This weekend we explored the parable of the Good Samaritan. When Jesus made the Samaritan the hero in his story, he offended his Jewish audience in a couple of ways:1. This guy was of the wrong race. He was a half-breed. Which tied in closely with offense #2.
2. This guy was of the wrong religion. The Samaritans practiced a modified form of faith from the Jews- ex. worshipping in their own temples.
Although Jesus doesn't say it, I like to imagine that these guys of different faiths became friends.
How about us? Do you know anyone of a different faith? Have any friends who actively practice a religion other than Christianity?
Have you had any conversations with them about the spiritual realm? What happened? Have you learned anything from them?
8 comments:
Good questions.
I have friends of different faiths. One in particular is a Hindu and a prodecessor in a long line of Hindu priests. We talked about spirituality a few times, but he looked a little condescendingly at me and our relationship since has eroded to our business relationship.
On another point, does anyone have any friends of a different sect of Christianity? Say one that's a little more extreme from the one you practice. Is there a wall there? I know I've had a tough time tearing down those walls, e.g. the minister Glen had a tough time with over the threatened wedding.
I've had Jewish friends and Hindu friends. Neither of which practiced strongly, so there wasn't much of an opportunity for conflict to arise.
Micah, I've had and continue to have friends from different sects of Christianity - and some of them do actively create walls between us. I think sometimes when you agree on large chunks, the small disagreements can become magnified and used as litmus tests.
Our pediatritican is Muslim, my ex-mother-in-law was a Hindu, and my mother-in-law is a Fundamental Baptist. (My husband was an atheist when we met, while he was seeking we attended an all black church).
It's been helpful to me to remember that with all sects of Christianity and with Muslims and Jews that we believe in the same God and that gives us a lot of common ground. And with other religions, even if they don't believe in God, my God believes in them and loves them.
I think we can always learn from other religions. I sometimes have a problem wanting to learn from them because they may be focusing on the fact that I'm wearing pants in church or other obscure things.
From personal experience, I can tell you that it's always a good idea to wear pants in church.
Okay, I should clarify....
Pants INSTEAD of a skirt!!!
Actually I wore a skirt to church once too and that didn't go over well either...
I've probably learned the most from my friends who didn't have any faith, but were starting to really seek God.
Their curiosity over the ways God was starting to show up in their lives and the intensity of their searches challenged me about my own desire for God.
Maybe that's why God allows me to feel "a little lost" along the way some times. So I'll need to keep looking for Him.
I've had several friends from other faiths. One of my best friends was an agnostic Muslim (i.e. raised Muslim, but not did not practice it himself).
We had lots of great conversations. We've lost touch over the years, but I still pray for him.
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