But something’s funny about it – and the reactions it’s received. Let me try to explain:

The ones who loved it are Christians.

The ones who hated it were Christians.

He (the dude who did this) hates religion.

But he loves Christianity. He mentioned several times about “being a Christian.”  I mean, he mostly loves Jesus (which is good), but he also seems to love “being a Christian.”

And thus….the confusion for so many.  Why can’t we get this?

So here’s the thing – the ones who hated this video said things like “You can’t separate religion from Jesus or Christianity from Jesus or religion.”  Right?

The ones who loved it, didn’t catch that on one hand he was busy “hating religion” while on the other hand not acknowledging that Christianity is a religion.  True?  They simply cheered the good and creative message. Fair enough.

But as soon as I watched it, I thought to myself – oh my, this kid is good – and slightly confused. I also thought – that, like me – he’s going to make both sides angry.  ”Both sides” being the “I am a Christian and Jesus is the founder of Christianity” side, and the “I’m a follower of Jesus and I’m not a big fan of ANY religion – including the one I grew up in,” side.  And sure enough – both were either confused or upset.

That’s why I’ve chosen to say things like “I dislike ALL religions – including my own.”  Or “All religions are equally well-intentioned but misguided.”  And JESUS is the answer. He is the way to God. He is truth. He is life.  He doesn’t just know the way – he IS the way!  And without a doubt he was against the religious folk and religion itself. Not sure how you can argue against that.

So the problem comes happens when we agree with the above paragraph, and then go on talking about Christianity NOT being a religion but a relationship. It doesn’t make sense to anyone (except maybe us).  If Islam and Hinduism are names of religions that have millions of people following them – and they are simply that – religions with followers/adherents; then why can’t we simply say that Christianity is the same.  It doesn’t cost us anything to give that up.

It clears the water.  Un-muddies the pond. Then we don’t have to think about WHICH version or form of Christianity we’re defending or exporting.  The answer would honestly be – none at all. And since we don’t need to defend or export Jesus – life all of a sudden gets simpler. We simply lift him up because he’s awesome and let each person make their own choice. We don’t hold back. We love Jesus. No apology necessary.

But let’s not keep switching back and forth from Jesus — Religion —- Christianity —- Jesus….etc.   Stick with the one who can take you somewhere.  And He’s a person – not a thing. Not a doctrine and FOR SURE not a religion!  Even ours!

carl

It also raised the question of what makes a country an “Arab” country.  There are really only two ways to answer that:  1. The predominant language is Arabic. 2. They belong to the Arab League – which has 22 nations (all who predominantly speak Arabic).

Iran and Turkey are not Arabs and do not speak Arabic.

“Being Arab” is hard to define as we found out on our recent film trip to four Arab countries.  There is little in common between a rich Sheikh from Dubai and a poor resident of Cairo.  The Berbers of Tunisia and the Maronites of Lebanon are both in “Arab” countries but have a very distinct culture from those around them.

Being Arab does not mean you’re Muslim. There are Arab Christians: Coptic, Orthodox, Catholic, Melchite, Assyrian, Chaldean, Protestant and several others. There are Followers of John the Baptist in Iraq.  Yazidis.  Druze.  Kurds.  And so many others you’ve never heard of.  The “Arab world” is rich in history and diversity.

All that said – I still have my “favorites.” (Note that I have not spent much or any time in Sudan, Algeria, Libya, Kuwait or Oman). All the others I’ve been to many times.

I am partial to Lebanon because it feels like home.  But it’s also the center of all things chaotic.  The 18 official sects and their representation in the government makes for a guaranteed state of near anarchy. The Hezbollah is a state within the state. Prior to them it was the PLO that was a state within the state.  Syria and Israel have controlled much of Lebanon’s past 35 years.  But the people are resilient and amazingly friendly.  The nightlife there is unparalleled in the Middle East.

So I’d say Lebanon is my favorite place if you don’t mind ducking the occasional war and you love going out on the town with your friends.

The most friendly Arabs are the Egyptians. Hands down. They are just downright nice people.  So if you don’t mind crowds and dust, Cairo is the place to be.

If you want nice – fancy…. It’s the Emirates. It’s stable and everyone seems at rest.  (Cause their all rich).   

Palestinians are also extremely friendly and well-educated.  They will typically give you a good overview of that it’s like in the Arab world.  They are well-versed in so many things.

Jordan is great because it’s right in the Middle of the Middle East and the crossroads for  so many things.  Jordan is stable and the people are friendly.

I suppose I could go on and on, describing each country.  Each is unique and has a ton of positive things! Part of what we’re doing with this new film and book project is showing how diverse the Arab world is and how wonderful its people are.  Stayed tuned for more.

I write this as we return from a few hours of filming at the Pyramids. We’ve moved about 500 yards in a half hour. Crammed into a bus for 12, we are fourteen. As I found myself getting grumpier by the meter….the Egyptian film guy sitting next to me, who, by the way, is making less money today then most of us make in an hour – said, “This is great. We can make friends with those driving next to us since we are spending so mich time here.”

Not a bad perspective…. Not bad at all. I didn’t think of it. I wanted to punch the neighbor.

Beauty in pain. Freedom in the midst of poverty. A joke from the camel herder near the pyramids that made us all laugh. We assume the poor or poor, but it may depend on how we define poor.

What we need in the west is what they sometimes have more of in the east. Friends and family. We add faith to that and it’s a perfect mix. Power boost the faith with Christ and its a homerun!

Carl

You should ask my kids. So far we’ve experienced the most intense hospitality ever. Today the Muslim Sheikh who hosted us apologized about 10 times that he hadn’t provided more for us. It was short notice he said. All he was able to do is give us a full meal amongst the most beautiful sand dunes on his farm. He hosted and pampered us for hours ignoring all else he had to do. Showering us with gifts. He had never heard of us an hour before and didn’t even know why we were there. But he felt bad he couldn’t do more….

Then the other Muslim man we spent a lot of time with told us how he was delivered at the local Christian missionary hospital. (his words). The doctor who first held him, he calls “mom.” he said “I love those people.”

Three young men who had never met us spent two hours giving our kids rides up the big sand dune so they could board down. I could go on and on and it’s only been two days.

We pray. We speak. We laugh and eat. Faith. Friends. Family. It’s what the sign says over our fireplace at our house in Colorado. And we’ve found all three here!

I would have wrapped it in some Theo-talk.  You know. Things like “Working with the Holy Spirit to do His will.”  Or maybe, “Doing what I see the Father doing.”  Or even, “Lifting up Jesus and letting His Spirit do the heavy lifting.”  You know the stuff… But honestly, I thought I was doing a good 50% of the work.  Okay, maybe 40%.

I had charts. Goals. Hard targets. Dates and ways and means.  Teams. Staff. Structure.  Initiatives and meetings.  I was doing everything from starting church planting movements to discipling nations.  Leading Muslims to Christ.  The Great Commission wrapped seamlessly inside the Great Commandment. Loving God and Neighbor. Writing. Speaking.  TV. Radio.  Content and purpose driven. Driven.  Oh…that word. Driven.

Now you might look at my life and say “Come on Carl, don’t be a reverse hypocrite – your life is still totally insane. You work harder then anyone. I can’t keep up and I’m only following you on Facebook.”  And you’d be right. Well, partially right.  Here’s the difference – and it’s significant.

I’m 50.

Yep, that’s pretty much it. What that means to me is that I’ve learned a few things along the way. Things about motivation.  Desire and drive.  What pushes or propels or calls me – from the Inside?  Am i working FOR God, or with him? Under him or alongside him?  Loving Chris and the kids and my (literal) neighbors first? (You’d have to ask them).  Or are the second?  Do i feel that working long hours and taking more trips…makes God love me more?  Or am I relaxed?  Serving with vigor, but not out of compulsion?

I think that’s the difference. I’m much less stressed. More excited to see what God’s up to than what I’m up to.  Enjoy talking about Jesus, because he’s AWESOME, not because I’m supposed to.  I don’t worry about hell. Eschatology.  Even theology (as many of you have noted).  

I LOVE the idea that we’re going to the Middle East as a family.  Four countries in 14 full days.  I’ll be herding 20 or so people around every day to places that most have only heard of – it’ll be exhausting. I’ll fall in bed at night next to Chris – with kids in the next room – and we’ll sigh deeply and say “I’m tired.”  We’ll smile and go to sleep – all in about 30 seconds.  And then wake up and do it again.  The days will be the 16 hour types.  Not easy stuff. But fun. Oh, will it ever be fun!  Challenging. Adventurous. And I can’t wait to see what God is going to do.

I’m not saving the world, but I still hope and pray Jesus is. In the meantime, let’s join in and have some fun!

carl

Now here’s the deal. Many of my Christian friends here in the States don’t really understand my love for the Arab world. For the Muslim world. They think I’ve compromised truth.  The truth mainly being that unless you receive Jesus Christ as your Master (lord) and personal savior by acknowledging your sin and his death on the cross to atone that sin – you’re doomed to an eternity without hope and life. Hell.

So when I seem to act as if I love and respect you as you are, they – my well meaning Christian friends here – get nervous. Not about you….about me. They wonder why I don’t tell you.  That if I really and truly loved you, I’d tell you.

So is my life. Caught between two worlds who both partially misunderstand. My Christian brothers and sisters who are concerned I may be a heretic.  And you – who still, after all my years with you, wonder if I’m a missionary trying to convert (change) you into the religion of Christianity.

Well, here is the full and honest truth. I am concerned for you.  For the world you live in. For the instability you live with.  For the ones who have hijacked your religion and used it against you. The ones who have bred fear in your midst. Who rule with the Sword of Top-Down Power and Intimidation.  I hate to say it, but you’re unlikely to get it back.

Out of love, concern, here’s what I suggest.  Surrender. Don’t fight back. Don’t think you can beat “them.”  Whoever “they” are. I’ve heard for 30 years as I’ve lived in your region that it’s America. Israel.  The Terrorists in your midst. The bad regimes you live under. And the temptation – ours as well – is to fight.  Eliminate this evil and we will be free. It’s not true.

Surrender. It’s what Islam means anyway, so go ahead.  Fully surrender. To God.  To the one you can trust. Throw yourselves on his mercy and compassion.  Surrender.

As to our theological differences. Here’s what gets me in trouble on this side of the pond – don’t worry about theology. Worry about your heart. Honestly seek him – as I attempt to do – and draw near to him.  He will come near to you. He will reveal all who Jesus is.

I constantly and almost annoyingly speak of Jesus.  I do this because I still don’t think you fully grasp what good news he is.  What his life lived here among us, exemplified.  What he did for us.  Where he can lead us.  And…lest you think I’m sounding preachy here…listen, I need this news as much as you. My people – Christians – also don’t know who Jesus really is. They have a Tame, White, Westernized, Wimpy Jesus.  He’s not the real one either.

The real Jesus – the one you need and the one I need – is out of control. Literally above and beyond our control. He is Messiah. His is Freedom. He is Life. I want you to know him as I want to know him.

Surrender.  And let’s walk this walk arm in arm, discovering the real Jesus from Nazareth. East and West. Arab and American. Muslim and Christian. It will offend many. Most will not understand.  But it doesn’t matter as the one who calls us will keep us.  Carry on my friends, carry on.

Your brother and friend. With tons of love and respect for who you are!

carl

WARNING: There are some stereotypes in here.  However, I felt it was fair to use some positive stereotypes since mostly the negative ones have prevailed in Western media.

Let’s do it the David Letterman way and count down from 10:

Number 10. Arabs are not homogeneous. So let me start by saying all that I’m about to say is hard to justify as I am, in fact, stereotyping with the broadest of brushes. Because they are many cultures within a bigger culture. An “Arab” is really only someone who speaks Arabic. They are Christians and Muslims and Druze. There are Arabs who are Israeli citizens, enjoying most of the rights of any other Israeli, and those who are Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip living in inhumane conditions. There are rich (Dubai) and poor (Yemen).  To say “Arabs” is really like saying “Westerners.”  It’s way too broad – but if you know that, it makes it a little easier to understand them. When you know the “them” you’re talking about can’t easily be defined.

Number 9. Arabs make good food. All the Arabs who live around the Mediterranean (North Africa, the Middle East) have the same basic diet as what you’d find in Greece or Italy. Good food and good fun.  When these Arabs move to the West, they bring their good food with them!

Number 8. Arabs are happy folk. They tend to laugh a lot. I have never heard as many jokes as I have living in the Middle East.

Number 7. They love traveling and learning about other cultures.  I have been consistently surprised at how often I meet people in the Arab world who know way more about me and my culture than I do about them.

Number 6.  They are learners.  They love information. They’re not always big readers, but they study people.  Be careful because they’ll know more about you in a few minutes than you can ever imagine.  Their “people intuition” is amazing.

Number 5.  Arabs love life. This one’s a bit fuzzy I know, but I often equate them to people from the Midwest here in the States. Good ole boys.  Down home.  Easy to hang out with and enjoy a good time.

Number 4. They are the warmest and most hospitable of all the cultures I’ve seen.  If you are a foreigner, you cannot manage to walk from point A to point B without someone insisting you come in for tea.  And then usually get asked to stay for lunch or dinner. And oftentimes they will insist you spend the night. Gotta love that!

Number 3. In the West we’re often told that we don’t discuss Religion and Politics in polite company. No such silliness in the Arab world. Of course, everyone discusses the two most important topics in their lives. They are often confused by our politicians who go there and never discuss faith.  God, faith, politics and every day life are intricately intertwined.

Number 2. Arabs are good friends. They understand the power of friendship.  They will, quite literally, do anything for a friend. When they say someone is a friend – they mean it.

Number 1. They value family life like no others. They’re often shocked at how they see the West treating our elderly.  When they find out that our two daughters go to school in other states – outside of Colorado – they wonder if there are no Universities inside of Colorado.  Their families are not perfect, but they stay together.

In the end, I wonder if there is some irony in the fact that it’s our so-called Christian “Social Conservatives” here in the States who could learn a few things from Arabs.  Seems like we have a potential partnership with the Arab community and even the broader Muslim community that few have tapped into. Maybe conservative Bible believing Christians could partner with conservative Arabs (both Muslim and Christian in background) in a number of ways that have so far not been thought of. Like social, civic, political – just for the general well-being of mankind, sort of stuff.

And in the end, maybe you should find a family to have over for Christmas dinner this year….You will be pleasantly surprised. I guarantee it.

carl

We’ve had a tradition the last few years of spending that precious holiday with some of our dearest friends here in Denver. Doing the usual. Eating and watching football. It’s a lot of fun and very relaxing. And we love it!

But this just seemed like the right thing to do. For several years in Lebanon we had collected some of the kids’ toys and traveled to the Bekaa Valley and visited nomadic Bedouin Arabs for this day of giving thanks.  It was funny because each year as we’d ask our three young children to collect some things to give away, they’d invariably come back with their nicest and most expensive toys to donate – causing conflicted thoughts in their parents.  

So we loaded up the car and caravanned up north for the six hour drive – into a different world. We might as well have been in the Gaza Strip – in some ways worse.  It’s unbelievable.

I know, I know. I can hear it already from some (and have heard it already from many).  “They are drunks.”  Or, “Why don’t they make something of themselves. They’re free to move out and move up, why don’t they.”

And it’s true, they could move out and be upwardly mobile. It’s the same argument that I hear a lot about the Palestinians. Why doesn’t Saudi Arabia give them a bunch of land? They can just move there.  And they could.  But the Natives like their land.  It’s home. It’s much like the comfort we feel every Thanksgiving with our friends here in Denver eating, drinking and watching football – it feels good. We like it. We don’t want to leave.  Multiply that feeling by a million and that’s what the Native Americans feel. They don’t want to leave.

And besides, they’re sort of stuck.  No money. No one who wants them.  In a cycle of poverty.  No economy.  Piles of government regulations that make starting businesses and being entrepreneurs nearly impossible.

They have a rich history with an amazingly complex culture.  The Lakota Sioux of the Pine Ridge were the proud Native Americans of the plains around Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. They inhabited one of the most beautiful pieces of American soil – the Black Hills.  It was their land. And the U.S. Government was happy to acknowledge that…..until, gold was found in those hills.

That’s when they were relocated (forcibly, of course) to the flat lands of south central South Dakota.  So similar to the Palestinian situation.

So we gave blankets and coats and food. We visited. Laughed and cried. Asked tons of questions. Got an education. Had our hearts deeply moved by a man who can barely walk who lives in a shack that’s about 12 feet by 10 feet square.  His shanty is in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere. He has no electricity and no running water.  Imagine using an outhouse in the South Dakota winters? Only a wood burning stove, and he can’t even get his own wood.

He told us that he wakes up in the winter mornings and has to shake the snow off of his blanket before he gets up. We gave him a new afghan.  He was so happy. So joyful. So grateful.  Thanksgiving.
We visited a lady who lived in a trailer house.  She had no electricity and no heaters. She ran the stovetop burners for warmth but she said those ran out quickly. I asked what she and her kids did then to stay warm and she smiled and said “We use these blankets.”  They were the ones we just gave her.  Thanksgiving.

We visited the great, great, great, great Grandson of the famous Chief Red Cloud.  He teaches his people about alternative energy. He’s full of life and hope. His grand kids kept running in and out of our meeting yelling things like “Papa, we love you,” or “Papa we miss you.”  Darling kids.  Thanksgiving.
Much of the talk in our car between places, the five Medearis’s discussed whether it was “good enough” to simply give some blankets and some food to a few people when the need was so vast and the issues so deeply entrenched.  Should we/could we do more?  What about the government?  The church?  The locals?  Should we focus here or there? Where was everyone else?  Why were we there?

And we wondered if Jesus ever felt that way?  The issues were so big? The Romans. The Greeks.  Herodians and Pharisees.  And then a handful of mostly confused followers who didn’t know what to do.

So we felt we were in good company!

Thanksgiving!

Here’s what this is NOT:  It is not an opportunity to complain publicly about church. It is not about your theology of church.  It’s not even how good your church is – or how good they’ve been in the past.

It is simply – your personal experience of going to and being part of any given local church.

Here’s what I’d like you to do – think of your whole life of “going to church experiences” and summarize them with one overall number. I know this is hard, because you might love where you are now and give it a 9 (out of a 1-10 scale). But maybe you had one horrendous experience years ago. So I’m asking for your overall “average” of your total sum experience of church.

1 means that it’s been horrible every time. Everyone you met. All the leaders. It was all just awful. And a 10 would mean 100% bliss in every area. So….a 5 would mean it’s been exactly 50/50.

I’ll tell you where I am in a couple days.  If you would, go to my facebook page and vote there. Just put a number. No explanation needed.

https://www.facebook.com/CLMedearis

Post your # there…  Let’s see how we feel about our lifetime’s of going to and being part of a local church.

carl

By Mark Hensch | CP Contributor

Carl Medearis is a writer equally at home in East and West. Currently residing in Denver, Colo., he also spent 12 years in Beirut, Lebanon. These experiences have made the scribe a specialist on Christian-Muslim relations and a rare voice linking Americans with the Arab world.

Medearis’ work on both sides of the Atlantic produced 2008’s Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships. It quickly gained popularity as an important guide for interfaith interaction, and has since been turned into a video seminar series for churches and missionaries that was released in September.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Medearis maintains that peace between Christians and Muslims remains vital as the number following each faith closes. With 9/11’s legacy still looming large a decade later, he argues that Christians and Muslims must cooperate to keep the world safe.

CP: You and your family lived in Beirut, Lebanon, for 12 years. What was the most important thing you learned about Muslims and their relationship with Christians during that experience?

Medearis: I would say that Muslims are at least as nice to us as we are capable of being to them. It was awesome living there. We want to go back.

There’s a hospitality and family-oriented culture in the Middle East. It’s like the Midwest. Lebanese people are fun, vibrant and full of life. Many people there have conservative family values. They believe marriage is ordained by God between a man and a woman. They are pro-life. They don’t send their parents to nursing homes.

CP: Over a decade has passed since 9/11. How has the relationship between Muslims and Christians changed since then?

Medearis: In America, things are tenser than they used to be. Christians are more skeptical and suspicious of Muslims. Muslims thus feel bad about that skepticism, which causes them to pull back into themselves and their communities. That causes us to accuse them of not integrating. It’s a vicious cycle.

CP: Much of your writing and lecturing concerns incorrect assumptions Westerners have of Muslims. Does the media help perpetuate these misunderstandings?

Medearis: Of course the media perpetuates misunderstandings about Muslims. They also perpetuate misunderstandings about everything else.

The truth is that the media reflects the culture. We already think Muslims are scary, suspicious, and terrorists lurking around the corner. The media didn’t create that. The real issue is that we already think that.

CP: The Arab Spring movement has been happening all over the Middle East for over a year. On Halloween, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich called the grassroots uprising an ‘Anti-Christian Spring.’ How do you feel about that statement?

Medearis: Newt Gingrich doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The Arab Spring is probably a misnomer. By definition, if you say “Arab Spring” it makes you feel warm, wonderful thoughts about the Arab world. Could the movement in Egypt, for example, be anti-Christian? Sure, but that’s their democracy.

It took America 200 years from the founding of our supposed democracy until minorities and women could vote. In other words, it took a long time. Let’s give the Arab world grace.

To address Gingrich’s point, I’d say the Arab world is Muslim – 95 percent Muslim – so the fact Muslims would take over Muslim countries isn’t very surprising. The groups that people are afraid of such as Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah may be anti-American politics, but they aren’t anti-Christian.

CP: America has sent troops to fight in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya since 9/11 happened. How do you feel about this aspect of American foreign policy?

Medearis: I think it is disastrous.

From a pro-American political perspective, it’s 50-50. We took the fight to terrorism there but we also may have created more terrorists. You can fairly argue either side.

From a Christian perspective, it’s made our job of helping Muslims know Jesus more personally more difficult. I now have to explain to any Muslim I talk to why “Christian America” invaded their country during our first half-hour of discussion.

CP: What do you think is the biggest misconception Americans have towards Muslims?

Medearis: The biggest misconception is that they are terrorists. Ninety-nine percent of all Muslims are the nicest people you could ever meet. I challenge Christians in America to befriend Muslims. It helps show them how silly these thoughts are. I combat misconceptions through knowledge.

CP: If extremist interpretations of Islam are the exception rather than the general rule of Islam, how have they gained such visibility and traction among Muslims?

Medearis: This is where the phrase “if it bleeds it leads” makes sense.

There are definitely some crazy Muslims blowing stuff up. There’s no excuse for that. We constantly see the bad Muslims doing bad stuff on TV. You have to be mature enough to know that it’s for sure the minority.

CP: Say someone is interested in learning about Islam firsthand. Where should they start? In the Quran?

Medearis: The Quran is actually fairly short. I recommend the Oxford Press edition as it’s the best English edition. Just start at the beginning and just read it. If nothing else, you’re gaining insight into the lives of 1.6 billion people.

CP: How do you think Jesus would feel about Islam if he could see it today?

Medearis: It’s important to remember Jesus spent most of his time with outsiders and sinners. He was hard on his own religious community. He was not hard on the other religious communities around him. You never see him, for example, calling the Samaritans to task.

I think he would thus treat Muslims like he treated Samaritans. He would love, honor and spend time with them.

CP: What do you hope happens between Christians and Muslims in the future?

Medearis: I think Christians and Muslims should learn to dialogue peacefully. We as people who follow Jesus do have something to offer them. We can give them a grace-filled offering that doesn’t rebuke them for all their different points of theology. We need to start with points of commonality, build bridges from walls and go from there.

I have a lot of hope. The Muslim world is extremely open to the way of Jesus, but not to all things of Western Christendom. A graceful approach is differentiating the two.

As we have negative stereotypes of Muslims, they have negative stereotypes of us. If you ask the typical Muslim about Christians, they may think we sleep around, eat too much pork, drink too much alcohol and have no honor for our parents. They see all the ills of American society as Christian society’s ills. It’s much like what we do to them. Prejudice and misunderstandings go both ways, and they’re probably equally damaging.