Last Saturday the Governor of Texas participated in a huge prayer and fasting day at the Reliant Stadium in Houston. At first look, that would be something I normally would be interested in. Who can be against prayer and fasting? Our scriptures certainly recommend both practices for God-followers. But some political reporters saw this as something else -- a step toward the Republican presidential nomination.
But aside from the politics of the event, I have to ask who’s in and who’s out? While we Christians share these two practices (prayer and fasting) with most all of the world’s enduring religions, the conference was organized by the American Family Association which, in the past, has tended to be very conservative in its views regarding women, gays, illegal immigrants, and non-Christians, and especially Muslims. They have tended to be quite strident regarding who they think is IN the Kingdom of God and who is not.
And while the conference said it was “non-denominational,” the agenda and focus was overtly Christian and would not have been a place where Jews or Muslims would be comfortable. So, in effect, “all faiths” were not welcome and biblical mandate toward hospitality was not a dominant theme of the day.
So in this contentious, multi-cultural, racial world in which we live, how is a Christ-follower to approach events like this? How can we talk about faith in God and be hospitable to others? I have to say “warily!” I don’t mind (and have participated in) strong, Christ-centered events (like the Alpha Course and the “One Year To Live” men’s retreats). But in these cases it is clear who is sponsoring the event and who is being proclaimed. Those who sponsor the events in which I participate do not conceal the purpose of the events – to call people into a closer relationship with God through Jesus Christ. And when I participate in an inter-faith event, I try to be hospitable to those who don't share the same beliefs about Jesus that I have; instead, I stress our commonality -- our love and adoration of a living, creating, just and loving God.
I am opposed to events that claim to be inter-denominational, or inter-faith, and are clearly not. I am opposed to events that cut across my understanding of God; a God who is loving, kind, compassionate and calls ALL of us into a deeper relationship with each other and with God.
So events or people that stress practices, policies, statements that drive people apart; the differences between us rather than the fact ALL of us are created in the image of God -- I choose to stay away.
A Christian today must be a discerning disciple of Jesus. A Jesus who told us to love one another and God as deeply as we love ourselves, who always had a preference for the poor and socially disadvantaged, who walked the earth with great humility, forgiveness, openness, integrity, authenticity, and lovingkindness.
When Jesus did this, those around him saw God with greater clarity. They were healed. Their lives transformed!
When we try to act and be more like Jesus we can become more like the God we say we adore! And it will be evident to others.
Brothers and sisters, of course “it ain’t easy.” We all are a work-in-progress and the practice of Christianity today in our American culture is more about dogged, loving persistence than about dogma or even theology. So, let's start being sensitive to others in the world. Jesus died for them, too!
