Strange Appearences.

During the past few weeks at church we have been working through a series entitled Strange Appearences.

This morning, as part of our series, Nathan invited his Muslim friend, Abdul, to come and participate in a conversation with him in the presence of our community about Islam. It was one of the most intriguing, beautiful, sincere, and refreshing things I have ever witnessed during a Sunday gathering.

Abdul provided much insight into what it means to be Muslim, but what was most interesting and eye-opening to me were the similarities between the Islamic and Christian faith.

Several subjects were touched on during the conversation and all were rich in word. There were, however, two points that Abdul made that really formed an impression on my heart:

1. "It is good that we are talking. It is good that we are talking."
-We are called in both the Muslim and Christian faith to "Love our neighbors," but how can we do so if we do not know our neighbor?

2. How can one say that they live in total submission to the word of God when they don't even know what the word says?
-This I found relevant to not only Muslims, whom he was talking about, in context, but to Christians as well.

At the end of the conversation, our community witnessed a warm embrace between Nathan and Abdul from which sprung an emotion inside of me. I could see, even feel, the sincerity it their embrace, and to me it symbolized the message God has scribed out for us, "to love our neighbor," free of judgement and free of hate...simply bound by a willingness and an eagerness to understand the totally other.

I was both humbled and challenged this morning, and I only wish that all members of the Christian community could experience something similar.