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Breaking Through

St.Matthew’s Redhill

“Can Muslims and Christians Live

Together?”

By Simon Holloway Wednesday 3rd January 2007.

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Introduction. Why asked to speak on this subject? Offered a year ago, when maybe called upon at short notice to cover for another speaker. Caribbean Hindu Society Speaker. Own experience of 18 years in Multi-faith, Inner-City Birmingham. MA dissertation: The Gospel Breaks Down Barriers. Biography: “A Bridge and a Plough” Reflections. Last pages included comments on the monthly Muslim-Christian Consultations (Dialogue group) held since 1980. (Photos from Farewell Celebration at Sparkbrook Islamic Centre (UK Islamic Mission) Jamat Islami) Experience on the Birmingham SACRE, Agreed Syllabus Committee and Birmingham Board of Education Affirm the value of asking difficult questions in our contemporary society. Hot Potatoes currently running on Sunday nights at St.Wilf’s for the Parish of Horley. Do feel free to come along sometime. Other Questions that we may want to ask as this subject is so pertinent in our current world context. Who are we talking about? Which Christians and Which Muslims? Where in the world? West, Middle East, Muslim majority countries? When do we mean? Not an issue in the West until last 50 years but becoming a major issue now. Turkey to join EU? How do we mean ‘live together’? Mutual respect, tolerance, harmony, integration, assimilation? Intermarriage? How can we become good neighbours for the Common Good? Why is it important? Consider the alternatives! So what? Does it matter? What are the causes of conflict? Fear, misunderstanding, ignorance, insecurity, threat, difference… Media images, terrorist attacks, lack of integration, loyalty issues, veil?

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1. WHO are we talking about? All people are human beings,

with similar fears, worries, concerns, longings as all are made in the image of God with a divine spark and desire to connect with their Creator.

“All people are God’s beautiful children” Desmond Tutu. 1988 Birmingham. Depends WHO we are talking about * Which Muslims? Sunni, Shia, Sufi, Islaili (followers of Aga Khan), Ahmaddiyya, Jihadist, Folk Islam… * Which Christians? Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal… Conservative, Charismatic, Liberal, North/South; East/West. In each strand of these faiths, we can find those who are moderate, fundamentalist, liberal, extreme, conservative, orthodox…. All true Muslims would call themselves FUNDAMENTALISTS as they hold to the fundamentals of their faith and respect those of other faiths who ALSO hold to their own fundamentals. We found that the best meetings took place between those who both held firmly to the fundamentals of their faith, without trying to say that we believe exactly the same things.

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2. Where are we talking about? Our cultural and historical

context makes a great difference to how people perceive the supposed threat or otherwise of the presence of people of other faiths in their midst.

House of Peace or House of War – Muslim Majority or Muslim Minority countries in the world today. Islam grew in the Middle East, where it interacted with a heretical form of Christianity (Father, Son and Holy Mary!). It also grew out of contact with Judaism as the young Mohammed went with his uncle on trading adventures to Damascus and Jerusalem. It rapidly became the majority faith in many lands starting in the second period of Islamic history when Mohammed became the Ruler of Mecca. Earlier on he had been rejected by the people of Medina and went for refuge to Ethiopea, where the Orthodox Christian Patriarch and Emperor gave him sanctuary. Therefore, Islam never sought to conquer Ethiopea in memory of that time. Muslims often quote that experience when they refer to the potential of Muslim-Christian harmony and respect. Mohammed in Medina – prophetic suras of Qu’ran Mohammed in Mecca – conquest, rule suras of Qu’ran Hadith – traditions and sayings of the prophets Law Schools – varying interpretations of the Hadith and Qu’ran Our own history has been coloured by the Crusades, where a rabble in the 12th Century from Europe roused by Peter the Hermit, at the instigation of Pope Urban II in France, travelled through Orthodox, Islamic and Jewish lands pillaging and slaughtering on the way! It was a frightful episode in our history. (See Fred Wright “The Cross became a Sword” RW Publishing.1995) For this reason a group of Christians representing the participating European nations retraced the route of the Crusade Pilgrimage in 1996 -99, starting in Cologne on Easter Day 1996, 900 years after the event. They took an APOLOGY to the Orthodox, Muslims and Jews en route. It is called the RECONCILIATION WALK. Since then, Turkey has REWRITTEN their history books and many other Reconciliation Walks and Marches have taken place in other parts of the world, seeking to repair the spiritual damage done in the past. We had regular

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reports from one of the team of 8 who did the original walk, as she came from a local Anglican church in our part of Birmingham. After the initial walking group, larger numbers of Christians from the West went out to Turkey in particular to offer an apology and were so warmly received sometimes by the Mayor or Mufti of the town where they visited. But in other countries, there remains conflict, such as in Northern Nigeria, Indonesia, the Middle East in general. One particularly worrying aspect is the Adventist expectations of the current leader in Iran, who claims that the Mahdi will return in 2007, after a world conflict. (However, I seem to remember some similar expectations in 1888 in Sudan amongst the Mahdists then and in a film in the 1980s!) It is VERY difficult for Christians in many Muslim majority countries. They are regarded as second-class citizens, often denied true justice and conversion from Islam to Christianity is often punishable by death. For example, the Anglican Church in Iran is mainly a convert church and hence has been under great persecution and opposition over the years! (Paul Hunt, Inside Iran) Cultural Context and Barriers of Misunderstanding.

Influence of Globalisation and Post-Modernity. • Expectations of a pure Muslim state based on Sharia law and a perfect Khalifa (Caliphate), that is a Utopian Islamic State where everyone followed the laws of God according to the Qu’ran.

• Expectations that Western Culture is faithful to Biblical Values of Morality, Honour and Respect… but this has been undermined by Secularism, Materialism and Individualism

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3. When are we talking about? We do not have time to

survey the whole of Christian and Muslim history, but there are periods when there was great harmony and mutual respect, often when Islam was dominant such as during the Ottoman period. But many of the Colonial administrators were faithful, believing Christians who integrated their faith and their work practise. In Pakistan, for example, there is a great respect for the educational and medical facilities founded by Christian missions and most of the leaders in Pakistan have been educated at Christian schools and universities and highly respect Christianity. FC College in Lahore – that is Forman Christian College – is one of the top universities in Pakistan. I visited it in 1993 and stayed in the home of Dr.Frank Khair-Ullah, former Principal of Sialkot College of Education. It was in Sialkot that a REVIVAL took place through the prayer and ministry of Praying Hyde in the early part of the 20th Century. Thousands of low caste Hindus came to faith in Christ then! They still have an annual convention to this day. I heard during the week before Easter than 40,000 came to faith in the few months before Christmas through a Healing Mission.

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4. Why is it important? We could have started with this question. But let me ask YOU now. Small groups or buzz for a couple of minutes… My own answer: good neighbours for the common good.

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5. How can we live together in harmony?

We are thinking of more than just tolerance. We are not thinking of assimilation or syncretism, where faiths and identities are no longer recognised. We are considering how we can develop a society where there is true mutual respect, living under God’s blessings of protection, provision, peace, purpose and partnership.

John Martin, in his booklet “Love Your Muslim Neighbour”, suggests that we compare Muslims to the ‘Godfearers’ in the new testament. That is the godly Gentiles who looked on and respected the mono-theistic Jews and often attached themselves to their synagogues. It was this group that were most receptive to the preaching and teaching of Paul on his missionary journeys. They responded with amazing faith and love. One example is that of the Roman Centurion Cornelius in Acts 10. He is a godly, prayerful, generous, just and fair man who is well-respected by the Jewish community. God comes to him in a vision of angels and he sends for Peter who is already breaking boundaries by staying with Simon the Tanner (dead animals in his workplace). God graciously reveals Himself to Cornelius and his friends as they gather together and hear Peter talk about Jesus – his life, death and resurrection. Muslims do love to know about the life and ministry of Jesus –Isa Masih (Jesus the Messiah) – and indeed there is much in the Qu’ran about his virgin birth, miracles, ascension and coming again. God responded to the open enquiry of Cornelius and his friends by sending down the Holy Spirit upon them as a group, even before Peter had finished speaking to them! They were then baptised. I have had the priveledge of baptising several former Muslims after coming to a personal faith in the Lord Jesus. For each of them, their journey was long and often difficult before they reached that stage. Caring for believers from other faith backgrounds is so important and one Fresh Expressions style ministry in Birmingham that is making progress in this is SANCTUARY, led by Pall Singh, East+

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West Ministries. Here is a short Extract from the DVD which gives a flavour of their group. PRAYER – does make a difference, as we intercede for those from other faith backgrounds. Visions and Dreams are often given to them to help them understand more about Jesus and what He came to do. For the last few years 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World has been organised with 500K Christians worldwide taking part during the Fasting Month of Ramadan. God answers believing prayer. Some Examples from Birmingham of Ministries that support Muslim-Christian relationships: 1. Malachi Trust – Creative Arts Project. Musicals such as ‘Days

of Our Childhood’, especially helping dysfunctional families. 2. Crossover Café – Advice Centre, St.Paul’s Bordesley Green,

Nursery. (article in Faith to Faith… 3. Muslim-Christian Consultations – Dialogues between Muslim

and Christian leaders, since 1980, as Sparkbrook Islamic Centre

4. Azadi Trust – teaching English and tutoring support, to Asian women and others. Former Doctor’s surgery

5. Faith to Faith – network ministry for training, resources, newsletter, conferences etc.

6. Scripture Union – Andrew Smith, Youth Dialogue group. Holiday Clubs amongst Muslim children.

7. Springfield Project – Children’s work, Creche, Mothers and Toddlers groups. Bright Sparks, Little Angels, Springers…

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Summing Up.

Presence - incarnational life amongst people of other faiths, living amongst them openly, let your light shine Engagement …. Not conflict but more like a prelude to marriage! Involvement in each other’s lives for the common good. (Guy Wilkinson, ABC Adviser in other faiths relations) Quote from a friend from Horley working in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: “Respect

Respect for each other as human beings

Respect for God and his servants & prophets

Respect for each others cultures Respect for each others beliefs

I believe this is how we Christians live here in the TRNC live

peacefully alongside Muslims.” Carol Blackwell-Gibbs. St.Andrew’s Kyrenia.

Simon A. Holloway

3.1.2007

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Books

• Christopher Lamb “Belief in a Mixed Society” Lion, 1985

• Colin Chapman “Cross and Crescent” IVP – course for

Christians in understanding lslam.

• Don Carson “The Gagging of God” – exploration of Pluralism • Bilquis Sheik “I dared to call him Father” (Kingsway) –

testimony of conversion by Indian Muslim lady

• Kenneth Cragg “The Call of the Minaret” (Collins)

• Steven Masood “Into the Light” OM

• Bill Musk “The Unseen Face of Islam” MARC • Bill Musk “Passionate Believing” MARC

• Michael Green “But don’t all religions lead to God?”

(Navigating the multi-faith maze) IVP 2002

• John Martin “Love Your Muslim Neighbour” EoS & Counties

• Frances Iliff “Understanding Muslim Culture” Interserve 1994 • Bob Hitching “McDonalds, Minarets and Modernity” STL 1996

• Christine Mallouhi “Mini-skirts, Mothers and Muslims”