"Modeling a world where there is no 'Other'" -- by Elaine Thomas

At last summer’s Everyone, Everywhere conference, Paul-Gordon Chandler’s plenary address focused on bridging the gap between Muslims and Christians, using material from his book Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road: Exploring a New Path Between Two Faiths, as a guide. This book is an exploration of the life of faith of Mazhar Mallouhi, a Syria-born resident of Beirut, author and self-avowed Muslim follower of Christ.

Having just finished Chandler’s book at a time when there exists an uneasy cease-fire in Gaza, I am struck with how instructive the model of Mallouhi’s life could be not just to Palestinians and Israeli’s but to all of us. The great distrust of Christianity among Muslims stems in large part from how we have presented ourselves as an all-or-nothing faith – you’re either one of us or you’re not. Just as importantly, for any Muslim who wishes to follow Jesus, there is an expectation that he or she will abandon Muslim ways and follow a more Westernized version of Christianity, in effect forcing a choice between abandoning one’s family and culture for the alien ‘church’ culture of the West.

Mallouhi has modeled a different way, maintaining his identity as a Muslim while firmly following the Gospel of Jesus. He has made the Gospels available in Arabic and misses no opportunity to share the Good News with others of any or even no faith. His modus operandi, if you want to call it that, is to simply build relationships by modeling a life worthy of the calling he has received. He does not try to change anyone’s mind or tell them that their way is not good enough. He simply shares his own joy as a follower of Christ.

This joy has not come without enormous cost. Rejection by his family, scrutiny and imprisonment by governing authorities and lengthy separations from his family are just a few of the sacrifices he has made as a Muslim follower of Christ. Yet he has persevered, overcoming his own fears and prejudices to build relationships with those who would persecute or hate him.

Much of the difficulty the faith community of the developed world has encountered in providing assistance to the impoverished around the globe has been our attempts to bring people around to our faith, the way we believe. Much of the strife in our world is because we set ourselves over and against the other – those of different political, religious, economic and cultural beliefs. Mallouhi would argue that there is no ‘other’ – we are all children of one God. Our challenge is to build relationships with those we fear and do not trust, to open our hearts and our homes, even our very lives, to any who cross our path. One can’t despise anyone with whom one has broken bread or worked at building a relationship. As Mallouhi writes, “The key for me personally is to meet people who are spiritually hungry, and searching, and then walk together with them on the journey to grow toward God.” (Chandler, Paul Gordon. Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road (Lanham, MD: Cowley Publications, 2007) 202)

If one man can model this behavior, I wonder what would happen if the rest of us could? Rather than my judging the Israeli’s for the seemingly indiscriminate slaughter of Gazans, how about if I sit down with one and seek to understand? Or instead of questioning the wisdom of Palestinians launching rockets into Israel, what if I were to seek out a Palestinian and engage in a conversation? Anyone that I happen to regard as other could become, if not friend, at least not stranger, if I follow the commandment to love my neighbor.

I would think it would be difficult to bomb a community that houses those of a culture in which you have friends and acquaintances. I would find it difficult to hate all Muslims because they are Muslims if I know and love other Muslims (and I do). I could not possibly hate all Jews if I know and love some Jews (and I do). Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs – none of it would matter if we could bring ourselves to seek out the other, to treasure the wisdom of the other, and embrace rather than shun the other.

I imagine that all the development assistance in the world won’t change the state of those most in need until we are able to build relationships based on equality. Maybe we are not economic equals, but we are spiritual and human equals. And in honoring that in each other, there may be hope for this world yet.

Elaine Thomas is a member of St. James in Lancaster, PA where she is a member of the Peace and Justice and Stewardship Committees. She is also the EGR and ERD Coordinator for the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. Elaine works for Episcopal Community Services in Philadelphia, a social service agency whose mission is to help individuals and families with multiple needs overcome the impact of poverty.