Chrislam? I think not.

"Today, there is a growing and increasingly widespread movement inside mainline and Evangelical churches which attempts to join Islam and Christianity. Based on the premise that both religions worship the same deity, "Chrislam" is gaining followers and becoming a favorite among the politically correct. But is the basis of this movement correct? Do the Bible and Qur'an harmonize? Is Allah actually Jehovah God? Why are those claiming to be Evangelicals involved with this misguided idea?"  Eric Barger

Have you heard of this? The movement is apparently a few years old, but it is news to me. I had two thoughts when I heard the definition of the concept. Well, actually, my first thought was, "That doesn't make sense." But then there were two thoughts.

First of all, while I do promote tolerance between people, accepting each other's beliefs and non-beliefs, this is not really the same thing as merging. Tolerance means, "I don't agree with you, but I support your feelings and your right to believe as you do."  I am FOR Interfaith activities, seeking understanding as they work together to address the needs of the world, and learning to get along through increased understanding of each other.  But tolerance doesn't mean adapting the other's beliefs as your own, just allowing them to continue. You can merge oil and water all day but as soon as you stop stirring, you're back to separate oil and water. And that's not a bad thing - we need both.

My other thought, thinking of some of the newer mainline Evangelical churches, is, "I am not surprised."  It seems that some of the mega-churches in particular, have gotten all excited about "Church" and left out the real meat of the faith. It's the feel-good, scratch-the surface part that has concerned me for years. Some churches refuse to discuss the Crucifixion because, "it's just too sad." Well, yes, being killed is not a good thing. As a matter of fact, it was gruesome, all the worse because it was knowingly done to an innocent person. Did you know that some of these churches don't even display a cross for this reason? For some the cross is an obstacle, a reminder that they don't "like" church. Others say it is a reminder of the Crucifixion. Yet, how can one celebrate the Resurrection if not for the Crucifixion? (But this is a topic for another day...)

I've long known that simply feeding people slick messages that don't address in-depth feelings couldn't satisfy them.  Messages on financial planning and raising children are fine - especially if you're addressing the PTA but that isn't what we were told to share.  We once attended a church where the pastor used the word "I" more than the word "God" and spoke from his thoughts, not scripture. (we didn't stay there)

What happens when there is a situation that is beyond the message about putting your money into a financial plan or sunny day thoughts? What happens when you dig down into the Word and realize there is much more than this leader is sharing?  When topics are "thoughts of the day" without even mention of scripture, it is nothing more than a social gathering of people that seek to be a part of something. When Evangelicals are more interested in politics than faith, pushing their own beliefs on everyone else and controlling political realms, it makes one question the level of faith compared to the dogma of politics.

When you have thousands of people without a real internal connection to God and others with the same lack of connection to Islam, it becomes a social merger. It's not the "One true Church" but a white-washing of both. It seems to weaken both, reducing them to a politically correct merger., in a world where social justice trumps true faith.

This is not to say that there are not similarities. There are - many more than some would like to admit.

Both begin the basic set of instructions with the admonition that there is only one God... and that is a significant similarity, I admit. Both profess treating others well. Both expect the believer to put his faith into action, to do good works. Both tell the believer to pray. One thing I do admire about the majority of Muslim people I know is that they do pray more often than the majority of Christians I know. However, I don't know the basis of these prayers, nor whether it is obedience to the act or communication itself. But nonetheless, there aren't many Christians so devout.

How is merging two religions honoring either one? To me, seems that this can only be done by those so weak in either faith that neither matters. Is this what God wants? There has always been a part of me that has considered that since God has many names... that possibly, each separate group, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or hundreds of other religions, when praying to God is praying to the same God.

Yet, never have I felt they should merge. No, it's not the "separate but equal" mentality of segregation, but a recognition that they are all separate faiths and that unlike segregation of races in days past tried to insist, they are equal as people. I honestly believe that Jesus Christ is the path to God, to eternal life. Yet, while I support missionaries telling others of this, there's a part of me that has always been a little uncomfortable with it as well. As followers of Christ, we are to love all people. This isn't just "a good idea," but a commandment from Jesus Himself.  But I'm not getting a "create a new church, a believe whatever you want" church from this at all.

It will be interesting to watch this develop.  What are your thoughts?

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