My Friend Of Another Religion Doesn't Want To Become A Christian: Now What?

by Brian McLaren

No sooner had he left than I was surrounded by three youth (eighth and ninth graders) who were also eager to “add me to the flock.” They told me about how Christianity’s view of Jesus is deplorably wrong. They told me about the Islam beliefs surrounding the day of judgment, the after-life, the return of Christ (mainly that he will return to slay all of his enemies – especially Jews and Christians – and that Muslims will help him in this endeavour - there’s nothing quite like turning up the pressure a bit!).

They were interested in listening to my beliefs – but not interested in weighing the value of anything I was saying. I was told of a Christian missionary to Africa who sought to convert Muslims – but he himself became drawn to the teachings of the Quran, saying that it could fill his heart in a way the Bible had failed to do. Apparently he now attends another mosque in my city. Other examples of former Christians who found the Muslim faith so intriguing that they “switched over” were shared with me.

I was told that when one dies, he is asked three questions – and that only if he has been a Muslim can he effectively answer all three to the satisfaction of God. (That sounds eerily similar to the question we evangelicals often ask those we are attempting to persuade with the “Gospel” - “If you were to die tonight and God were to ask you ‘Why should I let you into heaven?” - what would your answer be?”)

Throughout it all, I felt like I was on the “ugly” side of evangelism … and I saw so many of the approaches that I have used in seeking to “win people” to Christ. I felt pressured, I felt uncomfortable, in some ways, I felt angered …

My experience at the mosque Friday night showed me once again how important it is to approach “evangelism” in new, dynamic ways which truly engage those we are seeking to point to Christ. Reading your books has challenged me ... experiencing this stuff first hand just backed all of that up!

I went to the mosque to learn more about Islam … and to strengthen my relationship with Yusuf and Abdi. I left having gained greater insight into “evangelism” and having been challenged to live a more Christ-like life …

Prior to the time that the prayers began, I was handed a book describing Jesus as a “Prophet of Islam.” I skimmed the back cover and was greatly intrigued by the approach the author took to addressing Jesus. The book was said to detail how Muslims respect Jesus and the way in which he lived … what caught my eye was this phrase - “The question is whether this ‘Christianity’ can rightly be said to represent or even resemble, that which Jesus taught and lived.” What a challenge that was to me! I lied awake in my bed last night with a heap of thoughts floating through the canals of my mind … have I, as a “Christian,” strayed from following Christ?! Do I live a life that represents (or even resembles) that which Jesus lived and taught?! This young missionary ended his email with this prayer, a good prayer for all of us:

“Father, stir in me a desire to follow Christ more passionately each day … to live a life of sacrificial love … to meet people where they are at and to journey with them in Your direction … to disciple and encourage those I have the privilege of knowing … to yearn for more of You in my life ... to live a life that resembles and represents that which Jesus taught and lived.”

When we face the question of how we relate to people of other religions who don’t want to become Christians, we bring with us a whole set of assumptions, some of which are formed by a well-rounded reading of Scripture, others of which are guided by a biased or partial reading of Scripture, and some of which are guided by a whole set of unconscious cultural influences … from colonialism to racism to nationalism to sectarianism. As we get more experience living in a pluralistic, postchristendom, and post-colonial world, we’ll need to question many of those assumptions. But through it all, the example of Jesus guides us. He too lived in a pluralistic culture and frequently interacted with people of other religions who didn’t want to become Jews. He didn’t condemn them, exclude them, ignore them, or persecute them. He loved them. May we go and do likewise.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Share some of your experiences with the 4 popular ways of relating to non-Christians.

What is something you can do this week to include your neighbor in your life and home, in your space and time?

Have you ever considered praying for and with your neighbor? What would keep you from doing so?

Have you ever taken time to hear and share stories with someone of another religion? What did you learn from this experience?

After reading the letter from the missionary, what did you think about the strategies and approaches we take toward evangelism? How might it change your actions in the future?

END NOTES

1 David Bosch, the late South African Reformed theologian, used to say that to be faithful to Christ’s example, the witness to Christ must always be vulnerable to crucifixion.

2 I read recently of a group of “Christians” who were alarmed by a Muslim group’s plans to build a mosque in their city. The owner of the land adjoining the site of the proposed mosque opened “pig races” there in an attempt to drive away the Muslims, for whom pork is considered unclean. Hardly an example of Christian hospitality.

3 The relation between the teaching of Jesus and contemporary global crises is the subject of my upcoming book, Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007).

4 For more on Dave’s work, see daveandrews.com.au.

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Comments

lol

heres a thought;

realize that there are as many holes in your religion as any one elses, and that until there is proof that any of them are right, everyone has a right to choose their own religion. stop being an ignorant fuck and realize that all religions (even atheism theories) sound ridiculous so it's anyones right to decide which bullshit magical theory they want to believe.

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