I fondly remember taking a course called “Contemporary Theologies of Mission” from Dr. Rob Sellers in seminary (Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon Seminary). It was a class that transformed my perspective on what mission can and should look like in the twenty-first century, especially that which is done in God’s name by those who seek to follow the Way of Jesus.
Earlier this week, I happened upon Ken Camp’s recent article in the Baptist Standard that summarized Sellers’ remarks about loving one’s neighbor as shared in his Currie-Strickland Distinguished Lectures in Christian Ethics at Howard Payne University. More specifically, Sellers offered one reason Baptists should love those who practice religions other than their own (Baptist heroes practiced it) alongside five more general reasons why all Christians should love those who practice religions other than their own:
- the future of peace – locally and globally – depends on it
- all the major world religions teach it
- Jesus did it
- we are enriched in our own Christian faith by experiencing it
- we connect more with God by doing it
So What?
I have owned precious few tee shirts that display overtly Christian messages. The last one I purchased came from the UCC and featured the following message: Be the Church / Protect the environment / Care for the poor / Embrace diversity / Reject racism / Forgive often / Love God / Fight for the powerless / Share earthly and spiritual resources / Enjoy this life.
The “love God” line should lead those who follow the Way of Jesus to recall the great commandment to love God and to love neighbor. That love of people, including those who practice religions other than my own as well as those who practice no religion or multiple religions is captured even more clearly on varying versions of a popular tee shirt. Some editions of the shirt list specific religions as those we are called to love.
In earlier eras it was easier for Christians to live in their own Christian bubbles in the United States. Thankfully, today most Americans who follow the Way of Jesus regularly interact with those who practice other religions.
- How would you rate yourself when it comes to loving your neighbor (meaning any and every person that is not yourself)? your neighbor that practices a religion other than your own?
- Share one example of something your faith community has done that has demonstrated this type of love in your local community.