Posted on 11/30/2006 2:05:10 AM PST by Dallas59
To live peacefully with Muslims and Jews, Christians must put aside the notion that their faith requires the creation of a Christian kingdom on Earth, a Lipscomb University theologian told an interfaith gathering at the university.
"We are not going to get very far in our relationship with Jews or Muslims if we do not let go of this idea," Lipscomb professor Lee Camp said at Tuesday's conference.
The unusual gathering of several dozen clergy and lay people was devoted to resolving religious conflict in Nashville and around the world.
"We need to forsake the Christendom model," Camp said. "The most basic Christian commitment … is that we say we believe in the Lordship of Jesus. But, if we claim that, how can a Muslim or Jew trust us, if we say Jesus is the Lord of all Lords?"
Co-sponsored by the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, the daylong conference was prompted by a desire to begin a dialogue about global religious conflict.
After five years of rising gas prices, disturbing privacy issues that followed the Sept. 11 attacks and the fear of terrorism, it became apparent that everyday life in Nashville is directly affected by religious conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, conference organizers said.
"We felt like the larger community is calling for this," said Larry Bridgesmith, executive director of Lipscomb's newly established Institute for Conflict Management.
Panelists representing different faiths presented their own views on how to begin to bridge the religious divide.
For Kahled Sakalla, a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Nashville, some of the answers lie in better education about Islam in the non-Muslim world.
Allah, the God Muslims worship, is the same God Christians and Jews worship, and the Quran recounts the same biblical stories of Mary and Jesus, he said.
"Yes, we have differences, but it's important to focus on commonalities," said Sakalla, one of four panelists representing different faiths who addressed the Lipscomb conference.
Mark Schiftan, rabbi of the Temple in Belle Meade, said he also believes people of faith must begin to look for common ground.
"If all of us believe we were created in God's image, then we have to believe that everyone else is also created in God's image," Schiftan said.
Charles McGowan, president of the Christian group Operation Andrew said: "It's important to us in Nashville that we be proactive. Religious leaders must engage one another if we are going to experience in this city the peace and calm we all desire."
But the issues that have divided the world's religions for millennia are so deep and fundamental — ranging from the question of whether the land of Israel rightfully belongs to the Jews and whether there is one way to salvation — that tackling them will require both dialogue with other faiths and a more introspective look at one's own beliefs, panelists said.
Some liberal theologians have suggested that different faiths are all variations on one another and that beliefs are all basically the same, a position with which Camp deeply disagrees.
Instead, he believes, Christians must not back away from their beliefs but further examine them and their own history.
First, Christians must examine their "sins of omission," he said — such as not taking the time to learn about other religions. Then they must look at their "sins of commission."
"We have such short historical (memory) spans as white Christians," he said. "There is a history of anti-Semitism, the violence and bloodshed of the crusades and cultural imperialism. We have to deal with the reality of what Christians have done, which in some cases has been to kill people."
Camp described himself as a conservative Christian but conceded his opinions may be viewed as "radical" by other evangelical Christians.
Christians must shed the idea that they need to promulgate a worldwide Christianity, he said.
"If I hold to a model of Jesus … what I've committed to in my baptism is loving my enemy," Lee said. "I'm committed to not killing you, but to serving and honoring you. It's an exclusive commitment to the way of Christ, not to the exclusive authority of Christ."
Sakalla said there may never be reconciliation on the fundamental theological divisions.
"Every religion has different teachings," he said. "For Muslims, it's: Do you believe in one God and that Muhammad" is his prophet? "I don't think we can teach individuals that the way you go to heaven in other religions is OK. You have to teach differences." •
Well, how was any Pope before him addressed? I am not a Catholic and do not agree with all Catholic teachings, but he is the Pope and should be addressed as such. I did not agree with President Clinton being in office and definately did not agree with what he did while in office, but I did refer to him as President Clinton as everyone should.
His title is Pope for you. It is bestowed upon him by a group, and they choose to refer to him as such. I, and many others, do not choose to do this. If it is any help to you, I shall always refer to Bela Pelosi as Pelosi (D; CA).
The title of President is bestowed by a "group" as well. Out of respect, even those that didnt vote for him, refer to him (or should) as "President" Bush.
But we can certainly agree to disagree. :o)
MM
Nail on the head. :o)
MM
You can find a "theologian" to say any dumb*ss thing. And of course, the MSM pretty much only publishes the ones who say dumb*ss things.
Of course he IS the Pope. There are some who just don't have the respect or courtesy to address him as such. I wonder if they would mind their pastors referred to as MR. So-in-so?
Yep. It is about respect, not personal beliefs.
Christian's faith do not require that THEY bring about a Christian kingdom. The kingdom will not be brought about by anything less than the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
What a Christians faith requires is that they repent of their sins, spread the gospel, witness to others, and try to emulate the life Jesus Christ lived.
In other wors. become muslims. This man is crazy. Our faith doesn't require it. The Bible declares it, unconditionally. We Christians have nothing to do with it because we are not here, when Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom that endurith forever.
And you obviously learned nothing there, else you wouldn't be quoting Wikipedia as a reliable source. Yes, there were short abberational periods where forced conversions happened--but they were just that---abberations---not matters of doctrine--unlike the massive (and still ongoing) campaign by Islam to forcibly convert the world that WAS and IS a matter of religious doctrine.
"The Cathar residents were given a chance to convert, and the 140 who refused were burned."
Do you expect to actually be taken seriously when you compare trivial incidents like this to the hundreds of thousands (and possibly millions) who died at the hands of expansionist Islam.
My only regret is that the Crusades failed, and didn't completely wipe Islam off the face of the earth, as it so richly deserves.
In serious dialog with Jews and Muslims, we American Christians, who tend to have very short historical attention spans, must acknowledge the sins of Christian history.
Ridiculous. Who's denying that terrible things have been done in the name of Christ? I think plenty of acknowledgment has been proffered. All Christians want - of Muslims at least - is not to be blown up, beheaded, or maimed.
"Because I profess Jesus as Lord, I must let go of any strategy that seeks to violently impose “Jesus is Lord” upon another...."
Um...Exactly WHO is trying to violently impose "Jesus is Lord" on everyone else? Where is this huge cabal, the intent of which is to forcibly convert people to Christianity (an impossibility, btw)?
Add to your verses, the following:
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (I Corinthians 15:58)*
And these:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ:
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2: 5~11)**
Just a humble reminder: not only will those of us who recognize Him for who He is, but the knees and tongues of everyone, including Nancy Pelosi and her brood, the ACLU, the NEA, Ahmadinejad and his followers etc., will conform to His will:....every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!!
It's as simple as that. So we can rest assured in His comfort and follow His direction:
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Philippians 2:12, 13)***
*HOLY BIBLE New International Version,p. 1792
**Ibid., p. 1827
***Ibid., pps. 1827, 1828
I noticed the conspicous absence of the notion that Muslims have to give up the idea of the whole world living under Shaira Law. Camp obviously believes that Christians are the bad guys and that Muslims are the good guys, and I doubt there is any changing his mind.
Lee Camp is a pawn of Satan and is in danger of losing his soul.
Hmmm. Does that mean that Muslims should also give up their idea of world domination? The biggest difference I see is that Christians may want a world in which the tenets of Christianity are paramount, but they don't go around killing those who disagree, and they even let those who disagree build their own houses of worship and attend freely. Can't say the same thing about countries dominated by Muslims.
He must have been gone from school the day they learned about the resurrection.
Hmmm...renounce Jesus as the Lord of all Lords?
You go right ahead and do, that, Mr. Camp. See where it gets you.
The devil and his minions will always continue to skim the the naive pit with his lies and deceit.
But if people actually fall for this garbage, they are already at the bottom.
Too bad these nitwit "theologians" didn't read it.
Note the writer of the article name. While Camp's subsequent comments are better there still seems to be some problems with them.
NOT TRUE!
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