I have just returned home from the ERMC Summer School, although I went late because of Christopher's operations I am glad that I did go (although Mike. Gary and Simon if you are reading this, it just wasn't the same without you!!!).
The topic for the week was inter-faith dialogue, something I am not unfamiliar with and so although I did not visit the mosque of the synagogue and missed some of the speakers I felt able to join in with the discussions.
One thing that struck me from hearing others reflect was the cry from the Muslim and Hindu speakers for Christians to stand up and be counted and to speak about the distinctiveness of the Christian faith.
A question about whether or not we ultimately worship the same God was inevitable I guess, and on this the course was divided in its opinion. My stance on this was a surprise to some who know of my close and careful dialogue with both Pagan and New Age groups. Quite simply I believe that we do not all worship the same God, that is not to say that I am unable to find truth within Islam or Buddhism, or indeed in many other places. I believe that God has revealed himself uniquely through Christ as the God who can be known; yes imperfectly and incompletely on our part for we do not have all the answers about who God is and how He works. I believe also that Jesus is as he says the way, the truth and the life, and through our encounter with him as Lord and Saviour we and an acceptance of His Lordship we can be sure of salvation. I am not going to be daft enough to proclaim that everyone who does not believe and trust goes to hell (and there lies another discussion), for I do not know how they will be judged, and I suspect a God of love is far more gracious and forgiving than I can possible imagine and so I also believe that I will be pleasantly surprised by the number of people I will meet in heaven!
The question of whether or not we can or should worship together with those of other faiths was also raised, and I have to say that for me the answer is NO, but… The but is complex for saying no seems like a closed door when the door to dialogue and social action, is one that I want to keep firmly open. I was saddened that for some folk it seemed that respecting those with differing viewpoints meant that they were willing to compromise in potentially unhelpful ways. I believe that it is possible to have a mutually respectful relationship with people of other faiths without compromising the integrity of my own beliefs; indeed I damage our relationship when I fudge things. Grace is the key in all of this, along with the recognition that God can and does break down barriers and enlarge boundaries, and that He is likely to surprise us by turning up when we last expect it.
Prayer is another subject altogether, for although prayer forms a part of out worship I am happy to pray with anyone, provided that they are happy that when I pray, I pray to God through Jesus Christ.
I am smiling as I write this because I guess that the weekend forced me to step out of the evangelical closet, and to say yes I am an evangelical- btw that means bearer of the good news of the gospel ( the evangel), and not narrow minded bigoted fool! I have struggled for years with naming myself evangelical because of all the negative (and justifiably so) connotations that it drags around with it! Let's face it many folk don't want to be known as Christian for the same reason.
What I did discover however was that when the uniqueness of Christ was challenged, that a flame was re-kindled within my heart, and that flame is not one of vengeance but one of love. I was reminded of Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 5 11-21:
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Christ's love compels us, the love shown as he taught and healed, the love of God embodied in the one who would spend time with lepers and prostitutes, the love of God poured out through his outstretched arms on the cross, and reignited in power at the resurrection. This God is the one I choose to follow, and although some things about him challenge me and others perplex me I believe. How can I not share this good news?
