Category Archives: Christians and Muslims

IS UNITY POSSIBLE FOR THE THREE MAJOR RELIGIONS?

The call for a unity of Judaism, Christianity and Islam demands that each system deny its distinguishing doctrines. Islam would have to deny that Ishmael was the intended recipient of God’s covenant promises to Abraham. Judaism would have to deny that Isaac was the chosen seed. They would have to agree that descending from Abraham is all that matters. Then they would both have to accept that God also determined that others could become recipients of the promise through the same kind of faith that Abraham possessed, as much of Christianity believes. Continue reading

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LOSING SIGHT OF THE MISSION

This right-wing patriotism seems to detract Christians from the real mission of Jesus’ followers. Jesus never once intimated nationalism as a kingdom value (unless one argues for his priority of Israel in God’s program up to his generation). Where does America’s manifest destiny appear in Scriptures?

Jesus did not instruct his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel. Then gather the believers into one nation and erect high ideological walls that prevent usurpers from disrupting your comfortable religiosity – and prosperity.” Continue reading

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ROOM ONLY FOR LOVE

Oddly overlooked, another pastor was offering an entirely different attitude towards our Muslim neighbors. Steve Stone of Heartsong Church in Memphis read in the newspaper a year and a half ago that a group was building an Islamic Center across the street from the church. Stone had a banner made that announced, “Heartsong Church welcomes Memphis Islamic Center to the neighborhood.” Continue reading

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