"Muslims, go home!"
We have been hearing statements like the following from our brothers and sisters in Christ:
- Muslims are infiltrating our community
- Muslims are a threat to America and Christianity
- Muslims are incompatible with American life
- There’s no place in America for Muslims
- Don't "Sharia" our country
- America must stay Sharia-free, that means Muslim-free - i.e., no practice of Islam
- Muslims should leave the United States
- Muslims should be expelled
- If Muslims get power, they’ll cut your head off as believers of Christ
How would you offer encouragement?
In this world, we may often be afraid. At the same time, our ministry's goal is helping Christians embrace Muslims with the love of Christ. It exists because of our hope in Christ, who "has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility" (Eph. 2:14), and who "gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18) to the same world we sometimes fear. If we remain silent or walk away when fellow Christians fear Muslims, are we condoning their rejection of being Christ's ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20)? If we do not admonish (Col. 1:28) our brothers and sisters in Christ to love Muslims in our country, will we allow our Christian communities to become the kind of "looming threat" that we accuse Muslims of being? Should we not teach, instruct, and, if necessary, rebuke (Col. 3:16) our brothers and sisters, calling them back to their true citizenship in heaven (Phil. 3:20) over our desires for our safety and our country?
These are realities and questions we wrestle with on the Encountering Muslims team. What comes up in your heart as you think about these things?