Vision from the Vantage Point of the “Other”

I recently read an op-ed from award-winning New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman. Mr. Friedman writes with penetrating insight as he relates to his reader that many in the Arab world have been influenced by what he calls “the narrative.” Here is his definition of this narrative which has affected much of the Arab and even the Muslim world:

“The Narrative is the cocktail of half-truths, propaganda and outright lies about America that have taken hold in the Arab-Muslim world since 9/11. Propagated by jihadist Web sites, mosque preachers, Arab intellectuals, satellite news stations and books — and tacitly endorsed by some Arab regimes — this narrative posits that America has declared war on Islam, as part of a grand ‘American-Crusader-Zionist conspiracy’ to keep Muslims down.” (Thomas L. Friedman: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/opinion/29friedman.html?_r=2&em)

In reading Mr. Friedman’s essay, I found myself nodding in agreement with his prognosis of this core defect in the Muslim world. This deceptive narrative forms an extensive web that has ensnared many in a self-perpetuating cycle of resentment towards the United States and other Western countries. While living in the Middle East I heard the narrative and I observed its impact in my travels to Muslim countries.

However, there is more to the story. Let’s call it a little lesson in “self-awareness.” Very simply, everyone lives out of some narrative. This is not a defect which is unique to the Muslim world but a reality common to all people and places. Every person on the face of the planet has a way of understanding the world, a worldview, if you will, that governs his or her interpretation of the surrounding world. I certainly do. I became much more aware of my narrative through my interaction with Muslim people. Self-awareness grows as we listen deeply to people with narratives different from our own. We become aware that our narrative has been fed by a wide array of social circumstances, religious convictions and cultural preferences. In fact, I would say that my narrative was a “cocktail of half-truths, propaganda and outright lies.” By intersecting with those whose narrative is vastly different from ours, our own narrative is refined.

Christ-followers should have little difficulty understanding that our narrative has been fed and influenced by false thinking. The pervasive effects of alienation from God (i.e. sin) continue to influence our thinking, feeling and acting. We need look no further than our interactions with those closest to us—family members—to see that we are still plagued by self-centeredness and self-preservation. If we are serious about following Christ, it won’t take long to understand that our narrative needs massive renovation if we are to be “conformed to the image of Christ.”

My plea is that we, as Christ-followers, would lead the way in seeking to understand the narrative of the Muslim peoples of the world. I suggest that rather than attempt to debunk it or critique it we simply listen to it deeply and empathetically. Some will read those lines and assume that I am asking them to “sell out” on their convictions. No. I am asking that we do exactly what Jesus asked the disciples to do in Samaria…to lift up their eyes…to get a new vision.

Yes, Muslim peoples are often (not always) quite suspicious of the intentions of the US to establish democracies in the Middle East or set up free market economies. They suspect that our real motivation is self-interest and a desire to secure our collective national interests. Are there reasons for their suspicion? Are there valid reasons why Muslims would feel that way about the US and the current military interventions in the world? In my opinion, one can honestly ask that question whether one is for or against those military interventions. The only requirement is the humility to attempt to see from the perspective of the other…in a word, to honor the other.

And why should Christ-followers lead the way in this refinement of narrative? Because our vital interests are not in military campaigns or economic systems. Our vital interests are in the Kingdom of Christ. Being conformed to the image of Christ is the transfer of our vital interests from ourselves and our false “saviors” to Him. If we fail to refine our own narrative, we will speak and live out of a false narrative—a self-centered one, the narrative we’ve imbibed from our culture. Seeking a Kingdom narrative requires a tenacious pursuit of Jesus’ motivations and values in a world that is running headlong in the opposite direction.

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit but in humility consider others more significant than yourselves.” (Phil 2:3)

Missing It

I live near the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. What a place! You can climb up Mt. LeConte and see for miles and miles…beautiful sculpted mountains, towering trees, wildlife as far as the eye can see. But to get the vision you have to ascend the mountain.


Most conversations I have about the Muslim world quickly descend into questions such as “do you think we should go into Afghanistan?” Or “will the military find Osama bin Laden?” And, like most, I could give you my opinion which is worth about what you’ll pay for it.

What if, we’re missing a vision…wandering in a misty lowland? What if?

The disciples were trapped. They had a whole assortment of preconceived notions about the Samaritans. Words such as “half-breeds, religious rejects, perverts” might have been echoing through the warehouses of their thought-life. “Lift up your eyes…” Jesus had a different perspective. His vision was elevated. He stood out and called out the disciples.

At various junctures throughout the history of Christian-Muslim interaction, Christians have had opportunity to demonstrate to the Muslim world what the Kingdom of God looks like. Personally, I don’t think we’ve done a very good job largely because our faith has often worn the garments of our national interests and assumed cultural supremacy. Despite that fact, today Muslims throughout the Muslim world are asking serious questions about their own faith. Many are seriously considering Christ for the first time. From what I have seen and what I can gather from others, there is a widespread attraction to Jesus in the Muslim world that is a unique occurrence in history. There are mass movements of Muslims turning to Christ in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Algeria and other unlikely places.

And you and I have a role to play even if we never go to those places. The church of Christ gives witness to her Lord through our attitudes and actions. What is echoing through the warehouses of our thought-life about the Muslim world? “They kill the innocent. They don’t even worship our God. They hate America.”

“Out of the treasure of the heart the mouth speaks.” Isn’t it time we lift up our eyes?

Here’s the burning question? Might it be that Christians in the West (North America and Western Europe) are overlooking one of our greatest opportunities in history? I am speaking of the opportunity to point the Muslim world in the direction of our Lord. Might we be so enmeshed in our national interests and cultural concerns that we can’t see what God is doing to bring thousands of Muslims to Himself? Are we missing it? And is our fear causing us to miss opportunities with Muslims in our cities and neighborhoods?

Fresh vision comes through elevating our vision. “Lift up your eyes…”

Is the Muslim world our Samaria?

We all know the story. Jesus went through Samaria not around it. He talked to the Samaritan woman, not over her. Is that all?

There’s a lot more to it. The Jews of Judah and the Samaritans were cooking up a centuries-old clash of civilizations. It started when Rehoboam declared himself to be a tougher taskmaster than his father Solomon. It deepened through the years of idolatrous worship of Baal and other deities. It passed through an exile to Assyria and intermittent waves of immigrants to repopulate Samaria. They brought their gods with them and their cultures. It all produced an amalgamation of cultures and religions that called itself Jewish when it pleased while it actually cut and pasted what suited it out of the Jewish faith. For instance, they changed the holy books. The prophets of Judah simply weren’t acceptable so they dropped those books. They had their own version of Moses’ books as well. They had even built their own “holy place” for worship. That’s why the woman asked Jesus if she should worship in Jerusalem or on Mt. Gerizim (the Samaritan holy place). Imagine that, rival holy places in the Middle East! Did I forget to mention that it was a Jewish ruler who destroyed the Samaritan’s temple? Yes, the deeply rooted, historical enmity between the Jews and Samaritans had exploded into armed conflict. The clash was so strong that the Rabbis of Judah had determined that to eat or drink from a Samaritan vessel rendered them ceremonially unclean. Translated that means “if you eat with one of those guys you can’t pray with us!” That didn’t seem to bother Jesus who wanted to drink from the Samaritan woman’s vessel? You would almost think he was trying to make himself unclean! Troublemaker. Conflict with its political, military, cultural and social roots went deep in the soil of Jewish-Samaritan relations—100’s of years deep.

Islam and the “Christian” West: Religious roots—Islam pays lip service to our Bible saying it contains three of the four holy books. However, Muslims commonly hold that the Bible has been corrupted by Christians and Jews. Jesus, a la Islam, was a great prophet, but not divine. Even though some passages of the Quran suggest he died on the cross, Muslims routinely deny his death and expressly deny its meaning.

Roots of Military conflict: From its birth, Islam advanced taking over Christian centers such as Alexandria, Damascus, Jerusalem and Carthage. Later Constantinople, the crown jewel of Christian civilization became the center of the Muslim world and home of its Caliph. As we speak, the birth and immigration rate of Muslims is changing the face of Europe. And Muslims see the West as meddling in the affairs of the Muslim world through two Gulf Wars and the present conflict in Afghanistan. 9/11, London, Madrid, Bali, Amman…need I say more?

Some label it a clash of civilizations. Maybe. I do know this: Jesus, whom we say we follow had a unique and counter-cultural response to the clash of civilizations of His day. He took a seat by a well, hung out there for a while and had a conversation. He delighted in it. “This is my food.” And he called those who followed Him to get on board with his fresh vision for a conflicted world: “Lift up your eyes.”