"We will not walk in fear of one another"

Went to see the movie "God night, good luck" the other night. The film depicts the communist "witch-hunts" in the early days of broadcast journalism in the 1950s America and CBS crew's desire to report truthfully in climate of fear and reprisal. Watching the movie it becomes obvious that the film speaks to the actual situation in especially US foreign politics. Intersting quote: "We can't defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home."

The situation around the cartoon controversy and the much bigger issues that led to it need to be put in the context. I think we can't afford just to identify as Christians in this conflict between the Muslim world and the Western world without asking two questions: Should we really take part of dividing the world into "Muslim" and "Christian"?  and Does this mixing of politics and religion do any right to either Muslims or Christians? (Of course you can't in no way fully separate the two either).

The Muslim world has become a major prayer point in many Christian prayer campaigns, for example this one. I think that's well needed acknowledging both the spiritual forces behind Islam and the fragile peace that's left between the the West and the East. But I would want to raise consern that looking back the Christian history we're awfully good in seeing things black and white, and fighting people when we are supposed to fight spiritual powers and principalities.  Language is one of the most powerful ways to construct reality, even our well meaning prayer language. When we pray, I hope we can open doors in Spirit to reach the Muslim world in their own language and culture, not to build walls of fear and prejudice toward this people group. I live in a positive hope that the present situation might press us to work on our postmodern theology towards other religions. Our view and understanding has to be built on more than what the mass media has to offer covered with some attitudes we herited from modern theology.

Then again, it's another question if CHRISTIANITY needs to be DEFENDED. Jesus sent his followers to TESTIFY OF HIM to all the world, and the disciples did that by establishing living and loving Jesus-centered communities all over the known world.

The spirit of islam works by causing FEAR, making democrating governments apoligize for the freedom of speach in their country. But it says that "Perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment". I think it's a good start to watch our behaviour and not let our selves speak, pray or teach about islam fear-motivated.

   

Comments

[Rebecca]

Totally agree with you on that! Especially this fear-thing - I don't see any point in producing this strange resentments towards "muslims". Love is the answer.

[carl]

great post, very true about the need to watch our prayer language even.

Carl, england