A Common Word Between Christians and Muslims?

January 24, 2008

Recently, a number of leading Muslim and Christian leaders began a discussion together looking for unity based on the common ground both faiths share of “loving God and loving neighbor.” These exchanges have been called A Common Word.

Today, John Piper issued an excellent response to this dialog expressing profound disappointment with the Christians who have affirmed this common ground. Piper’s response is well worth listening to.

In reading through some of the “Common Word” documents, it seems more and more clear to me that the greatest threat Islam brings to Christianity is not violence, but peace… the kind of peace that denies the absolute uniqueness of Christ as mankind’s only hope of salvation. While it is certainly right for us to call for and pray for and hope for peace, we do not embrace peace at all costs.

Rick Phillips’ comments are particularly helpful:

I suppose that a survey of the history of religion and war would show that in times of great violence there is usually an impulse to downplay important religious differences so as to soften inter-religious anger and hatred. But it is always distressing to see Christians so willing to downplay the most central and vital aspects of our faith in pursuit of some “higher” end. I am sure that the signatories of the Christian response mean well. But for Christians there must never be a higher end that the glory of God as revealed in his Word and the spread of the biblical gospel with clarity, love, and courage. At the very moment when increasing numbers of people have concluded that “all religions believe the same thing,” the very worst thing Christians could do — the least loving and ultimately the least peaceful — is to foster the idea that one’s understanding of God need not embrace Jesus Christ as the unique revelation of God and as the Savior-Son God has sent as the only hope for a sinful world.

Posted by Aaron | Filed Under Blog, Church and Culture, Theology 

Comments

One Response to “A Common Word Between Christians and Muslims?”

  1. William C. Kriner on January 26th, 2008 10:21 pm

    Aaron———-On our recent trip to Cyprus and Athens we had the opportunity to take a trip into the occupied area of Cyprus. Most folks are pretty hazy on Cyprus history but the Turks invaded in 1974 when the Cyprus gov’t was experiencing a coup. In any event, what was done to the churches in No. Cyprus is disheartening. What the Turks could not use was destroyed. I have a halting photo of a Gothic church with a minaret it now being a mosque. In any event, in speaking to the Greek Cypriots, it is clear that they see no end to the issue [although the EU is now involved] because it is at heart a religious matter and struggle. Having traveled to several Muslim cultures I believe it is a fools errand to seek a compromise with deniers of the Biblical Christ unless of course you are yourself a Christ denier. As you point out, this is not the kind of peace Christians should desire or be willing to forge.

    How did the conference go?

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