{"id":374,"date":"2017-02-08T20:29:11","date_gmt":"2017-02-08T20:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voiceofchristmedia.org\/index.php\/2017\/02\/08\/can-normal-people-love-jesus-muslims-and-america-at-the-same-time\/"},"modified":"2025-03-28T23:12:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T23:12:29","slug":"can-normal-people-love-jesus-muslims-and-america-at-the-same-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voiceofchristmedia.org\/index.php\/impact-news\/can-normal-people-love-jesus-muslims-and-america-at-the-same-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Can normal people love Jesus, Muslims, and America\u2014at the same time?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"If you live in America or you\u2019re packing a US passport in a far-away land, you may be aware that we\u2019re living through some crazy days here. Really, we talk about it all over, so even if you\u2019re not an American you may be aware as well. I\u2019m not super old, but I\u2019ve never seen a situation like what\u2019s going down here. We could argue ad nauseum about what\u2019s right, what\u2019s wrong, who did what first, and who\u2019s just doing what was done to them. Pretty soon, we might look like a couple of fourth graders arguing over who should wash the dishes. Nobody wants that.<\/p>\n

But we do want to follow Jesus, right? I was only sort of kidding when I said to a bud at lunch today that maybe it\u2019s time to bring back \u201cWhat Would Jesus Do?\u201d And what would Jesus think? And how would Jesus love?<\/p>\n

I think people who love Jesus and want to follow in his ways have a wonderful opportunity to do that in these days. Not an easy opportunity. One fraught with peril and risk, but equally or even more filled with possibility.<\/p>\n

What if we rose up in the love and spirit of Jesus and set an example for others? What if we were asked to call our sisters and brothers to a straighter path? If God is calling us to that on large scale or if he\u2019s just calling you to step into that in a low key and local way, how might it happen?<\/p>\n

Well, you\u2019ve come to the right place. I\u2019m not going to tell you what to think. Land sakes, you\u2019ve got Facebook to do that! But I\u2019m going to give you five ways normal people like you can love Jesus, love Muslims, and love America. All at the same time. (In case it doesn\u2019t quite \u201cgo without saying,\u201d people who love Jesus, should love him more than both American and Muslims combined. We\u2019re all cool with that, right?)<\/p>\n

1. Separate the \u201cpolitical\u201d from the \u201chuman.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

This solid insight came from my friend Tommy at MidIndia Mission. God\u2019s kingdom and the American government have been linked of late in some awkward ways. In case you missed the Super Bowl, here\u2019s the image that comes to mind<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As followers of Jesus, we need to discern the difference between what the government is called to do and what individuals who believe the Bible are called to do. Again, I\u2019m not saying what you should think. But the two have gotten conflated of late to an extraordinary degree. Abraham Lincoln famously said, \u201cthat government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.\u201d Let\u2019s hope not, but let\u2019s also realize that we are not our government. National efforts to keep terrorists out of our country perhaps do not need to be imitated on a personal level by advocating suspicion against Muslims in our communities.<\/p>\n

2. Take advantage of your sphere of influence.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who cares what you think? Who\u2019s watching what you do? Besides the NSA? (I\u2019m kidding. Just kidding!) Who around you has a sense that you know what it means to be a follower of Jesus? My hunch: More people than you suspect! Scary, isn\u2019t it? But true.<\/p>\n

If you were to say, \u201cHey, I had coffee with a Muslim guy today and it was sort of interesting,\u201d who among your friends would reply, \u201cYeah? What happened?\u201d Those are the people you might humbly, kindly influence to think in new ways in this national debate. That woman who just came to mind? Yep, that\u2019s her. Talk to her. Does your pastor answer your texts? Send a couple. (Just a couple, please! I\u2019m passing that on based on what my pastor tells me!)
\nGod has given you influence for a purpose. I don\u2019t suppose I know what that purpose is, entirely, but I\u2019d sure love to see you leverage some it if to help us through this tricky time.<\/p>\n

3. Recognize fear on both sides.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Happily, as followers of Jesus, we\u2019re invited to pursue a fear-free life<\/a>. But most of us aren\u2019t there yet. Some Christians are honestly concerned that Muslims are taking over the world. It does no good to lightly gloss over that fear. Nor does it help to imply they\u2019re stupid for being afraid. We must meet people where they are, fears and all, and look with them for a way out.<\/p>\n

At the same time, let\u2019s be honest: many Muslims in the US are afraid. A friend of mine recently related, \u201cA young woman told me that after the election she stopped wearing her head covering out of fear. \u2018Fear of what?\u2019 I asked her. \u2018I live in a neighborhood that is surrounded by churches,\u2019 she answered.\u201d Dang.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s acknowledge what\u2019s going on in people\u2019s hearts and lives, but then let\u2019s live and love, speak and write in such a way to show a better alternative to fear.<\/p>\n

4. Get used to the sight of your own blood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you step out of line of the predominant political narrative these days, you may take some shots. Heck, if you oppose the predominant opposition narrative these days, you may want to duck! With Jesus (always) as our model and Peter wisely advising us to not get beaten for being stupid<\/a>, let\u2019s take some risks for what is right. With humility, patience, and winsome words, let\u2019s invite our fellow believers to wrestle with what is right these days. We can love Jesus and Muslims and America.<\/p>\n

5. Put your money where your mouth is, and take your friends.<\/strong><\/p>\n

OK, that metaphor may have broken down before it reached the end of the sentence, but here\u2019s my point: It does little or maybe no good at all to wax eloquently about how much Jesus loves refugees and how he\u2019d never institute a \u201cMuslim ban\u201d if he were president, when you\u2019re not willing to roll up your sleeves and link your life with some of them. As papa John says, \u201cLet us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

While continuing a lively debate on how many refugees should be allowed into the US and whether or not \u201cextreme vetting\u201d should include keeping one of their kidneys in a cooler, let\u2019s do the relatively harder work of caring for the ones who have come. And as you do that, grab a pal by the hand and take them along with you. Visit a mosque with some skeptical friends. (Turns out, it\u2019s not cheating on Jesus!) Enlist your small group to gather some clothes and take them to refugees. Compile a list of what normal people can do in your town.<\/p>\n

Speak passionately and act practically. We can, by God\u2019s abundant grace and lots of work, show a good way forward. The love of Jesus is big enough to include both 320 million Americans and 1.5 billion Muslims and the seven million or so who are both.<\/p>\n

\"ShaneThis blog by Shane Bennett was posted in the February 8 edition of Missions Catalyst,\u00a0a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Subscribe to Missions Catalyst<\/a>. Shane Bennett\u00a0<\/span>has been connecting with Muslim immigrants in Europe for 15 years.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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