BY LEITH ANDERSON
November 2, 2007
Something extraordinary has happened in our world of
religious tensions between Islam and Christianity. A group of 138 Muslim
scholars and leaders banded together to write a letter to the Christians
of the world entitled "A Common Word between Us and You".
With all the diversity among Muslims it is surprising that
so many could agree on what to say and even more amazing that they would
agree to sign and send this document to reach out to Christians. I suspect
that some on the extremes of Islam would strongly disapprove.
But Christians are also a diverse lot. We know well our
differences between Catholics, Orthodox, main line and evangelical voices
in global Christianity. More often we think about our difference more than
what we share in common. So how could we ever agree to answer Islam’s
epistle? A group of Christian scholars at Yale Divinity School crafted a
response called "Loving God and Neighbour Together: A Christian response
to ‘A Common Word between Us and You’".
In a world filled with tensions between Christians and
Muslims, it would seem most unlikely that both letters would be written.
They seek common ground in the themes of loving god and one’s neighbour.
The originators of the Christian statement asked me to add
my signature to a hundred others.
My first response was to take seriously the opportunity.
And then I found that there were lines in the Christian letter that were
not quite what I would write. I requested some changes that were made
although there were others I might have preferred. Yes, I know that it is
nearly impossible to keep going back to more than a hundred busy
theologians and Christian leaders with the addition and subtraction and
rewriting of words and paragraphs. Sometimes we all sign on to things that
are not all that we would like them to be. Even after we write and say our
own words we discover that we wish we had done better.
I sought the counsel of other evangelical leaders,
especially those more knowledgeable of Islam than I. Thinkers I respected
told me that they were giving their support and encouraged me to do the
same. They told me that signing the statement would be especially helpful
to Christians who live and minister in Muslim majority countries and
cultures. In fact, some suggested that not signing could be damaging to
these Christian brothers and sisters who live among Muslims.
So I agreed to add my name to the letter. While I am
listed as the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, I
added my name as an individual and not as an institution. There simply was
not an easy way to process the complexities of this interfaith communiqué
on short notice.
What are my hopes from this dialogue? First, mutual
respect between the two largest religions on the globe. This includes a
freedom to state what we each believe without pretending that there is
comprehensive mutual agreement. Second, peace in places and between
peoples who are hostile toward one another. Third, religious liberty where
every nation allows its citizens to freely believe and worship even if
that means changing what is believed and how worship is rendered. Fourth,
an opening for future dialogue with the conviction that it is not good to
live in either ignorance or isolation.
Will there be misunderstandings and criticisms? I am sure
there will be.
As an evangelical Christian I believe in Jesus Christ as
my saviour and lord. I take the Bible seriously as my rule of faith and
practice. That is who evangelicals are and what evangelicals believe. Just
as Muslims want us to know about Islam, I want Muslims to know about the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Leith Anderson is president, National Association of
Evangelicals, USA.)
www.nae.net