I have been invited to an interfaith forum on Monday, and I hope to test the waters by asking if we can work and pray together.
Christians are starting to work together out on the streets late at night, through an initiative called Street Pastors. This involves going out late on a Friday night, and coming into contact with drugs, aggression, drink, gangs and rowdy behaviour. I feel so blessed that I am able to do this with Christians from 8 different churches, we pray for each other, we pray for the people on the streets.
My hopes and prayers would be for some kind of interfaith cooperation, whereby Muslims, Christians, Hindu and all others could work together.
I have been a Street Pastor for two years now, and it is such a wonderful ministry, here is a short video on Street Pastors,
also that doesnt change my point THAT A MUSLIM (means someone who submitted) who sins is better then a non muslim ( one who has not submitted) who does alot of good
But shouldn't that fact that one has submitted to God show in our deeds and attitudes towards each other?
I think that principle should apply to both our faiths.
If one truly submits to God and obeys God then one should become a more loving, more caring and less judgmental person.
By their fruit you will recognize them.
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
I agree that only God knows our hearts and our intentions, and that he alone can judge.
But I also suggest that we can recognise a true follower of God by their qualities - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control etc.
Would you agree?
Peace glo
Here I stand.
I can do no other.
May God help me.
Amen.
Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker
[Psalm 95]
" if we judge by whats appernt and Allah will judge whats in a person hearts "
In the interests of justice,there are occassions when human beings need to judge others---but there are rules for this--law/jurisprudence. One should refrain as much as possible from arbitrary judgements of condemnation without cause.
"also that doesnt change my point THAT A MUSLIM (means someone who submitted) who sins is better then a non muslim ( one who has not submitted) who does alot of good"
How we understand this statement depends on our definition of "non-muslim" (one who has not submitted).
If by "non-muslim" one means Kaffir/Mushrikeen or Munafiqeen then yes, the statement could be true---not for judging others---but as one of the parameters that establish the greater principles of (Divine) Justice. ---these words (as with the word Muslim) are based on the notion that this is a state of being and not a label---it is based on the mind/attitude/intentions of the person.
This distinction is very important for us to understand considering the state of affairs in our ummah. There are countries who label themselves Muslim/Islamic and yet torture, corruption, moral decay, unethical/unjust practices, prejudice/racism and other vices are rampant. This is hypocrisy. We have to be better than this----and sometimes improvements are easier in partnerships than going it alone....?
you appear to be under the delusion i want to be united with the christians. Islam seeks to eradicate all false beliefs. i will try my best not to portray christianity in a positve light, i do not want to help sell the pack of lies of chrisitanity. thats how i feel wether you like it or not
Show some respect brother. There is nothing wrong with UNITY and interfaith co operation, that is unless you are a fan of the likes of Amjad Chadury
In my view, Despite our differences we, as Muslims SHOULD co operate with other faiths for the good of humanity. Nothing wrong with it whatsoever and it should be encouraged
as Eric said. talking is boring without taking action.
And so (among other things) I took action this year in response to 2 different natural disasters -- the earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan. While I did not visit either of these sights, I sent money through my Christian denomination's disaster response team. It was delivered without regard to whether the people receiving the aid shared my faith or not. It was given because these were humans in need, and it is my understanding as a follower of Jesus that he has called on me to respond to people in need without regard to their faith. Now you are right, I do think that my faith is more correct in our understanding of who God is and provides better guidance than any other faith, but I don't think that this means I can't work with others. So it is that as we were well established in Haiti, my denomination did a great deal of the initial work of providing for aid. But in Pakistan where we have only had a small presence, we provided a conduit by which materials were delivered to Muslim Aid who then made distributions on the ground.
Not every act has to be a theological debate in which we are set in opposition to one another. As talking is boring, I suggest that we find places were the praxis of our faith might be joined in common cause as in these major natural disasters, and just possibly in smaller acts of cooperation as well, where we jointly express that the nature of the God we serve teaches us to practice compassion toward one another.
In Protestant Christianity, salvation is guarenteed---One simply has to declare ones belief in dogma.
I don't want to turn this into a major issue, but just a small correction needs to be addressed with regard to the above statement.
While there are indeed some who would agree with what siam has expressed, that is by no means universally held by all protestants and I suspect might even be the minority view. Rather what was said about "right belief, right intentions, and right actions work[ing] together as a package for a wholistic human experience" would fit very well with the teachings of John Wesley as foundational to my own United Methodist beliefs and would also be integral to many other protestant denominations.
Last edited by Grace Seeker; 11-23-2010 at 05:46 AM.
Jesus said himself just because one says 'Lord Lord I believe' does not mean he will get to Heaven.
Like others said, Interfaith Cooperation is possible if we focus on the similarities. And we all know what separates Judaism, Christianity and Islam.. so Jesus aside.. if we zone in the one fact we are worshiping the same God.. and point out the same beliefs all religions have.. even just certain passages from The Torah, Bible, Qu'ran.. I beleive a positive discussion could be discussed.
And so (among other things) I took action this year in response to 2 different natural disasters -- the earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan. While I did not visit either of these sights, I sent money through my Christian denomination's disaster response team. It was delivered without regard to whether the people receiving the aid shared my faith or not. It was given because these were humans in need, and it is my understanding as a follower of Jesus that he has called on me to respond to people in need without regard to their faith. Now you are right, I do think that my faith is more correct in our understanding of who God is and provides better guidance than any other faith, but I don't think that this means I can't work with others. So it is that as we were well established in Haiti, my denomination did a great deal of the initial work of providing for aid. But in Pakistan where we have only had a small presence, we provided a conduit by which materials were delivered to Muslim Aid who then made distributions on the ground.
Not every act has to be a theological debate in which we are set in opposition to one another. As talking is boring, I suggest that we find places were the praxis of our faith might be joined in common cause as in these major natural disasters, and just possibly in smaller acts of cooperation as well, where we jointly express that the nature of the God we serve teaches us to practice compassion toward one another.
is it fair to say the most religious of christians will only see worship once a week, that is, sunday?
is it fair to say the most religious of christians will only see worship once a week, that is, sunday?
Not sure if you are asking about the most religious of Christians, in which case it is not true, or about most Christians (including those who aren't very religious), in which case it is more than true.
Sadly, it would be fair to say that at least in the part of the world where I live, perhaps most who claim to be Christians don't even see worship then. Of course, rightly understood, genuine worship must be a way of life, not a service. But the pattern of attending corporate worship once a week (usually on Sunday, but it isn't restricted to then alone) is fairly normative. Private prayer and personal devotional study would also be at least a daily routine among those who take their faith seriously. My own congregation offers corporate worship 3 times a week and on average 6 small group studies in addition to Sunday school each week. I have no idea how many might be involved in additional study and worship times they have organized on their own.
Not sure what any of that has to do with interfaith cooperation?
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