One God, One people.
The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief.
Ecclesiastes 1: 1-2, 18
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels,
but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1
A friend of mine recently attended a worship and Bible study at her church where the main topic was the large number of Muslims in our country and communities. The speaker was very involved in mission work in immigrant communities and spoke about the differences of a patriarchal society. My friend voiced her concern that they worshipped a God called Allah. She voiced her fear that ‘they are taking over.’ I had been listening and squirming around this topic as it floated into and out of conversation all afternoon. But at this point, I could no longer remain silent.
God is known by many names – none of which adequately describe who God is. God is Lord, Hosannah, Creator, Savior, Holy Spirit, Father, Mother, Jehovah, Redeemer, El-Shaddai, and Allah. Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. It is a language thing, just like our word God and the Spanish word Dios, etc. The name we use for God is not as significant as how we relate to God and how we allow God to shape us and our lives.
Worry and anxiety are always fear based. Fear is not part of God’s plan for us – in fact the Bible advises us literally hundreds of times to not be afraid. Jesus himself did not teach fear, Jesus taught Love – again and again.
Any religion at it most fundamental and rule-oriented can be dangerous. When we reduce our relationship with God to rules and narrow faith to the right way to think about it, we are no longer worshipping God and we become more concerned about being right. Fear and rules create divisiveness and hurt and hatred.. God creates diversity and community and union.
It was Fear that helped to put Jesus on the Cross – but it was LOVE that redeemed him and us. It is often fear that keeps us from being who God created us to be. Maybe it is also fear that keeps us clinging to rules. Our human need to be right is a dangerous thing and it keeps you from knowing mercy and grace. How many times did Jesus try to teach this to both his followers and his condemners?
Human beings come in all shapes and sizes and colors, inside and out. You may not understand or like them all, but One God created and loves them all. Your neighbor may look different than you and eat food that seems strange to you. But you probably have more in common than you know. Each and every one of us was created in and for love.
EVERY major world religion at its most mature level understands that God’s first name is LOVE. Every major religion recognizes Love as its greatest wisdom. There are many ways and many paths that can lead us to God. I believe God cares not so much which path we take, but that we seek to know him, to find him. He cares that we continue to faithfully walk the journey.
LORD, Show me your ways. Teach me your words. Give me strength and courage for this journey. Give me your love and patience and compassion. Make me more like you. Amen.