Why Christians should stand up for the religious freedom of Muslims and others. 

What would it look for Evangelicals to create and host the best multi-faith events in the world? What if Evangelicals became known for valuing people of all faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds because we are all made in the image of God?

What do a Jewish Rabbi, a Protestant Pastor and an Evangelical missionary have in common? Not much usually. But in discussions with three such people, I found that they were all “either-or” thinkers. “Both-and thinking” didn’t seem like a practical option for them.

On October 16, 2010, two Somali women were attacked by another woman at a gas station in Tukwila, a town just south of Seattle. These Somali women represent just two of the thousands upon thousands of Somali refugees that have come to make the greater Seattle area their home. Among men, women, children, and young and old from varying tribes, there is one thing that unites them all: Islam.

As I speak with Evangelicals in the Pacific Northwest, I am amazed at how many “experts” and strong opinions there are on the topic of Islam and Muslims in America.  So I ask the next question – “so, do you have any friends that are Muslims?” Unfortunately, most so-called “experts” do not have any Muslim friends, and upon digging deeper it becomes apparent that most Americans' opinions about Muslims have been formed by media and not real people.

“If you want peace, work for justice!” So said Pope Paul VI, and so I agree. Justice is a crucial component of peacemaking. But the struggle for justice must be placed within the overarching framework of God’s loving, reconciling purposes. In other words, the scales of God’s justice tip in the direction of loving relationships.

Everyone loves the story of the Good Samaritan. But few of us realize how mind-blowing it must have sounded in its original context. To the Jews, the Samaritans were enemies. Racially inferior. Heretics. Sounds a lot like how most followers of Christ feel about Muslims today. If Jesus told this parable to Americans I could imagine him using a Muslim as the one who demonstrated neighbor love.

Jesus’ teaching about loving our enemies is at once the most radical and the most ignored command in the Bible. Many Christians think this command reflects an unrealistic and idealistic standard, so they figure out ways to dodge it.

New Testament scholars describe Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in superlatives: the quintessence of Paul’s theology, the crown of Paulinism and such. It is famous for its teaching on grace, the church and spiritual warfare. But few evangelicals realize that Ephesians is also a handbook for peace warriors.