GlocalNet

I just returned from DC hanging out with some of my friends: Christians, Buddhists, Agnostics, Muslims, Jews, Politicians, Communists, Capitalists, Government workers, faith leaders, and “Blues Alley” the best little church in DC on M Street in Georgetown!  I have some young friends who’ve been after me to take them around so we did a quick trip together and had a blast. 

I used to think “Multi-Faith” was one the leading characteristics of Faith in the 21st century - I’m coming to think it’s not just a trait but the platform on which we will all talk.  I don’t care so much for inter-faith – it, to me, is a politically correct version of liberals and moderates talking about “we’re all the same” and that’s just not true.  Multi-faith simply says we have our convictions in different religions.  My orthodoxy may be your heresy and your orthodoxy may be my heresy.  If we come together to build relationships so we can get along, then we have to be honest about what we believe.  I think it’s good that we find all the places that we can agree upon in faith - but at the end of the day we must be honest.  I don’t want to get to be friends with someone minimizing what I believe about Jesus and the cross hoping to later change their mind.  Neither do I want a Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, whatever - not being honest about what they believe because they want to be friends with me, or just be nice.  Faith is about truth - and that pursuit must be kind, respectful humble (the man who believes he holds the truth should be the kindest and most humble of all, not arrogant and cocky) - and above all else honest. 
The biggest conflict in the world today is between conservatives and fundamentalist believers of the major global faiths.  The Interfaith conversation leaves them out - the multi-faith conversation gives them a place and a new platform to build a relationship so they can engage with one another.  It’s critical for us to know one another and engage or we will live in a world filled with hate, suspicion, and war. 
Some of you have heard me say it’s not head, heart, and then hand - but it must be Hand, Heart, then Head - that’s what I’ve learned working in Vietnam and the Middle-East. 

Some of my young friends have heard me speak, read my books, had discussions with me, etc.  What was fascinating was watching them as we met with different groups.  The groups were all extreme polar opposites - but they quickly got it.  All of a sudden it made sense.  So we met with a group of Jews that were talking about proselytism and its impact and listened to someone explain the difference in how they saw proselytism and evangelism.  Proselytism was all talk, showing up to preach, pass out tracks if not pay people.  Evangelism was loving people and telling them your story as you come to know them - which was deemed appropriate - seems like I’ve heard that somewhere before - like ACTS?!!!  Later we were meeting with a leading Muslim in DC and he was telling all of us the “funny” story about a particular denomination (I’ll not say which) who had press conferences each year about how they were going to reach the Jews, then the Hindus, and then the Muslims.  “I got one of the brochures they sent and it was so funny - it said approach them at Ramadan when they are hungry!  Some children saw it and laughed hard so we bought 800 of them as comic books.” The question is not what we believe, but how we communicate it.  It must be clear, simple, and core.  I’m waiting for that 100 page theology book - not catechism - that’s going to be read by every believer because it’s simple and clear.  Most theology is written for professors and pastors - not disciples. 

My young friends were stunned, blown away, and got it in a way I could never explain - but they had to experience it.  Ephesians 4:4-6 Bob’s Texas Translation (BTT) says it best, “One body, one Spirit, One hope, One Lord, One Faith, One baptism, One God and Faither, of all who is above all and through all, and in you all, {{{{ uninspired, my own addition here - ONE CONVERSATION.}}}}!!!! 
What are the traits for this:

  1.  Clear
  2.  Honest
  3.  Kind
  4.  Humble
  5.  Core
  6.  Simple . . . . ????? probably lots of others.
 
This is what the http://www.Globalfaithforum.org is all about - and people are starting to register.  Lots of people from different backgrounds are coming.  The response is, “I have to be there for that.”  People are hungry for honest dialogue, no beating around the bush, but also for relationships and treating one another with respect.  How do you get evangelicals in the room with world leaders and leaders of other faiths who are honest and disagree but want to learn from each other, bring down the tension, build legitimate friendships, and even do some projects together in serving communities?  Frankly, I’m tired of interfaith dialogue - let’s do some multi-faith engagement.  All religions are all places, all communication is everywhere - there is no privacy - this isn’t bad - it’s good - it forces us to think about what we’re saying, how it comes across, and the audience that hears.  Most of us are talking to our own tribes about others - wouldn’t it be better to talk with others and build relationships and ask them what they believe - and disagree (that’s not so bad) - than to vilify, demonize, stereotype, pontificate, judge others - seems to me, that’s what Jesus did, come to think of it…