By

Dr. Abdel Azim Elsiddig

Bridges Program

Chicago

May/10/2012

The Arabic word “Islam” literally means submission without question, suspicion or doubt (2:04), or finding peace of mind and joy through knowing, understanding and serving the only one God, Allah. Followers of Islam are called Muslims which simply refers to anyone who chooses to freely and unconditionally accept and follow Islam as revealed in the Quran and practiced by the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad was the last messenger of God and the Quran refers to him as the “Seal of the Prophets” (33:40).  Muslims pray five times every day in addition to other voluntary prayer services they do on their own in their attempts to follow the sunnah or practice of their Prophet Muhammad.

On Fridays, Muslims gather in mosques for communal prayers led by their imams or religious leaders. Every adult Muslim of sound mind is required to strictly adhere to the arkan or the Five Pillars of Islam: shahadah, or creed which is basically a firm belief and declaration that there is no deity worthy of worship or service except Allah (Arabic for God), and that Muhammad is his messenger); salat, or prayer (five times a day, at prescribed times); zakat, or charity which is the giving away of a certain percentage of one’s wealth to eight categories of people as prescribed in the Quran(9:60); sawm, or fasting (during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims refrain from food, drink and sexual relations during the day); and hajj, or pilgrimage (all Muslims who are able are required to travel to Makkah once in their lifetime).

Islam acknowledges that several prophets preceded Muhammad. Only God knows the exact number of the prophets and messengers who brought the same message of Oneness and Peace to humanity through history (14:9). The most notable ones besides Muhammad are Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus who earned the Quranic title “steadfast” (46:35). Each of those four great prophets in addition to another great one, David, received revelation from God through scriptures as mentioned and contained in part into the Old and New Testaments. These predecessors to Muhammad are considered great prophets who spoke the word of God to certain people at a very specific time. Jesus, for example, was sent only to the Children of Israel at his time (61:06). See also Matthew 15: 24 where Jesus was reported to have said: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” This specificity applies also to Moses (61:05) and to every other prophet save Muhammad who was sent as mercy to all of humankind (21:107).

Islam is the eternal message of Allah to all people without any exception. The mission of calling people to God began with Noah through Abraham, Moses and Jesus to reach its final and refined form with the final prophet and messenger Muhammad. Practically speaking, Islam in its final form is based on six basic concepts of faith (belief) and five fundamental pillars (words and actions) without which one’s belief is not complete. The six beliefs are:

1. Belief in One God, Allah. (This is tawhid in Arabic.)

2. Belief in the Angels,

3. Belief in the Scriptures,

4. Belief in all Messengers,

5. Belief in the Day of Judgment.

6. Belief in Predestination.

The five pillars of Islam are:

1. Al-Shahada or creed with its transliteration in Arabic as ašhadu ‘al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa ‘ašhadu ‘anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh meaning I bear witness to the truth that there is no deity worthy of worship or any form of ritual service except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.  The shahada is considered the most essential pillar in Islam and the other four pillars are but a manifestation of this foundation. The shahada is also used by Muslims in calling for their five daily prayers or while standing in lines to show the formal prayer is about to start.  New Muslims usually say it in public in front of an imam to announce their formal acceptance of Islam before they become active members of the Muslim community, large or small.

2. Salat or prayer: Muslims are required to pray five times a day at specific times. These mandatory five prayers are fajr (morning), Thuhr (noon), A’sr (afternoon), maghrib (sunset or evening), and Isha(night). Salat in Arabic means link, bond or connection. It is the natural, simple and direct spiritual connection between every individual Muslim and their Creator Allah. It goes far beyond the other four pillars to create in a Muslim that special and sweet sensational feeling of security, inner peace, fulfillment and satisfaction.

3. Zakat or charity: it is the Muslim’s personal commitment to help the poor and those who are in need by providing them with a fixed and specific portion of his/her wealth as part of a community service to fight poverty and social inequality. It should be done by every able Muslim individual as a duty not a favor to the poor and needy community members.

4. Sawm or fasting: Fasting every day of the whole month of Ramadan is a special form of worship that is more than abstaining from food, water, and sex from predawn to sunset but also refraining from anything bad said or done which may hurt or harm others. The purpose is to purify the soul and uplift the spirit to reach its heights and free itself from any worldly trap or bondage. That’s the only way for the souls to seek and find that very special connection with Allah. Now we can understand why in Islam the salat and sawm always go hand in hand, and for this reason, Muslims who fast through the day are encouraged to do extra-long taraweeh prayers through the 29 nights of the month of Ramadan.

5. Hajj or Pilgrimage: It is a mandatory ritual and a religious duty for Muslims who are able to travel from their home lands with the intention to perform hajj in Makkah, the birth place of the Prophet of Islam. It takes 5 or 6 days starting on the 8^th day of Dhu Al Hijja which is the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is, by all means, the most manifest symbol of equality in the world today. All Muslims at the Hajj sites stand together in the same place at the same time wearing the same clothes and doing the same rituals regardless of their race, gender, color, status, nationality, and sect. The two pieces of plain white fabrics Muslim men wear during Hajj is a reminder that we do not really need too much of everything to go through this life. One of the lessons I got during my past hajj tours is the beauty of simplicity. We have and want much more than we usually need. God is always on the side of those who are faithful, humble and simple. These are the three main components of hajj in Islam. One must also remember the animal sacrifices offered during hajj days which help feed millions of starving people all over the world.

Islam cannot be defined in one word and cannot be covered in a short article like this. For a committed Muslim, Islam is a complete and comprehensive way of life which governs, regulates and organizes the personal life of the individuals and the society. Hence it covers the spiritual, social, economic, cultural, political and international aspects.

The Quran for Muslims is the word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in Arabic through the Angel Gabriel. It was written down during the life of Prophet Muhammad by some of his trusted secretaries, and later compiled in one text during the time of the third Caliph Othman. Muslims also refer to the Sunnah which means the sayings, actions and the ratifications of the Prophet as narrated by his companions and later collected by some Muslim scholars in their books of sunnah and hadith. The most authentic texts of hadith are the Muwatta of Imam Malik of Medina and the two Sahih Books of Imams Bukhari and Muslim. While the majority of Muslim scholars do not regard the hadith as revealed or divine scripture in the technical sense of the word, the Sunna nevertheless comes second to the Quran as the main source of the Islamic Sharia Law.  Sharia Law contains enough teachings, rules and guidelines to govern every aspect of the Muslim life from simple things like halal food and family life to complicated issues such as banks and governments.

Two Important Dates

Muslims all over the world celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan with Eid al- Fitr which is the feast of completing the fast. Another bigger event follows 70 days later on the hajj day when Muslims enjoy the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha meaning the feast of sacrifice. In this holiday’s tradition, Muslims relive and replay the story of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail as it is portrayed in the Quran.

Conclusion

Many Muslims today are not aware of how Islam evolved to reach its position in the contemporary world. It started as a simple religion more than fourteen centuries back in the small town of Makkah in Arabia. It struggled there in Makkah for thirteen years until the Prophet and his companions were forced to seek shelter in Medina where he died ten years later after he liberated Makkah from idolatry and any other form of polytheism. The Prophet was succeeded by four caliphs who took over the responsibility of spreading Islam outside Arabia to its neighbors and beyond. Islam went all the ways west to Europe and went far enough to Indonesia and Malaysia in the East.

Islamic legacy today is a result of many complicated sociopolitical factors. In most places, Islamic culture is made up of old pre-Islamic traditions mixed up with misinterpretations of original Islamic teachings and some other foreign elements. Many sects and groups appeared and died throughout Islamic history. Those who survived from among the Sunni followers as opposed to the Shia Muslims are either salafi, sufi or somewhere in between the two big sects. While the salafi adherents focus on the literal interpretation of the text, the sufi novices on the other hand are dedicated to revive the lost spiritual component of the mission of all the Prophets including Jesus.

Some Muslims consider themselves fortunate enough to have been born and raised in sufi territories where they find it easy to start a long and challenging spiritual journey with their praying partners and the peace loving men and women from among the Jews and Christians. Prayer circles and spiritual fellowships are quietly and privately spreading inside the United States and beyond to create a healthy atmosphere for believers to communicate, connect, break bread and pray together for peace and reconciliation. These seemingly small circles are our hopes to turn organized religions into a worldwide revolution of hearts and minds, and leave behind a legacy of love, peace and brotherhood for the next generations. Thanks to our good hearted fellows and friends like Mark and Nancy Siljander, Carl and Chris Medearis, Safi and Eman Kaskas along with many other good folks who made it easy for some of us to follow in their footsteps. Together, they have created a unique and unprecedented spiritual track that is open to every peace-loving individual or group to follow.

Not sure if you’ve ever attended a Friday service at a mosque, but here’s what happens.  (It’s a lot like church).  About 10% of the people arrive early. They are the committed ones. They help set up chairs. They arrange for the lunch which is served afterwards in the fellowship hall.  They chat, talk about their week. I heard one fellow telling another that he had a fight with his wife on the way…I’m not kidding.

About 20% show up late. Rush in at the last minute only to find their are no places left inside so they have to go to the overflow room where they watch on the big screen.

The women come inside and go upstairs.  Some of the kids go with them.  Some children stay with the men in the main area.  Some run around. Some sit quietly. Chris had a nice talk with a mom and her 11 year old girls upstairs. The girl liked what Chris said so much that she grabbed her, wrapped her arms around her and wouldn’t let go. Chris has that affect on kids.

It started with prayers. The formal kind.  Then the Imam preached for about 25 minutes.  Talked about the adversity of others hurting us, the devil tempting us and even having abundance. And how we deal with each of them through forgiveness, patience and humility. It was a good talk. Take out the references to the Quran and a little Arabic sprinkled throughout – and you could download it on your podcast, listen and be encouraged.  (They do have them all on podcasts).

Then they closed in some more corporate worship prayers. Everyone filed out. Some left in a hurry – trying to get back to work on time.  Others lingered and chatted. And some joined us in the fellowship hall for Q and A. It was quite pleasant. Everyone was over-the-top hospitable.

Sounds a lot like church.

BUT…..not so fast Mr.-I-love-Muslims-Guy!  Lots of our Christian friends were upset.  For sure they voted against this idea with their feet. They were no-shows.  I invited about 500 of my friends through an email, Twitter, Facebook and my blog.  And then we invited 5 million people through radio. Okay, so the potential listening audience is 5 million. The actual one may have been 5.  But we told all of Denver and the far surrounding regions about this event for two weeks.  EVERYONE should come we kept saying. And 27 showed up? Really?  That’s it?

So some were busy and others forgot. Fair enough. It’s in the middle of the day on a Friday – not exactly a conducive time to take an hour and a half off work or our busy lives. I understand.  But 27 people? I told the Imam to prepare for 200.  I know, I’m always the overly-optimistic one thinking that everybody will love this idea – and I’m usually wrong about that.

The common push-backs have been:

1. Why would a Christian go to a Mosque in the first place?
2. What if they try to convert us?
3. I’m afraid.

And I’d say the last one is fair and honest. But the best way to get over fear is to step into it. It’s love that drives fear out.  Which leads me to answering the first concern.

WHY would we go?  Oh so many reasons.  Mainly because the greatest of all commandments is to love God and love our neighbors.  These Muslims are our neighbors.  We can’t love someone we don’t know. And what a cool opportunity that we can show up at a place on any Friday and just meet a bunch of them. Perhaps we’ll actually start loving some of the ones we meet.  But we for sure won’t love them if we don’t meet them.

And will they try to convert you?  Some might. They think it’s good thing for you to become Muslim. So they’re loving you the way they know how. I didn’t experience that but one person from Friday said that someone (very nicely) asked if he’d ever considered becoming Muslim. The guy said “No” and the conversation continued on. Not too scary.  And…are you afraid they MIGHT convert you?   I wouldn’t think you’d be afraid of that, but….?

Actually the one tough question that the Imam couldn’t answer clearly was when I asked him who his favorite basketball team was. He stumbled around a bit on that one. I KNEW something fishy was going on there, and I found it. He doesn’t have a favorite team. Don’t worry, I called him on it!
We’ll do this again. You should go to a mosque in your city and take some friends. Here’s how you do it. Step by step.

Step #1. Call your local Islamic Center and ask to talk to someone. Say your name.  (Not mine).  Tell them your an ignorant Christian who wants to learn about Muslims and meet some real live ones.

Step #2.  Set up a time to go meet with someone there and arrange the time to bring your friends to the Friday Service.

Step #3.  Go to the Friday service.

(Optional Step #4).  Write a blog about it.

Get out a little and have some fun!

1.  Seems like there’s no closure to the stories.  You told great stories about conversations with people, but where did they lead?  Why didn’t you tell us the outcome?

Fair point.  Not much defense needed here really – I could have been clearer though by making it VERY clear (I thought it was clear) that since this book was about the art of NOT evangelism….  That telling how the “deal was closed” would actually lack integrity.

Also, I’d point out that the Bible seldom tells us the end of most of Jesus’ encounters as well.  We rarely know what happened.

2.  Why don’t you say anything about the church? Leading the reader to believe you don’t like the church.

Fair point – I don’t say anything about the church. This is not a book about the church.  I should have been wiser though in how I explained what I didn’t say. Seriously.  I love the local church. Have always been part of one and believe in its power.  (I think they are often a mess, but who cares, so am I).

3.  Where’s the cross?  We don’t see much about the cross.

Fair point.  No cross in the book. This is about having conversations with people about Jesus. It’s the art of NOT evangelism.   I’m a huge fan that the cross happened – even more that there was a resurrection that happened. The cross and resurrection and what they stand for is hugely important. I probably assumed that goes without saying – I was wrong. I should have said it….

4.  It seems you don’t like the Apostle Paul.

Oh so not true. It seems like that only because I pointed out (fairly I think) that many Christians get hung up on Paul and forget to get to Jesus.  Paul encouraged us to follow Jesus, but we get sidetracked and end up in love with Paul and his writings more than Christ – who he was attempting to point us to.  So I think this critique actually isn’t fair.

Paul’s awesome. Jesus is better.  

5.  You seem at times to be just a tad fuzzy in your theology.

Fair point.  My theology is a tad fuzzy.  Not because I don’t care or don’t like theology. I’m a theologian.  I love theology. It’s almost all I read. But I’ve noticed that Jesus was fuzzy in some of his theology too, so….  Does that surprise you? Think about it. Even Jesus didn’t know everything.  He said “only my Father knows that” a couple of times.

My theology takes major shifts every 10 years or so. I think SO differently now at 50 years old than I did at 20. And I hope when I’m 70 I’ll think differently again. I don’t want my relationship to be static.  I want to change. To grow.  If my theology is hardened and rigid – where does that lead.

So, I’d say read Speaking of Jesus with caution.  It might confuse you or change your thinking.

I’ll get back to pot, but wanted to tell about my day yesterday.  It was a strange day.

I’ve been in a challenging email conversation with three of my very favorite Muslim friends. All big-time leaders in their respective spheres.  Saudi. Lebanon and one here in the States. Tons of mutual love and respect between us.  Many times they press me on what I believe and why. This time it’s been my turn.  I’ve pushed hard on the issue of the cross and resurrection of Christ.  I think it only benefits them if they knew and understood what it meant then and means now.  One basically agrees. One is being nice to me. And one is pushing back.  Those odds are about right…..

Also yesterday, I met a local church Pastor of Outreach. It’s a large and well-respected church. He’s had a bunch of people recently ask me about my book “Speaking of Jesus: the Art of NOT-evangelism.”  So he read it. And doesn’t approve. He tells his folks not to read it because it’s dangerous.

He wrote a 1 star review on Amazon. I have four negative reviews (one or two star). And  63 positive ones (four or five star).  Five folks couldn’t really decide so gave it a 3 Star.

I invited him for coffee.  Bought him coffee and gave him my other book – Muslims, Christians and Jesus – and said, “You won’t like this one either, but I wanted you to have it.”  He was gracious but resolute in his decision that my book would ultimately harm his people and the cause of Christ.

We talked for an hour and a half.  I’d summarize his two main concerns as this:  1.  There wasn’t closure to my stories so he didn’t know if the people had “fully been saved” or not. 2.  There wasn’t a clear demonstration of what he called “the gospel” which is a version of the Four Spiritual Laws: basically that God loves us, we’re sinful, Jesus died, and we can know God through Jesus.  (All of which I agree).

I reminded him that the subtitle of the book was “The art of NOT evangelism.”  This really honestly is not a book about “evangelizing” people.  It’s not about converting them. It’s not about Christianity. It’s not about making disciples or church or lots of other great things. It’s simply about ….Speaking of Jesus…..

We had a nice talk. He’s a good guy. Loves God a lot and wants to protect his people from reading things that might hurt them. Which, by the way, seemed to be a long list…including my stuff.  Fair enough. I told him that I’d be happy for people to read his stuff and go to his church and “evangelize” people in his style.

But what’s funny is that I had spent most of the day talking about the cross with my other three friends – but he hadn’t seen that. Didn’t know it.  And I didn’t tell him. I tried reminding him that Jesus also wasn’t good at “explaining the gospel” in the way that he wanted. Or “closing the deal” either.  Jesus didn’t do a lot of things we do today.

Back to pot smoking.  It almost seems like the western world is splitting into two camps:  the lovers of “tolerance” and the lovers of “truth.” The Rodney King theology of “Why can’t we just all get along” and the theology of the conservative evangelicals, “this is THE truth, I know it and you don’t.”  And there’s not much middle ground.

So well-meaning-folks like this pastor yesterday is worried that I might have gone over to the dark side of tolerance. That I want what all those smoking pot today at the Boulder campus of CU want.  Tolerance. Get Along theology.  Live and let live. This pastor was nervous that I might have read and (gasp) liked Rob Bell’s book “Love Wins.”  He was worried that I was “avoiding persecution.” He even asked me if I’ve “experienced a lot of persecution.”  A trick question indeed.  He was afraid I was Emergent. Postmodern. Tolerant. Maybe even a pot-smoker myself, since we all know that’s where those things ultimately lead.

While my three Muslim friends were sure I’d turned into a right-wing Neocon Bible Thumper. And we know where that leads – to arguments and division. And ultimately to being named Newt or Sarah.

So are those our choices? Really?  To either be wishy-washy and tolerant, or hard-nosed and mean spirited?  Hopefully not.  Isn’t there another way?  A way to be loving, kind and still stand for something that others won’t always agree with?

I know that I seek that place of the radical middle ground. Where sometimes I’m seen as a hard-nosed evangelist calling people to a new and better way, and later that same day am seen as a wimpy push-over who won’t give a straight answer.  And the truth is – I’m both.

And I think Jesus was both as well….

First, some misconceptions about friendship.

1. Friends don’t just appear. You don’t “just have” friends.
2.  Friends take work. They don’t come easy.
3.  A good friendship always goes two ways.

So…how do I make and keep friends?

(First, a disclaimer. I’ve done all the things that a bad friend does. I’ve used and abused friendships. I’ve ignored them. I’ve hurt and offended them. So don’t think that I think I’m a perfect friend. It’s from my mistakes mostly, that I speak).

1.  Initiate. It all starts with this. Don’t wait. If you see someone you might want to hang out with – call them. Go over. Show up.  Chris and I did this with a couple when we first moved to Lebanon. And they lived in Damascus. But we drove across the border and showed up at their house. We became best friends and they ended up moving to Beirut.

2. Keep initiating if you like them. Don’t be a pest.  Don’t bother them. And I know it’s a fine line, but just keep pursuing the friendship. Don’t give up until you can clearly see they don’t want your friendship.  (And sometimes that’s the case – but rarely).

3. Build.  Just like building anything. You have to think about it. Strategize. Take one step at a time.  Ask more questions about them and their life then you say about your own life.  Two things happens when you ask them lots of questions: you get to know them and they like you. Everyone likes to talk about themselves. We all want to be known. So ask questions. They will get around to asking you eventually….but don’t worry about that. Just get to know them.
4. Push them. Gently take them out of their comfort zone. If all they like to do is watch sports on the weekend, start by GOING to a sporting event. Then take them hiking. Then camping. Then backpacking. And then climb the Himalayas.   People don’t always know it, but they like to be challenged.
5.  Nurture and serve.  What does your friend need?  Help them find it. God?  Fun?  Another friend?  Getting in shape and eating healthy? Whatever THEY need, figure it out and help them get it.  Serve them.  Love them. Be there for them and take care of them.

Bottom line is this – if you want a friend – be a friend. The whole world needs a friend, so you should have lots of them!

(I originally wanted to write this to our three kids – and by “kids” I mean young adults – but it was too good to keep just for them).

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You may or may not know this – but Muslims don’t believe that the resurrection was needed, since Jesus didn’t die on the cross.  What’s interesting is that the Qur’an actually doesn’t say that, but if you ask any Muslim, “Did Jesus die and rise again” they will emphatically say “no.”

And I can feel their pain.  “Pain,” you say.  What pain?  Well, it’s the pain that Islamic communities have faced for years at the hands of the people of the cross. The Crusaders came bearing the cross for two hundred years.  The Inquisition bore the cross against Muslims.  Modern wars – even though you and I may never see Iraq, or Somalia, or Afghanistan, or the Palestinians, or Lebanon in 82-84 in this light – they often do. That it is “Christian Crusaders” carrying the cross before them as they go to war against Muslim nation.  Hear me on this one – I’m not saying that this was what was actually happening, but it is for sure how they’ve felt.

So rather than the cross being a symbol of freedom and redemption as we know it to be – they see it as a symbol of political triumphalism by Christian nations over Muslim nations.  The cross becomes a hard pill to swallow. It’s easier to not think about it.  And if there’s no cross, there’s no need for Easter.

My Muslim friends are all very polite at Easter.  They call and email me “Happy Easter” wishes.  (More than I typically do for them on their special Holy Days, I’m sorry to say).  But they don’t understand why it’s such a big deal for us that Jesus did die (and then, of course rise again).

When I think of what God did in and through Christ on the cross – it makes me weep one minute and shout for joy the next.  Easter is the best Sunday of the year. Way more powerful than Christmas, in my humble opinion.  It’s new life. It’s nothing but wonder at the extravagant giving of God.  There is no bad news in Easter whatsoever. And there can be no Easter Sunday without a death on Friday.  But my dear Muslim friends can’t see that and I understand why.  I’m so sorry for what we’ve done to cloud this most beautiful event in all of history. I’m so sorry!

But don’t let our mistakes keep you from seeing what could be the #1 thing you’re missing. The beauty of the cross and the resurrection. It doesn’t make you a “Christian” to believe this – it makes you whole. I know it’s an offense for you to even think about it. I get that. I really and totally understand how hard it is for a Muslim to see this, and I can appreciate why.

Maybe this….just ask God for wisdom. Grace. Eyes to see what he wants you to see. I’ve been wrong before, I’ll be wrong again – so no pressure from me. None at all. This is between you and God. But isn’t it just the greatest thing ever when God reveals something new to us that we were missing!?  I love it when that happens – and it happens with me often.

So. Happy Easter. And it is happy indeed. Because he is risen. And not just for me – but also for you.

And as is typical, there’s been little room for nuance. If our answers can’t fit on bumper stickers, most aren’t interested. So the simplified version of both sides are:  It makes sense….and….Heresy.

(Although I’m not really writing about this point – my opinion would be to leave those words in since they are the words used, and footnote the phrase each time it’s used with an explanation at the bottom of the page).

But here’s the real issue – it’s communication. Language. Semantics.  Here’s how the conversation often goes with a Muslim.  They ask the Christian this “Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Because, we don’t.”

The Christian, thinking he’s answering honestly and with integrity say, “Of course. Jesus is called that in the Bible.”  The Muslim shakes his head and cries out to God to protect him from this awful heresy of the Christians.  The Christian is offended and gets even more defensive about Jesus being “the Son of God” and round and round it goes….

Here’s what the Muslim is thinking when he asks the question:  “Do you think that God had sexual relations with Mary and bore a small baby boy named Jesus?”

We, not knowing that this is what the Muslim is asking say “Yes, we think that. And we will defend it to the death.”  So we unwittingly affirm what the Muslim thinks that we think (which of course we don’t think).

Same with the Trinity. The Muslim says:  “Do you believe in the Trinity?”  The well-meaning Christian answers with honesty and integrity: “Yes, I do believe in the Trinity.”

What the Muslim is asking is this:  “Do you believe in three Gods.” And the Christian answers “Yes I believe in Three Gods and will defend that until the end.”  The word in Arabic for “trinity” (which, of course is not even a biblical word), actually means “The Three.”  No wonder Muslims think we believe in three gods.

Not only do words matter, but the meaning of the words matter.  They matter to the one who is speaking them and to the one who is hearing them. But just as importantly, it matters that the hearer understands what the speaker of the words MEANS by those words….and….that the speaker understand what the hearer hears from his words.

So when I use words to communicate I need to be thinking at least three things:

1. Do I know what I mean by the words I’m using?  If I call Jesus “the Son of God” do I understand what that means?

2. When the one listening to me hears me say that I believe that Jesus “is the Son of God” does he know what that means?

3. And do I understand what he is likely to hear when I say those words?  And maybe even one more – do I know whether or not he knows what I mean when I use those words?

Communication is both art and science.  It’s a beautiful thing when we get it right. When we actually communicate.

The next time you’re with a Muslim friend and he asks you if you believe in the Trinity or that Jesus is the Son of God, think before you answer. Ask some questions.  Make sure you’re both talking about the same thing.

In this case, I think you’ll find that you’re not too far off from your Muslim friend. We both agree that God did not have sex with Mary and birth a son named Jesus. But that this is a title given to him.  We may still disagree on its meaning – but maybe not much.

And as to the Trinity – simply put, we can both reaffirm that we are MONO-theists.  We all believe in only One God. Muslims also believe that God is our creator and like a father in that he loves us. Muslims also believe that God is spirit. And Muslims also refer to Jesus as the Word of God.  So…not far off.  Not quite the same, but maybe we can hold off on killing each other over it!   At least for now until we find a new disagreement.

Heresy is a “big”word because it assumes so much.  It mostly assumes that the one using it “knows” what truth is. For 2000 years Christians have been pretty good at “knowing” when the other is wrong – and that where the “dangerous” part of the word heresy comes in. In the 8th and 9th centuries, one group of Christians were sure that Icons were heresy – which led to the excommunication (and at times killing) of hundreds of thousands of other Christians.

The Spanish Inquisition were Christians expelling, persecuting and sometimes killing both people from other religions – Jews and Muslims in this case – and doing the same to those who had converted to Christianity but didn’t share all of the doctrines the way the Spanish religious Christian leaders thought they should.

John Calvin wouldn’t let certain Christians who “didn’t appear to be among the elect” join their community. In a few cases, those heretics were even burned at the stake.

Alas, we have progressed. Today we don’t typically kill or burn Christian heretics. We may banish them in one form or another, or burn their books – but not them.  And that’s progress.

This week I spoke at Taylor University – where our daughter Anna attends. In two weeks  I’ll be speaking at Trinity Lutheran College and Seattle Pacific University – where our other daughter, Marie, attends.  Two days before speaking at Taylor I spoke at Wheaton College to about 100 bright folks.  Most were undergrad students. Some were graduate students and a few alumni. The chaplain was there.  My wife Chris and two of her sisters attended as well.  And just to be sure I had all bases covered, I invited three Muslim friends from the area.  A Pakistani man and a Palestinian/Lebanese couple. All three devout Muslims and committed American citizens.

Speaking to such a group is a challenge. Probably, above all else, I wanted my Muslim friends to be honored and to understand me.  I had been asked to speak about Jesus and Muslims. I did that for 30 minutes and then opened it up for Q and A.  Overall it went really well and hopefully was helpful and informative for the crowd. I asked my Muslim friends to answer a couple of the questions that were about Islam and they did a great job.

At the end of the time two young students approached me and were very upset.  I would categorize their issues with me thus:

1, They wanted to be sure I had orthodox Christian views.
2. They were concerned that I had gone soft on Islam.

I hear that a lot.  I get it in responses to my blogs and my speaking. Only by a few. Usually about one percent of the audience voices their disapproval in a loud and stern voice.  And they are probably speaking for a few more – let’s say 10%.  10% do NOT like what I’m saying. And I’d say around 50% love what I’m saying and it comes as comforting affirmation to their souls. The other 40% are those who think they agree, but aren’t sure and have never heard what I’m talking about before.  I’d say that’s a fair and typical categorization of my audiences.

Back to these two young men who were, in fact, convinced I was spreading “dangerous heresy” and they needed to “stand up for the truth.”  First of all let me say that from all appearances they were extremely bright and well-intentioned.  My guess is that they’d be ready and willing to die for their version of truth (which they wouldn’t call “their version of truth” but simply The Truth).  So I admire them and wish them the best. They just happen to provide a useful tool for analyzing a trend.

These two young men quoted scripture at me faster than I could respond. They wanted to see my doctrinal statement of faith.  They asked me “what is the core message of the Bible” and “how does someone get saved.”  Honestly, all good questions.  The problem I have is that when I start to feel like I’m on the Heresy Hot Seat, I don’t want to answer. Just my little form of rebellion.  I tried really hard to listen. To be nice.  Respectful and honoring.  But about 10 minutes into getting grilled by two kids – I couldn’t take it anymore. I should have been more mature. I might have remember how I thought and acted at 21.  I was extremely precocious, thinking I knew all truth. I remember when I was 16 in a bible class telling me 45 year old Bible teacher he was wrong because he believed that the gifts of the Spirit had ceased with the end of the Apostles.  He was shocked and I was sure.  So I understand….

But still…. Here’s my issue with heresy-hunting:

1. I will and do readily admit that I don’t know everything and I’m likely to be wrong about some things. So cut some slack you heresy hounds.  You’re probably right. There!  How’s that?   

2. I like to play with the use of words – as you all know.  I think “getting saved” is not a bad phrase, just not as helpful as “beginning a life of following Jesus.”  These two men, and many of my critics, are so used to hearing certain phrases spoken in a certain sequence, that if you mess that up – well, you must be teaching heresy.  Let’s be sure we’re critiquing the heart of the matter, rather than judging the words used to describe the matter.

3. Hunting heretics doesn’t seem to be particularly scriptural and for sure isn’t very helpful to the clear commands of Christ – to love your neighbor and your brother (not to mention, your enemies).

4. The arrogance that heresy hunters manifest is disturbing at best. It suggest that the one has figured out full and final revealed truth, and the other hasn’t.  Throughout the years I’ve seen several examples of the one who preached most powerfully against a certain sin, be the one who fell into that sin. Not loving may be the greatest heresy of all.

So….do I approve of bad doctrine? Of course not. I take theology and doctrine very seriously.  I study it. I subscribe to several magazines that uphold it. I read two or three books every week – and have all my life – to keep up with it.  And I love God’s word and read it daily to (among other things) be sure that I am in step with what God actually teaches and wants from me.

But whether or not I believe in the cup and wafer actually becoming the body and blood of Christ or not – when I take communion – or that “apostles” still exist – or that I have to understand penal substitutionary atonement – or that Jews can stay Jewish and believe Jesus is the Messiah – surely, while all are important and interesting debates – they will not be the measure of my life with Jesus.

To the two Wheaton students – may God bless you in your passionate search for truth.  May it be full of all of life’s joys and bumps that will form you into the gracious and godly men you want to be.

And to the other heresy-hunters out there….as well-meaning as you are:  Get another Job. One that bears fruit.

So…you ask. What’s the answer?

We go.  Faithfully (when I’m in town – Chris more often).  A great church just down the road called Mountain View Community Church.  Good people there. Good and godly people leading as well.

Here’s the deal when it comes to “going to church.”  I think most of what we think about church is confused, and sometimes downright wrong.  The very question “Where do you go to church” shows how confused we are. How many times have we heard someone say “The church is not a place, but a people” and we still don’t get that right. We all know it. Believe it. But we forget.  (Sort of like “following Jesus” – we forget).

Of the 1000 or so people that show up at “our church” every Saturday night and Sunday morning (four identical weekend services), the vast majority are the best folks in the world. Some know Jesus. Some don’t. Some aren’t sure.  But they’re mostly really good people.  80% just show up and get served. 20% do something.  Pretty normal stats, I’d say.

So why do we go? Why does Chris help lead with the women? Why do I speak there when I can and meet with folks “from church?”  Why do we care to be involved when, in so many ways, our church perpetuates the notion that you “go to a church on Sundays” and that it’s a spectators sport. Here’s why:

They’re people. God likes people. Who cares if they’re this way or that. Or if the worship is a 9 or a 1 on the scale of 1-10. Or if the preaching is wonderful or mediocre.  They’re people.  And God commands us to love people. Where else can we find 1000 of them to love so easily?
We do learn. I’d say every time we walk away with a new thought or a new way to live.  That’s a good thing!
We might be able to slap someone on the back and say “How’s life?”  And actually care. Maybe even pray with them.  That’s pretty cool, eh?

There are other reasons, of course. But those three are good enough for us to “go.”  We should be the church. We should understand what that means.  Think deeply about biblical community. And in the meantime – in case you can’t find those folks – you “go to church.”  Settle in. Make the most of it. Don’t be grumpy. Don’t judge. Enjoy. Contribute.  If you don’t like it – do something about it. Don’t boycott.  Don’t walk away.  Be part of the solution!