematic. So kudos to your friend for owning his name, his heritage, his faith.
May we all continue to make our names, labels, and faith something to be proud of....
Thanks, Craig. And you are right, some labels work well. Wonder what I need to embrace . . . .
Thanks for the encouragement, Mike!
Hi Mark,
The question is very good. Are you sure that "Christians" have not stood up for Muslims. I think that this is a caricature that Christians do not stand up for Muslims and it is a faulty assumption. There are some Christians that certainly are not treating Mulsims biblically, but I am not sure if you have shown a connection between the cited numbers and Christianity.
If the Church pursues Biblical Justice, we will love our neighbor and enemy. We will also strongly witness to the Muslim to show him that he is following a false God. Many people think that if we engage in witness or apologetics, then we are not showing love for our neighbor. They have let post modernism and relativism corrode their faith. It is pretty simple, we are to love our neighbor, but strongly contend with them. If we do not, then we are not adhering to the tenents of our faith and we are ultimately ignoring biblical justice, which is ultimate justice.
I wonder if you witness to your friend?
Dan
Dan, I have a special Bible that I whack him with whenever we meet. So, far no results, but I won't quit, even as his neck grows stronger. : )
BUT seriously, we have had the best talks about so many things. It's been a terrific journey for both us. I have this conviction about some ministry coming in the context of relationship. That faith in Christ is a relational issue, and that real ministry to that end must be in the context of relationship.
Not to put down proclamation! You sound like a proclaimer, Dan. Is that true? Can we work together?
Thanks for the reply Mark. I do believe that you are most likely doing a great job showing the love of Christ through your love of him. This is very NT ofcourse. I will pray that there is a time that he comes to faith.
On the other hand, relationships to me are pre evangelism. There comes a time for contention; not in the pugorative sense, but in the factual sense. The Bible is the Word of God and eventually we all should leverage the relationships that we have built to present the Truth. I think that the balance between building relationships and presenting truth is somewhat like the balance between understanding freewill and predestination. Most likely, they are paradoxically true. We just have to pray, but be on guard for the proper moment to share.
Wow, Dan, love the way you wrote that. "I think that the balance between building relationships and presenting truth is somewhat like the balance between understanding freewill and predestination." I strongly agree.
In my life, "balance" has been rather fleeting. I'm usually tipping past the point of balance, weighing in more heavily on one side or the other, only to swing back to the other side at some point. I guess as I get older the swings have grown less extreme, but still a hard point to rest at.
If you are ever in the NYC area, would sure love to have coffee and talk face to face!
Blessings Mark. When I am in NYC, I look forward to talking with you. I have been travelling less due to my life. I have 5 kids at home and a very active ministry, so my trips to NYC have been less frequent. I have also been building websites and a big social network for Christians. We are rolling out the macrosite in the next week or two.
Let me know. Would love to meet in person.
Five kids! You are a man of faith. : ) Would love to see the macrosite when it's up. Let me know!
Hi Mark-
Thanks for writing about this. I will apologize now for my lengthy comment. This is a topic I personally feel very passionate about. One of my favorite classes in graduate school was on Islam. Our required reading was the Quran. I took 2 major learnings away from class.
1. When Islam started in the 7th century, there was a great persecution taking place among Christians. Anytime persecution takes place, people scatter. Mohammed encountered a lot of these fleeing Christians (they were referred to as People of the Book, i.e. the Bible) and as he asked the Christians what they believed and what was written in the Book, he got different answers every time. What I have taken away with that understanding of the beginnings of Islam is that I have a responsibility to live my faith accordingly to the "Book." I need to worry about me and strive to be blameless always. I need to obey the Sermon on the Mount and live each day reflecting the Good News.
2. The final project for the class was to have a conversation with a Muslim regarding Islams major objections to Christianity. What better place to do that than in a mosque. I've written previous posts on my time in the Mosque because it had such a positive influence on me. I had an incredible conversation with a woman named Nataka (Peace). We talked about doing service projects together and staying in touch. It was such a blessing to me to spend those 3 hours with her. Since then, I have done my best to build relationships with Muslims. My goal with my Muslim friends is not to convert them, but to love them. And I pray. I have friends serving Muslims in Arab countries and I can tell you that prayer is what brings Muslims to Christ. I like this post because you've highlighted the importance of relationship here. It's so important.
Again, thank you for writing about this and I hope for many more conversations between you and your friend!
Thanks for two terrific insights, Carrie. I've enjoyed reading your blog.
Sounds like an amazing course. Love the final project!
I really think you are right, Carrie. The issue is living our lives well and with integrity, and to build relationships like they matter. Sounds easy, I guess. Did you see Dan's post? Great thoughts on the balance between proclamation and relationship, though I will always lean toward relationship.
Thanks again.