Christian - Today - Love Your Muslim
Jesus loved everyone and challenged everyone. He ran with the drunks, the gluttons, the tax collectors, sexually promiscuous—all of them. That’s why He could challenge them, because He loved them. He ran with the people the religious leaders of the day condemned. He ran with the people the political leaders of the day condemned. He ran with the people no one else wanted anything to do with. He ran with the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated. He ran with them all. Therefore, everyone wanted to know how He could identify with his or her “opposition” or “enemy.” He saw in them something others didn’t see. Someone He created that needed Him. As a result in His manifesto in the Sermon on the Mount, He redefined relationships. He makes it real clear—it’s no big deal to love people who love us. What sets us apart as believers is that we love people who hate us and consider us enemies.
Matthew 5:43 You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? NASB How many of us really do this? This is a hard thing to do if we are honest about it. Could this not be the core of the “missional” life? Incarnation beyond relating and helping, but to a level of love for people that would harm us if not kill us. When I began to travel to Afghanistan and realized my life would be on the line, I began to wrestle with this passage. How do I love a Muslim? How do I relate to a Muslim? Would I put all Muslims in the same category as the men who did what they did on 9-11? I had to face my own prejudice. What about the Taliban? How would Jesus relate to a Taliban? These men felt they were students of God. They were and are wrong, but what is my response? Do I pray for them? That’s what Jesus said! Jesus was always a little extreme, wasn’t He!
Having worked with Communists, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, and secular Americans, I’ve learned that most of us, as Christians, ignore what Jesus says in Matthew 5. We call it justified hate. Just being associated with people like that gets you labeled. I’ve learned that the hard way, as well. YOU CAN GET IN A LOT OF TROUBLE LOVING UNPOPULAR, SINFUL, ENEMIES OF HUMANITY AND PREVAILING CULTURE! This past week, I was with one courageous young pastor who was reaching out to his former country and some from within his own ranks were condemning him and calling him false things, simply for one reason. He reached out to lost men where hate exists. Sadly, the hate on the side of the “believers” is far stronger than on the side of “non-believers.” The believers want to hold on to the past, grudges, and anger — whereas, the non-believers want to put the past behind and get on with the future. In that instance, the believers are acting like non-believers and the non-believers are acting like believers!
We love those and pray for those that are closest to us and our culture and our way of thinking—not those farthest. Today, in America, the most difficult person to love is a Muslim. Why? Because we perceive them as our biggest threat. But, what if our response, even in our fear, was to let perfect love have its way and begin to intercede and pray for them? Is anyone beyond the influence of God? I’ve discovered that what I pray for I become concerned about, and it always leads to action. Often, that action doesn’t just change “them” but it changes “me.”
We must never forget that we have all been God’s “enemy” because we have sinned and gone against Him. We want God to deal with us differently because we view ourselves as better than what we really are. But, we want God to deal harshly with people we judge as the “worst” of society. That’s human—just not Jesus.
Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God, through the death of his son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only this, but we exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. NASB Jesus deals with the attitude because He is taking us to a different place—a place where we just don’t love our enemies but where we reach out to them. When you face your fear and prejudice it’s one of the most liberating things you can do. I speak sadly from experience. I’ve had to face it time and time again working in the world. I never considered myself prejudice, but that’s because I didn’t confront or engage with people with whom I was uncomfortable. I’ve discovered, often, I have prejudice that I didn’t know existed. Then, I meet someone or a group for whom I’ve not had much regard—then God changes me. Why? Because He loves them and He wants them reconciled as long as there is breath in their lungs. If I don’t love them how can I be a part of their potential reconciliation?
2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NASB A little over a year ago, I had to go to Afghanistan to help. I have a friend there who is a “tribal” leader, and a key leader in Afghanistan. I told him I was coming. He wanted to come pick me up at the airport. I told him “no” that I’d meet up with him later on my trip. The Talliban had killed his Father for working with our forces there. For him to be seen with me would be dangerous for him. When I got off the plane in Kabul, who was there but this leader and some of his “militia.” I embraced him and asked why are you here, this is dangerous? He told me, I know you are Christian and I am Muslim but you help my people, and I would die for you to protect you. It was a profound paradox for me. I, a Western Pink Christian, was putting my life on the line to show the love of Jesus to Easter Brown Muslims and now the Eastern Brown Muslim is ready and literally putting himself in the line of fire to save my life. He is willing to die for a Christian. I love that man. We should never let a few evil extreme men define a whole nation of people. We even have some extremist here in the U.S. I sure wouldn’t want the rest of the world to paint us all like those men.
Love your enemies. I know it’s easier said that done, but if you’re a follower of Jesus you can’t ignore it. Embrace it—that’s how the world is going to be changed.
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Sep 11, 2007 at 10:18 AM
I just wanted to say how much I appreciate this article. I live in a Muslim country and it is very difficult to "relate" to folks around me at times. It is even hard to truly love them, you know, like Paul said "Let love be without hypocrisy" (Rom. 12:1). I do believe that the key is not looking at prayer as part of the work, but the work. It is through prayer that we are changed as well as those around us. When will we be ready to pay the price in prayer for Muslims to hear and know Him? We do not yet, as a community, have the brokeness of Paul as he would count himself "accursed" that his kinsmen would believe. It seems that our preconceived "rights" cloud our ability to see!
Sep 11, 2007 at 11:29 AM
[...] Read more from Bob Roberts… [...]----- [...] Here’s a great post by Bob Roberts, Jr. [...]-----
Sep 11, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Bob, what a perfect message for September 11. This date reminds me that there are people who don't know me, but who want me dead, probably because of some misguided religious vision. This is a day for me to ask the Holy Spirit to do something unnatural in me: to create love and concern in my heart for those who wish me and liberal democracy dead.
Sep 11, 2007 at 05:51 PM
It really isn't natural for us to love those that hurt us.
Sep 13, 2007 at 10:55 AM
While I didn't see this until today, I am moved by the strength of your message. It strikes me as incredibly ironic that your Muslim friend expressed one of Jesus' strongest messages (John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."). And you are so right in stating that we cannot allow the vocal and visible few define our view of an entire culture. Maybe we also need to consider that we shouldn't also allow our own vocal and visible view to provide the expression through which Christianity is defined by other cultures. Your example and those of thousands of other missionaries, being Christ to our brothers and sisters of other religions, is profoundly inspiring. I pray that you will continue to be blessed in developing more friendships like the one you have with your Muslim friend..
Sep 30, 2007 at 07:52 AM
Seems this is the only place to contact Bob Roberts. Thank you for the generous review of Paul chandlers book on my husband Mazhar Mallouhi. I want to write personally to you, please give me an email.
many thanks
christine mallouhi
Dec 2, 2007 at 03:05 PM
One thing to point out. You have to know Muslims in order to love them. Have them in your homes. Share your life and faith with them.
Nov 22, 2008 at 10:20 AM
very interesting post here,,,...and this blog is way too cool bro..i wish i have one like this
Jan 18, 2009 at 02:42 PM
Well, this is a very valuable post. Thanks for the information you provided. It would be great if got more post like this. I appreciate it.
Mar 9, 2009 at 01:05 PM
I guess, we're all humans and will never be perfect. We react to our mood and feelings at time. Thanks for putting this together. P
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