Unwrapping the mysteries of islam
Lynn Green 26th March 06
Lynn & Marti Green have been involved superficially with the Middle East since 1970 but in 1995 they started the reconciliation walk – between 1995 and 1999 they, with a group, followed the route of the Crusades, taking a formal note of apology for the local people to read in their own language. They continued to meet with many of the Muslim leaders after the walk finished.
Many Muslims still see their relationship with the West through the paradigm of crusading, they feel victimised. They accuse Western governments of the Crusades being cruel warfare. We romanticise the crusades but research shows that they were indeed cruel and brutal.
Lynn & his group were well received and they discovered the diversity of the Muslim world. Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet. They believe he didn't die, they believe he is coming again. One group the Alawites are closer to Christians in their beliefs than other Muslims.
The Sunnis and Shias are split about beliefs about the succession of Mohamed. Most of the deaths currently between Muslims are due to Sunni-Shia conflict. Sunnis are in the majority. Some of the Shia prophets' writings are exactly like Christian messages such as parts of the sermon on the mount.
Muslim leaders object to the way Western culture is polluting the Muslim youth.
In Sudan hundreds of thousands of Christians have been enslaved by Muslim bands and are sent to other parts of the Muslim world – this is a stumbling block to Christian and Muslim reconciliation. The leaders Lynn spoke to hotly denied this slavery was happening. But one of Lynn's group met a slave who was tending the toilets, and chatted to him.
We are all fallen, one of the results of that fallen-ness is that we tend towards violence and to dividing ourselves up into smaller groups. The Muslim world hasn't dealt with this, whereas for example Nazi-ism and British Nationalism have been to some extent dealt with. The principalities and powers use our weaknesses.
Christians are called to love our enemies, but many Christian writers and broadcasters show fear or even hate in talking about Muslims.
Regarding the Muslim stated aim of converting Christians and Jews and of 'wiping Israel off the map' – this is in some Muslim scriptures but not others. It's complicated. The debate about it goes on within Islam.
We can learn from Muslims eg in banking there is shared equity and shared risk, they show great hospitality and generosity, and reverence for God in their daily language. The importance of family which has been so eroded in our government and in our world. Muslims support Christians standing up for the family. There are many things we can work together on.
Make more friends among Muslims, pray and ask God for opportunities. Spend time with them and get to know their families. (From a show of hands, about a third of those present from Network Church have Muslim friends)
Islam is complex, it cannot be stereotyped. There is a lot of common ground and reasons to respect the Muslim community. The sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 contains the radical command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Do not react with fear or hatred or demands for restrictive laws or harsh immigration controls. Not many Muslims consider us as enemies and hate us, but even if they do we love and pray for them. | 
