I've been thinking about the recent controversy regarding Christian-Muslim dialogue, especially the criticism of the Rev. Franklin Graham, who has used harsh words to describe Islam, and who also operates a Christian humanitarian-aid organization, Samaritan's Purse.
In the mission-related literature I receive from the United Methodist Church, there is no emphasis at all on telling people about Jesus Christ, in fact, the denomination seems to be dedicated to understanding and meeting people where they are in their own faith, be that Judaism, Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, or whatever. There is hardly any difference between them and the the doctrine of Universalism, with respect to preaching the Gospel.
I don't agree with this belief or practice. Jesus told us to go out and make disciples. Now words are important; Franklin Graham used very confrontational words, "wicked" and "evil". Maybe he should have been a bit 'nicer'. However, Christian critics miss the point when they accuse him of wrongdoing because someone would be offended. Jesus told us we would cause offense, and He told us to go out and preach knowing we would be persecuted.
It's not a sign of compassion to just let people of other faiths be. Since we know, from John 3:36 (NKJV), "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him," then it would actually be an act of hate to ignore them.
That is exactly right. It is no act of arrogance, nor of hatred, to tell someone who is in a speeding car headed for a washed out bridge that their life is in danger. The only relevant question concerning the preaching of the coming judgment of God against those who reject Christ is whether or not it is, in fact, coming. If we are convinced that it is, then it is love that must motivate us to warn others.
Posted by: Alan at June 25, 2003 08:17 AMIf we don't witness to people of other faiths, then to whom do we witness?
Posted by: Lee Anne Millinger at June 26, 2003 11:46 AMIf we don't witness to people of other faiths, then we're in effect not witnessing at all. We can be involved in our church and worship, but to fulfill Christ's commandment, we need to go out to the world too, the church is not an exclusive club.
Another way of looking at it, if we don't witness to people of other faiths, then who will?
Posted by: Joel Fuhrmann at June 26, 2003 12:12 PMGood analogy about the speeding car heading for a washed out bridge. Another I like, especially with those who claim all religions will get us there, is how flight attendants, before a plane departs, will announce the destination of the plane and give anyone getting on in error a chance to get off, so they can get on the right flight. If someone is on the wrong flight when the plane takes off, they will find that they are not going where they wish to go. I've never seen that happen, but I have seen someone on an airport shuttle going to Philadelphia when they actually wanted to go to Newark NJ. Big surprise there, and probably the start of a very bad vacation as they were from a foreign country and didn't speak English very well. If only someone had told them they were going the wrong way beforehand...
Posted by: Joel Fuhrmann at June 26, 2003 12:23 PM