Interfaith Dialogue

Editor’s Note: This was written in response to World Religions Week held at Taylor University April 4-7, 2011. The article was published April 15, 2011 in The Echo of Taylor University.

The mission of Taylor University is to develop servant leaders marked with a passion to minister Christ's redemptive love and truth to a world in need.

The administration, faculty, staff, alumni, benefactors, and prayer warriors desire nothing more than, apart from knowing Christ, for the mission statement to be realized within the Taylor community and to the world at-large through the university's graduates.

To me, this mission statement is an addendum to Christ's commission to go to the ends of the earth proclaiming His greatness and lordship. However, Christ's commission and the mission of the university do not imply that these mandates are to be executed at the expense of love. Surely the greatest commandment is that we would love our neighbor as Christ has loved us.

How can we minister Christ's redemptive love and truth to Atheists, Buddhists, Baha'is, Hindus, Jews, Mormons and Muslims if we are too worried about being right that we feel we need to defend Christ, who has clearly already defended Himself, and we are not willing to discuss commonalities, partnerships, friendships, and interfaith love?

However, I have heard it said on this campus, "We should not encourage interfaith dialogue because we are right and (they) are wrong and such instances invite evilness and instability." Or, "I know what I need to know and it doesn't matter what they believe because they are wrong." Or, "(Their) religion is one of hate." (note: "They" probably believe Christianity is one of hate if they too only accept the atrocities committed in the name of religion, e.g., Westboro Baptist Church slander, the Christian Crusades, Salem Witch Hunts, forced conversion of Native Americans, etc.)

The way that Christ loved me was that he did not condemn me, but saved me. He did not say, "you are wrong; therefore believe in me because I am right." Rather He said, "Come here child, let me know you, love you and forgive you, and then you will know that I am the way, the truth, and the life." Undoubtedly my life could have ended without accepting that He is the way, the truth, and the life, but it was not at the expense of Him first loving me.

There is more to the administration of Christ's redemptive love and truth than conversion. While certainly as Christians we seek to make disciples as is mandated by the Lord, we cannot pass our Jewish, Muslim, Mormon neighbor on the side of the road without acknowledging their value more than a simple conversion opportunity. Are they not also fearfully and wonderfully made by Yahweh? Can we not learn from them and they from us simply because we are different? Can we not work together for common purposes even if we do not have all the same beliefs?

What does interfaith dialogue look like for Taylor University students and graduates? It does not mean we compromise our beliefs, concede to relativism or universalism, condemn, condone, or seek to convert others. Interfaith dialogue means we embrace and vocalize our beliefs as truth and share our differences through honest communication by building peaceful, committed and loving relationships with individuals of other faiths in order that we may learn from and be a witness, a representative, and a minister of Christ's redemptive love and truth to a world in need so that Christ and His Spirit may be heard and He may convict among people who may otherwise never lovingly hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

J.R. Kerr said in chapel, "The Church is unfortunately known by what it is against." Let's not be against interfaith dialogue. Let's be for the redemptive love and truth of Christ by ministering to and partnering in friendship and love with our Atheist, Buddhist, Baha'i, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon and Muslim neighbors.