Most Christians I know fully embrace Judaism. They love the Jewish faith. They use Jewish terms for Jesus and Messiah [“Yeshua”, “Mashiac”, etc.]. They wear the Star of David proudly. They observe the Jewish Passover meal. They even pray for the peace of Israel.
But none of that matters to most Evangelical Christians today.
They are totally capable of enthusiastically overlooking all of that for the sake of what we have in common with Judaism – which is namely the Old Testament scriptures.
Now, just imagine that the Jews DID believe all of these things. Could you imagine American Christians rejecting the Jewish people?
But they DO reject Muslims who happen to affirm all of these things about Jesus!
Islam teaches that:
– Jesus is the “Word of God”
– Jesus is the “Spirit of God”
– Jesus is “the Messiah”
– Jesus creates life
– Jesus cured a man born blind, and a man with leprosy.
– Jesus gives life to dead people.
– Jesus went to heaven.
– Jesus is still alive today.
– Jesus will come again to judge the entire world.
Can you imagine rejecting someone who believed all of these things about Jesus?
Can you imagine refusing to engage in a dialog with someone who already had such an amazing foundation of faith in Jesus?
Yet, somehow, Christians feel totally ok embracing one faith which denies all of these things about Jesus while rejecting another faith which affirms all of the same things about Him.
Does this make any sense?
Not to me it doesn’t.
You have a choice. You can either:
A) Keep making lists of all the ways you are right and Muslims are wrong
OR
B) Look for how much you have in common with them about Jesus and enter into a fruitful dialog with a Muslim about Him.
One path will result in more division and violence.
The other path will result in an amazing conversation of Jesus with a Muslim and the opportunity for understanding and peace.
So…what are you most interested in here?
As long as you are only interested in seeking a path for opposition and division, you will keep on making those lists of how “wrong” they are.
But, if you are ready to start seeking a path for peace, and for reconciliation, you will take full advantage of an amazing opportunity to talk with a Muslim about Jesus.
What would a religion of peace really teach you to do here?
If you really belong to a peaceful religion, then take the path of peace: Engage in an open dialog with a Muslim about all you have in common about Jesus.
I dare you.
Shalom,
-kg
**
Keith Giles new book “Jesus Unbound: Liberating the Word of God from the Bible”, is available now on Amazon and features a Foreword by author Brian Zahnd.
He is also the author of the Amazon best-seller, “Jesus Untangled: Crucifying Our Politics To Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb”.
Keith also co-hosts the Heretic Happy Hour Podcast on iTunes and Podbean. He and his wife live in Orange, CA with their two sons.
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