HOUSTON (ABP) — Baptists should relate to Muslims on the basis of compassion and friendship, not fear or indifference, say two ministers who are engaged in interfaith dialogue with Islamic leaders.
Jesus’ attitude of compassion “is our model for approaching others,” said Rob Sellers, professor of missions at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon School of Theology in Abilene, Texas. “He crossed social and religious barriers.”
Sellers and Michael McCullar, executive pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Ga., led a workshop on how Baptists should relate to Muslims during the General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship July 2 in Houston.
“Some Americans are afraid of the changing face of our country,” said Sellers. “That gnawing fear expresses itself in stereotypes… Such [an attitude] will not encourage peace or cooperation.”
And responding to Muslims with toleration may be no more than a way of ignoring them, warned Sellers. “Many believe that toleration is a right response because [the concept of ] toleration has an impressive history,” he said. “The problem is that it may be a polite word for indifference.”
Instead, “we need to respond with compassion and friendship,” Sellers said. Muslims are a part of our extended religious family, he added. “I realize that to claim a family relationships seems strange but the fact is that [Christians and Muslims] claim a common ancestor — Abraham — and worship a common deity, since Allah is merely the Arabic word for God. The Koran rests on the foundation of prophets from Moses to Jesus, so that its revelation is in the family tradition that links Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”
Sellers said an imam at a recent dialogue in Boston between Baptist and Muslims shared four suggestions for engagement:
— Empty your cup; in other words, don’t be so full of yourself. Dialogue with humility.
— Know the right sources. Rely on first-hand accounts about Muslims rather than innuendo.
— Think the best. Don’t assume the worst of the your partners.
— Be realistic. Be aware of both the ideals and realities of the Islamic world and know that sometimes there are discrepancies between the two.
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Robert Dilday is managing editor of the Virginia Baptist Religious Herald.