All people will know that you are my disciples, by your renowned ability to completely eviscerate one another during theological debate. [Satan]
Sometimes I think we treat our theological differences like a boxing match. I can hear the announcer standing center ring proclaiming loudly, “IN THIS CORNER, THE DEFENDER OF THE DOCTRINES… THE GUARDIAN OF THE GOSPEL… THE SULTAN OF THE SCRIPTURES… SUUUUPER… THEEEOOO… LOOOOOGAAAAAN!!!”
What you rarely hear these days is, “And in this corner, Paul, a humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Maybe there’s a reason for that. Having an open relationship with others, regardless of religion, denomination, or theological bent, is what we are here for today. We don’t build those relationships for the sake of old school bloodsport. We build them for the sake of friendship, for love.
We are so busy protecting and defending God from humanity that we forget to be servants of Christ to humanity. We’re spending so much time protecting God and the Gospel from those who would deny it that we forget to lovingly live it out on a daily hourly basis. We don’t build relationships with an agenda. We make friends because of love. Plain and simple. When we see others through the lens of an agenda other than love, we turn them into fixer-uper projects. Our job is not to fix people. That’s God’s job.
Christine Mallouhi, in her book Waging Peace on Islam, tells the story of St. Francis of Assisi, who during the height of the Crusades traveled to Egypt and visited the Sultan Kamil (the nephew of the great Islamic leader Saladin). Francis came in humility and peace, in contrast to the conquering Crusaders. His approach and attitude so impressed the Muslim Sultan that he invited Francis to send his Little Brothers throughout his territory. It is out of this experience that we have perhaps Francis’s wisest counsel: “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” He saw the dignity of God in every Muslim person. Such grace toward Muslims was radical in his day, and still is in ours. [Paul-Gordon Chandler, Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road]
And it’s not just Muslims who deserve that humility and respect. It’s our Christian brothers and sisters. Our atheist and agnostic friends.We honor and love our Hindu friends. Love must have no bounds.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. [John 13:34-35, ESV]