Today, I chose to take the opportunity to visit a Muslim church service that was honoring the victims of the horrible New Zealand tragedy. It was a \u2018community service\u2019 open to the public. I wanted to write this blog after attending the service, as I had just devoured Douthat\u2019s book and felt a little \u2018boxed in\u2019 by his rhetoric. The service was very enlightening and warm, and many questions were answered by the Iman (whom I learned is the church leader). I learned that Muslims are very loving people and live their lives on a \u2018works\u2019 principle instead of a \u2018grace\u2019 principle, which differs so much from Christianity. They also believe in Jesus, but not in the Trinity. Jesus, to them, was a great profit, not a Savior. I was surprised to learn they believe in angels and many of the OT prophets. Mostly, I was in awe of their love for those around them and for the world. \u00a0So, it makes the tragedy in New Zealand all the more senseless. Why are we so afraid of others and their different beliefs? We don\u2019t take the time to understand.<\/p>\n
The opposite of love is not hate. It is fear. <\/strong>It is fear of the unknown; fear of not learning what others are all about or who they really are. It is often created through pre-existing bias and expectation of future threat. We often deduce things that are going to happen and anticipate threat. So often our responses our negative \u2013 before we even analyze the situation and seek answers to the truth. (Spoken like a true counselor, eh?) As a counselor, I found that fear is often the guiding light for people \u2013 preconceived notions of the future. And if our thinking is skewed due to prior circumstances in our life, this can be a powder-keg situation for those living their lives in fear, which truly is the opposite of love\u2026walking in faith and trusting God\u2019s plan.<\/p>\n So, now to tackle Douthat. I found this author to be both negative and far-reaching in his beliefs, almost to the point of fear. By that, I mean that Douthat makes it sound like Christianity is no longer functional in the USA. He claimed that Christianity is mostly misused and misunderstood today and that it is watered-down and falsely promises success to followers. The author then asks: how do we reclaim it?[1]<\/a> (as though it\u2019s already lost.)<\/p>\n Douthat claims: \u201cIt is not enough for Americans to respect orthodox Christianity a bit more than they do at present. To make a difference in our common life, Christianity must be lived \u2013 not as a means to social cohesion or national renewal, but as an end unto itself.\u201d[2]<\/a> Yet, I believe Christians do \u2018live\u2019 Christianity. I know there are skewed ideas from some churches and that theology at times has become more loosely adhered to. But, for the most part, I see Christianity alive and well in so many wonderful ways.<\/p>\n There certainly needs to be renewal and accountability for our actions. Yet, what is so exciting is that many Christians today are learning to not just walk in the role of a \u2018follower,\u2019 but instead in the role of a \u2018Servant of Christ.\u2019 Servant leadership encompasses not just the pastors of the church, but the followers as well. If we are serving as Christ on this earth, He came to help the unsaved, not the saved. Often, it is the church members who are out in the streets, doing the work of Jesus, as the church leaders are often in the role of running the churches and making all the pieces fit. Both roles are crucial, but it is so exciting to see the new \u2018movements\u2019 towards servanthood taking place within our local communities (i.e., Jesus Loves Kalamazoo, Love Inc.), which are drawing people into servant leadership by reaching deep into the areas of need in our cities. The author may not approve of this type of Christianity\u2026.but I do! It is reaching the secular world in such a positive, impactful way.<\/p>\n So, to sum up this blog, I think all we need as Christians is to allow Christ to serve as our example \u2013 and to live together in LOVE. Let\u2019s let<\/strong> love win<\/strong> and trust in Jesus! \u201cI am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.\u201d (John 14:6). We\u2019ve already got our Leadership in place\u2026now let\u2019s follow His Lead!!!<\/p>\n