Christian/Muslim Relations

The past few months in Middle Tennessee exemplify contrasting personalities. On the one hand, the flood gave the opportunity for residence of Nashville to work together and share genuine hospitality with one another. One the other hand, disturbing news drifted across the pages of the Tennessean: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100621/NEWS06/6210329. Due to the growing population of Muslims within the Nashville area, there have been several attempts to build new mosques and Islamic Centers in Brentwood, Antioch, and Murfreesboro. Some within these communities (and unfortunately, it seems like the loudest portions of these communities) have expressed their discontent with the new places of worship. Within many of their voices, fear manifests itself in hatred.

I believe one of the greatest hindrances to peace in the world is the perpetual misunderstanding of each other. To be forthright, most Americans do not know anything about cultural Islam, the Quran, or a Muslim’s way of life. And if we do not take the time to know these people who are also loved by God, how can we adequately love in return? Rather, we rely on news snippets about Muslim terrorists. These news organizations do a poor job of portraying the religious foundations of Islam, painting in broad strokes the racist sentiments that all Muslims are terrorists or religious extremists out to make war on the West. This is simply false. Allow me to use this analogy that I heard back in high school. Violent Muslim extremists are to Islam as the KKK is to Christianity. We certainly do not agree with the violence and racism that is propagated by the men in white hoods. Yet, what if the KKK was the only ‘Christian’ group being talked about in other places in the world? Would not their existence become synonymous with Christianity in the minds of those who hear the stories? The fact remains that the KKK was in the extreme minority. So it is with Islam. Violent Muslim extremists are in the minority, yet we paint a picture of all Muslims everywhere thinking the same. We are too quick to judge our new neighbors without learning to understand our new neighbors. One of my Muslim friends has shown me nothing but love, respect, and grace. His life is oriented around the Quran- which has taught him to follow a life of righteousness and justice for all people. I think this story is also worth hearing.

Within the next week, I am traveling to Israel/Palestine. I will be meeting with Jewish and Muslim peace activists who are legitimately proclaiming an end to violence so that a dialogue of peace and justice may resume. As a Christian pacifist, I do not condone violence of any kind- whether it is done by Jews, Christians, or Muslims. I believe Jesus’ death on the cross was God’s protest against the perpetual violence that humanity inflicts upon itself.

Finally, I cannot help but think about Jesus’ interaction with the Roman centurion (Luke 7). I believe this story could be a kind of guide for our interaction with people’s of varying faith traditions. The gospel account records a centurion who had a respected servant lying on his deathbed. The centurion, hearing about Jesus, went to him to ask for healing. Jesus, on seeing that he was not a Jew (obviously he was Roman), did not say to him, “First, convert to Judaism, receive circumcision, and then I will heal your servant.” No, Jesus was amazed by this man’s faith. Jesus had compassion on him, loved him, and healed the man’s servant. Essentially, Jesus shows us how to be good neighbors. I’m not so sure protesting the erection of a new Islamic Center is being a good neighbor. Surely Christians and Muslims disagree on a lot of things- so did Jesus and the centurion. But our differences are not so great that we cannot also show love. Many within the Middle Tennessee area have shown what has been pegged as ‘Islamaphobia.’ But Jesus preaches a different gospel. Jesus did not show fear, nor was he afraid of a living among those different than himself. Rather, he exemplified the Christian mantra that perfect love cast out all fear. This is where the rubber meets the road. Fear paralyzes us, and puts us on the defensive. When we fear, we do not think. Fear grips our hearts and we cannot love. Ultimately, it comes down to love- love your neighbor as yourself and in this way we love and honor God. I am disturbed by the recent outcry against our Muslim neighbors. I feel as if we ought to reach out in compassion and healing, and perhaps there might be a little reconciliation.