Vicky Beeching just asked on Twitter for opinions about Bono’s recent NY Times article, “Ten for the Next Ten” which suggests holding a “Festival of Abraham” to bring together people from the three major religions with common roots in Abraham.
Here are my thoughts. I’d love to hear yours as well.
If you believe Christ’s claims not only to be God but also the only way for mankind to be saved from sin, it would be nonsense to celebrate any other belief which could only separate someone from God for eternity. However, showing respect for other people (including whatever they happen to believe at the time) is very important, and what better way to open hearts and minds than displaying the kindness, gentleness, and love Christians are called to?
The first time I got a chance to travel in Europe, I met an Islamic man in Barcelona and we shared a meal together. After that, he invited me into a nearby mosque with him to pray. I respected their traditions of removing shoes and ceremonial washing and we went to an upper room where it was quiet and we could be alone. He nodded when I asked permission to pray for him. I put my hand on his shoulder and asked that as he searched for truth he would find it and that God would come into his life in a very tangible way and change him. My new friend told me that he understood what I was praying for and his face brightened as he thanked me.
I think that both of us demonstrated a wholesome ability and willingness to truly connect across backgrounds which at times have had needless enmity and discord between them.
What are your thoughts on the subject?
I once visited “speakers corner” in Hyde park in London. A place where people from all religions, ideals etc could stand and preach to those passing by. The Muslims and Christians took turns listening in to each other yelling out questions as you can imagine often ending a debate. I can see this festival being a large speakers corner. I am not sure if it will bear the fruit that your encounter with the Islamic man did. Will it just be one person trying to be louder than the other? Should Christians turn down and opportunity to be light and salt to a large gathering of those who don't follow Christ- I would not be so quick to say yes to that. If Bono is hoping for Christians to be passive and admit to some kind of same God- different prophet agenda to promote world peace then I think Christians should be wary of aligning themselves to something that would look like that. Real followers of Christ don't bomb people in the name of their religion. Any in history who have oppressed and killed in the name of Christ are accountable for those actions that are contrary to His teachings. I know many Muslims don't agree with killing either, but the fact is their religion and prophet has that as its history and sanctioned in their book. I wonder how such an issue would be handled at the event? I would hope if such an event unfolds that all Christians would enter in with fasting and prayer so that God will be glorified and not allow their own ignorance and possible hatred get in the way of many coming to know Christ.
I'm sure there's a lot to consider here, and if I thought about this for a while I would probably have quite a few (sometimes conflicting) thoughts of my own. I'll just share one that I was struck with: It seems that we can take heart from the gospel record. It appears that our Lord, in the days of His flesh, rarely turned down a party invitation.
Hi Jonathan, I don't much about this at all. Something about it doesn't seem right. I do agree with JB, Jesus loved a party. He was a friend to all and died for all. I would love to have world peace, but a man made festival idea doesn't seem like it will be the answer. If the Festival of Abraham was biblical, that would be a different story.
Hi Jonathan, I don't much about this at all. Something about it doesn't seem right. I do agree with JB, Jesus loved a party. He was a friend to all and died for all. I would love to have world peace, but a man made festival idea doesn't seem like it will be the answer. If the Festival of Abraham was biblical, that would be a different story.