GlocalNet

When I think of what happened Sunday night - it’s hard to believe.  I learned a long time ago that when you reach out to those that are hated, despised, rejected, and/or feared, you had better be ready for those who feel all those things towards a group to come at you with the same feelings.  I was ready for all the criticism, dreading it.  It had already started.  But what I wasn’t ready for, though I thought I was,  was the event with the huge gathering.  I didn’t know there would be that many - or the outpouring of positive goodwill - not just from the Muslims but from Christians from our church and others who said again and again - we can’t ignore this anymore - it’s wrong and we need to address it - I didn’t feel alone.  There were many things that amazed me.

Who would have thought we would have had 2500 people?  What Baptist Church in Texas - let alone the US - and in DFW no-less would have a church full of Muslims like that on a Sunday night?  It was surreal.  These are the kinds of people I want my church filled up with and the kinds of events that can change a city and people.  I have no measuring stick to compare this to - it’s as wild as when we first began to work in Vietnam in public as Christians serving the city.  Christians in the West are so, so, so insulated from the world, from peoples, from how to communicate, to reaching out - we do our “church” thing oblivious to a far “bigger” “glorifying” God who wants all peoples and nations to hear him. 

First, the hunger that the Muslims felt to be accepted, affirmed, and embraced by the broader majority culture in DFW.  They were going out of their way to visit with everyone from our church.  Our members were mobbed with thank yous, hugs, handshakes - all of it.  I explained to our members it isn’t appropriate to shake a lady Muslims hand - by the time it was over, everyone was shaking hands, hugging, and affirming each other.  I told everyone, “Our men are not making passes at your ladies we don’t know all the rules - everyone exploded with laugher.  Though filled with joy, at the same time it made me sad.  How have we so put at an arms distance a whole tribe of people?  They were happy to be somewhere that they felt accepted.  They walked in our worship center all smiles.  They felt welcomed and you could feel it. 

Second, I felt like I was at a Billy Graham Meeting - the buses started pulling up and masses of Muslims in hijabs and parer caps came pouring out.  I stood there and just grinned and shouted and waved saying “Asalaam Alaikum!”  We weren’t going to open the doors until just before the meeting - but the hallways were so crammed we had to open them, and from then on it was on!  They filed in row after row.  Our members - who came about 10 minutes before the meeting - had to sit up high because of all the people.  There was a sense of excitement and enthusiasm. 

Third, how they want to work together to do something.  Our church is doing an event called Building Community in which we are working at repairing schools, houses, playgrounds, apartments, etc. We had the table in the corner of our hallway from people signing up that morning.  The next thing I knew, Muslims were lining up to sign up to help.  I’ve lost count of how many emails I’ve received and calls asking when are we going to meet again?  What are we going to do together?  There was a card you could sign up for if you wanted to do community projects or just meet for a meal with someone of the other faith - we had hundreds come in - but during the event we interviewed some women from the Embrace cooking club - we had women wanting to do that as well.  Everyone wanted more - not for it to stop where it was.  People wanted to do things on the spot not to the lose any momentum.  Already - we are talking about our next steps. 

Fourth, it was only because of imams and pastors we could do this.  We had worked for two years with gatekeepers.  We had built a relationship of trust and respect and friendship.  The key to multi faith engagement and other events I’m convinced is friendship.  But what I loved about it - it wasn’t a theology discussion, it was connecting our peoples and congregations.  This is the greatest value that we clerics have - not to sit and talk theology with one another but to connect our people.  Understanding theology isn’t going to make our people get along - it will only make us suspicious, if not isolated from others.  Connecting people at the hand and heart level is what matters.  This is how we will bring down the tension.  We clerics need to be the first to engage and then connect - and then release the masses.  When that happens, the tension will come down. 

Fifth, no one compromised their faith - neither Muslim nor Christian.  We made it clear we differ - even stated - on who Jesus is.  At one point one Muslim man said “we each believe the other is going to hell” - but we still share this public life and must get along.  What more can you ask from anyone than that of another religion be it Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, whatever?  In religion we must always be polite but never politically correct - truth matters. 

Sixth, most Muslims can’t hear the Gospel because of us.  Even though they disagreed - they patiently listened to me explain who Jesus was.  I told them, I would love for all of them to know the Jesus I’ve come to know, that I would gladly give my all to see that happen.  BUT, even if they never did - I would still love them and be their friend.  When I said that, they clapped and roared with approval.  I felt like Paul may have felt when he addressed people of another religion.

Seventh - how we act as Christians is a huge turn off to the lost world.  I’ve never had a non-Christian call me up and chew me out, send a hateful email or letter, write an article against me or our church, call me or us “ignoramuses” or “stupid” but I’ve had Christians do that.  We had a man call and ask if it was a closed event - the Pastor told him no.  He said he’d like to come, he believed in what we were doing - but that he was an atheist - would he be welcome?  The pastor told him - we’ll take anyone and everyone!  Has anyone ever thought how this sounds to non-Christians when Christians vilify or treat others hatefully, especially in a public format? 

Eighth, the first pastor to bring greetings was a Vietnamese pastor visiting here in the US.  He brought strong words of affirmation and encouragement.  I’ve known this pastor a while.  It struck me - he was excited - he got it.  What made this pastor interesting is that he’s friends with many political leaders in Vietnam - but he also served 6 years in prison for being a pastor.  It was full circle - it was Vietnam that opened everything up for us. 

Ninth - A man from Yemen came up to me at the end and said “You want the world to hear you - well tonight we brought you the whole world.”  And they did.  God has placed these people all around us - we are accountable.  It isn’t enough to pay people as Christians to go love other people on the other side of the world - we have to love them here.  God will hold us accountable.  The question is, did I help them find God or was I an obstacle? 

At the beginning - and at the end of the event - I looked over at Imam Zia, my very good friend from the Irving Islamic Center, and told him “Zia - one thing I know for sure about God tonight - he is very happy.”  Zia looked at me and grinned and said, “Yes, Bob - he is.”

If I had to do it all over again - when I began this journey of loving Muslims - not in Afghanistan or the West Bank or Syria or Doha or wherever - but in Dallas Fort Worth - would I do it again?  I’m grateful for all those staff, elders, and Northwood members that stood the heat with me.  It’s now far bigger than “Bob.”  It cost members, money, all of that.  My answer is a strong YES - and it will remain YES.  Some things are worth losing people over to gain others and glorify God in our city.  Here is what I know, when you and I stand before God and are judged and he asks us, “Did you do all you could to bring peace, hope, love and faith to the world?”  We will all have to answer.  Those that were there Sunday night will be able to say, “September 18, 2011 - yes - we did.

HERE’S ANOTHER EMAIL SENT TO US - DOZENS HAVE BEEN SENT FROM MUSLIMS & CHRISTIANS ALIKE

Hi Bob,

I can’t sleep, and images of Sunday night keep flashing before my mind.  I believe God is speaking something powerful to me and to our church through last night’s event.  I’m sure you realize that the first time we filled (to capacity) the new worship center is when we called Muslims and Christians together to merely “build bridges.”  I believe Josh was right in his statement that what we do here has repercussions around the globe.  I hope it does.  I hope that the courage of you and our other pastors along with the imams and Islamic leaders doing our part to build relationships and unite around shared values (without compromising what we believe) has a lasting impact in North Texas, the US, and the world.  God knows we could use a healthy dose of it in some regions of the world. 
And it all begins at home.  With our neighbors.  With the world God has brought to our doorstep.  And so it comes full circle.  What began in Vietnam, what we learned in Afghanistan, and what we are doing in our own backyard are all meshing together beautifully.  Isn’t it just like God to weave all these seemingly disparate threads into a beautiful tapestry?  Yes, He has truly given us a glocal ministry.  And it’s ours now - not just yours, not the just staff’s, not the elders, but ours.  Thank you for giving it to us.  For challenging and leading when there were few voices of support for your vision.  We will own it and share its burden.  Gladly.

Thank you,