Living the love of Christ among people of other faiths (3)

Today’s reading is Part II, C. 5-6.

Read here.

Love reaches out to scattered peoples

The term ‘diaspora’ is used here to mean people who have relocated from their lands of birth for whatever reason. Some relocate permanently, and others, like three million international students and scholars, temporarily.

We encourage Church and mission leaders to recognize and respond to the missional opportunities presented by global migration and diaspora communities, in strategic planning, and in focused training and resourcing of those called to work among them.

We encourage Christians in host nations which have immigrant communities of other religious backgrounds to bear counter-cultural witness to the love of Christ in deed and word, by obeying the extensive biblical commands to love the stranger, defend the cause of the foreigner, visit the prisoner, practise hospitality, build friendships, invite into our homes, and provide help and services.

Love works for religious freedom for all people

Upholding human rights by defending religious freedom is not incompatible with following the way of the cross when confronted with persecution. There is no contradiction between being willing personally to suffer the abuse or loss of our own rights for the sake of Christ, and being committed to advocate and speak up for those who are voiceless under the violation of their human rights.

Let us strive for the goal of religious freedom for all people. This requires advocacy before governments on behalf of Christians and people of other faiths who are persecuted.

Let us conscientiously obey biblical teaching to be good citizens, to seek the welfare of the nation where we live, to honour and pray for those in authority, to pay taxes, to do good, and to seek to live peaceful and quiet lives. The Christian is called to submit to the state, unless the state commands what God forbids, or prohibits what God commands. If the state thus forces us to choose between loyalty to itself and our higher loyalty to God, we must say No to the state because we have said Yes to Jesus Christ as Lord.

Closing Prayer:

We ask that Christians who are themselves part of diaspora communities would discern the hand of God, even in circumstances they may not have chosen, and to seek whatever opportunities God provides for bearing witness to Him in their host community and seeking its welfare. Where that host country includes Christian churches, we pray that immigrant and indigenous churches together listen and learn from one another, and initiate co-operative efforts to reach all sections of their nation with the gospel.

Our Lord and Father, help us to see that we must also distinguish between advocating the rights of people of other faiths and endorsing the truth of their beliefs. Help us to see that we can defend the freedom of others to believe and practise their religion without accepting that religion as true.In the midst of all our legitimate efforts for religious freedom for all people, the deepest longing of our hearts remains that all people should come to know you, the Lord Jesus Christ, freely put their faith in you and be saved, and enter the kingdom of God. Amen.