Are Christians called to public relations?

[cholland]

Pope Benedict: "My visit to Jordan gives me a welcome opportunity to speak of my deep respect for the Muslim community, and to pay tribute to the leadership shown by His Majesty the King in promoting a better understanding of the virtues proclaimed by Islam."

Is this respect for their sincerity in their beliefs or the beliefs themselves? Are we to find neutral ground in order to worship the same God? Or are we called to something higher in which the gospel is supreme and expect ridicule, accusations of hate, and separation from the world?

[cnorman18]

Pope Benedict: "My visit to Jordan gives me a welcome opportunity to speak of my deep respect for the Muslim community, and to pay tribute to the leadership shown by His Majesty the King in promoting a better understanding of the virtues proclaimed by Islam."

Is this respect for their sincerity in their beliefs or the beliefs themselves?

Both, I think - as well as respect for the human beings who hold those beliefs, a possibility that you did not mention.

It is not necessary to affirm that the beliefs of others are true in order to be respectful of both those beliefs and the people who hold them.

Are we to find neutral ground in order to worship the same God?

I fail to see why that is necessary, or why we need to affirm that we "worship the same God." I, for one, don't know that that is true.

The place where religions can find common ground, and should, is in ethics, not belief or doctrine. Most religions share a basic ethic, and in areas like feeding the hungry and fighting injustice, we can and ought to work cooperatively and set our doctrinal differences aside.

Or are we called to something higher in which the gospel is supreme and expect ridicule, accusations of hate, and separation from the world?

If one holds that proper beliefs are the most important issue and trump every other concern, and feels obligated to ignore all other issues (like ethics) and insist on getting in everyone's face and proclaiming one's own beliefs as the only ones acceptable or worthy of respect, that is likely to happen. In fact, I suspect that it's inevitable.

If one is advocating beliefs that are in fact ridiculous (e.g., Young Earth Creationism), one can expect to be ridiculed.

If one is outspoken about despising other belief systems and preaches eternal torture for all who do not agree with oneself, one will predictably be accused of hatred - especially if one preaches Hell with a certain ill-disguised glee, as is common here. Claiming that improper thoughts, aka "beliefs," are justly punished by eternal agony is inarguably hateful from the get-go.

Why would "separation from the world" be admirable or desirable in a world that needs so much concrete, real-life, here-and-now help? Shouldn't religious people who claim to worship a loving God be called to engage with the world, and not to turn their backs on it? There are very many problems that very many humans have that are much more pressing than "salvation." Hunger, abuse, loneliness, disease, injustice, violence, oppression, and on and on. And no, believing in Jesus will NOT make all those problems suddenly go away.

Let is speak honestly here. There is a certain mindset among some conservative Christians that mandates angering and alienating non-Christians, in order to feel noble and martyred and holy and unjustly persecuted. Simply put, that attitude is a matter of deep hypocrisy; it's more important for those
Christians to feel superior and self-righteous and holy than it is to convince others of the truth of the Gospel, which they claim to be their goal. Their attitudes drive others away from Jesus, as opposed to attracting others to him. Humility is the most neglected Christian virtue among this group, and that fact seems to be obvious to everyone but themselves.

I can say all these things, because I was once that kind of Christian. I know the nasty little thrill that comes from feeling noble and persecuted for my beliefs - and I look back and see that I wasn't being "persecuted for my beliefs" at all; I was being justly disliked for my superior, self-righteous, and arrogant attitude and my disdain and contempt for those who did not share my beliefs. Everyone who feels noble and persecuted ought to take a close look at his own behavior and see if he really is the Christlike hero that he believes himself to be, or if he's just being an annoying jerk.

[cholland]

Both, I think - as well as respect for the human beings who hold those beliefs, a possibility that you did not mention.

It is not necessary to affirm that the beliefs of others are true in order to be respectful of both those beliefs and the people who hold them.

I fail to see why that is necessary, or why we need to affirm that we "worship the same God." I, for one, don't know that that is true.

The place where religions can find common ground, and should, is in ethics, not belief or doctrine. Most religions share a basic ethic, and in areas like feeding the hungry and fighting injustice, we can and ought to work cooperatively and set our doctrinal differences aside.

If one holds that proper beliefs are the most important issue and trump every other concern, and feels obligated to ignore all other issues (like ethics) and insist on getting in everyone's face and proclaiming one's own beliefs as the only ones acceptable or worthy of respect, that is likely to happen. In fact, I suspect that it's inevitable.

If one is advocating beliefs that are in fact ridiculous (e.g., Young Earth Creationism), one can expect to be ridiculed.

If one is outspoken about despising other belief systems and preaches eternal torture for all who do not agree with oneself, one will predictably be accused of hatred - especially if one preaches Hell with a certain ill-disguised glee, as is common here. Claiming that improper thoughts, aka "beliefs," are justly punished by eternal agony is inarguably hateful from the get-go.

Why would "separation from the world" be admirable or desirable in a world that needs so much concrete, real-life, here-and-now help? Shouldn't religious people who claim to worship a loving God be called to engage with the world, and not to turn their backs on it? There are very many problems that very many humans have that are much more pressing than "salvation." Hunger, abuse, loneliness, disease, injustice, violence, oppression, and on and on. And no, believing in Jesus will NOT make all those problems suddenly go away.

Let is speak honestly here. There is a certain mindset among some conservative Christians that mandates angering and alienating non-Christians, in order to feel noble and martyred and holy and unjustly persecuted. Simply put, that attitude is a matter of deep hypocrisy; it's more important for those
Christians to feel superior and self-righteous and holy than it is to convince others of the truth of the Gospel, which they claim to be their goal. Their attitudes drive others away from Jesus, as opposed to attracting others to him. Humility is the most neglected Christian virtue among this group, and that fact seems to be obvious to everyone but themselves.

I can say all these things, because I was once that kind of Christian. I know the nasty little thrill that comes from feeling noble and persecuted for my beliefs - and I look back and see that I wasn't being "persecuted for my beliefs" at all; I was being justly disliked for my superior, self-righteous, and arrogant attitude and my disdain and contempt for those who did not share my beliefs. Everyone who feels noble and persecuted ought to take a close look at his own behavior and see if he really is the Christlike hero that he believes himself to be, or if he's just being an annoying jerk.

Do you have Scripture to back up your views?

And I didn't really ask what professing Christians do, but what they are called to in regards to the questions I posed.

[McCulloch]

Or are we called to something higher in which the gospel is supreme and expect ridicule, accusations of hate, and separation from the world?

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

It has been a very long time since I have witnessed a Christian rejoicing about being persecuted. They whine and complain about being marginalized or being discriminated against.

[cholland]

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

It has been a very long time since I have witnessed a Christian rejoicing about being persecuted. They whine and complain about being marginalized or being discriminated against.

How true! I don't think I've ever seen that. I think it's my American blood that would seek justice for myself...kind of pin my beliefs against the constitution. Not to mention the pride within me to stand up for my name. How hypocritical!

When/how did you see it?

[McCulloch]

It has been a very long time since I have witnessed a Christian rejoicing about being persecuted.

When/how did you see it?

I apologize. That was a rhetorical device. In fact, I have never seen it. No one I know or have known, to my knowledge has followed the teachings of Jesus in this matter.

[cnorman18]

Do you have Scripture to back up your views?

LOL! Sure, but you wouldn't agree with my interpretations, and I don't intend to debate them. That would be because I don't think I NEED Scripture quotations to back up what I think. God didn't just give me a Bible - He also gave me a functioning brain.

And I didn't really ask what professing Christians do, but what they are called to in regards to the questions I posed.

I think my answers are clear, if implicit. I don't think Christians are called to judgmentalism, arrogance, self-righteousness, or confrontation with other faiths.

I think Christians are called to love their neighbors as they love themselves. You know - feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, comfort the grieving, and like that.

Do all that and keep your mouth shut about personal moral judgments and people's eternal fate, and they'll follow you around asking why you do it and what makes you tick. Do nothing but preach, and people will avoid you and avoid anything that reminds them of you.

I speak as a former Christian. As a Jew, I would say that it's for Christians to decide to what they are called; but that would have been my take.

[Jonah]

I think there may be something instructive about these meetings. If these meetings end up being constructive, it would be that each side has something concrete they wish to achieve. So, they both find a language where "beliefs" can be boiled down toward whatever is in common. Then, there comes the interesting business of evaluating the "common". Is it BS or has the process revealed a core of ultimate value in each religion that helps all concerned reprioritize?

And such a process need not be overly polite. Public statements aside, there are the private talks that may be much more human. And if peacemaking comes out a rough and tumble private real politik...I don't much care if the bettering of our "beliefs" comes through an un-Hollywood journey.

One of my favorite stories is a meeting between, I believe, the President of Israel and the Pope and his inner circle. The President asked the Pope point blank if the Vatican had the Temple Menorah stolen by the Romans, and if so, Israel would like it back now. The President was dead serious because of numerous historical accounts that the Menorah and other Temple gear is stashed in underground Vatican vaults. There's nothing like a face to face meeting to get it clear on who you're really dealing with and where they're coming from.

The Pope said, No. He didn't have the Menorah.
I don't think the President believed him, so there's more work to be done. We're gonna get the gear back one of these days.

[bernee51]

Pope Benedict: "My visit to Jordan gives me a welcome opportunity to speak of my deep respect for the Muslim community, and to pay tribute to the leadership shown by His Majesty the King in promoting a better understanding of the virtues proclaimed by Islam."

Is this respect for their sincerity in their beliefs or the beliefs themselves?

From the context to the quote you provided it would seem that he has respect for the “Muslim community� – it mentions nothing about beliefs.

Are we to find neutral ground in order to worship the same God?

Every muslim to whom I have spoken would claim that there is only one god, and muslims and Christians alike are worshiping that god. The ONLY people I have spoken to who would dispute this, amongst the monotheisms, are those Christians who claim that Allah is a false idol.

Or are we called to something higher in which the gospel is supreme...

Higher than what? Higher than whom?

Supreme in compared to what?

and expect ridicule, accusations of hate, and separation from the world?

Beleivers of any stripe will be judged by their fruits.

If those who claim to follow a religion hold ridiculous ideas – they risk being ridiculed. If they profess hatred, intolerance or non-acceptance they will be accused of same. Any separation from the world can only come from those that believe they are separated.

[cholland]

LOL! Sure, but you wouldn't agree with my interpretations, and I don't intend to debate them. That would be because I don't think I NEED Scripture quotations to back up what I think. God didn't just give me a Bible - He also gave me a functioning brain.

Tell that to Tom Cruise.

I think my answers are clear, if implicit. I don't think Christians are called to judgmentalism, arrogance, self-righteousness, or confrontation with other faiths.

I think Christians are called to love their neighbors as they love themselves. You know - feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, comfort the grieving, and like that.

Do all that and keep your mouth shut about personal moral judgments and people's eternal fate, and they'll follow you around asking why you do it and what makes you tick. Do nothing but preach, and people will avoid you and avoid anything that reminds them of you.

I speak as a former Christian. As a Jew, I would say that it's for Christians to decide to what they are called; but that would have been my take.

I think Jesus and other prophets taught about half of what you said. I think you're missing the part where he doesn't "love" the Pharisees and other Jews who thought possession of the Torah made them God's people.