Let Me Walk With My Brother In Perfect Harmony

        Our Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service is the best attended event of the year at First Baptist Church on West Third Avenue.  It is also one of our most traditional services; little has changed over the past 30 years. But this year we did something different.  After the singing of Silent Night with lighted candles in the darkened sanctuary, I spoke of the darkness we have experienced in our world over the past few months as a result of terrorism.  Then I asked the worshipers to hold their candles high if they believe that light is greater than darkness and peace on earth is possible as we sang, “Let There Be Peace On Earth.”   Everyone did and it was a powerful moment.

        My greatest prayer as we enter 2016 is that we find peace on earth.  I realize that most people feel this is an impossible dream, but I have to believe it can happen.  If I truly believe that the light is greater than the darkness, that perfect love casts out fear, that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and that the Kingdom of God is love and peace, then I most also believe that peace is possible, yes it truly is!  But I also know that, as the song proclaims, it must begin with me. 

        What is the greatest threat to peace?  Most of us would quickly respond that it is the Islamic State commonly known as ISIS.  They want to establish an Islamic theocratic state and they also want to destroy all who would defy them.  Western values are an anathema to ISIS. There is no question that ISIS is our enemy and must be defeated.  But is ISIS our greatest threat?

        We will never find peace until we learn to value every human life and seek to understand and respect those who are different.  Anytime a person, a group, a religion, or any movement claims absolute truth and degrades, maligns, or vilifies those who have different views, peace will not be possible.   ISIS is a sick perversion of Islam.  ISIS does not represent the true spirit of the Islamic faith or the great majority of the Muslim people.  ISIS is our enemy; Islam is not. 

        Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and in the US.  At the present time approximately 31% of the world’s population is Christian and 24% is Muslim.  It is predicted that by the year 2050 the number of Muslims will equal the number of Christians.  If we are going to have peace on earth, I must first understand more than I now do about the Muslim faith and secondly, I must learn to respect them and live peaceably with them despite the fact I disagree with them.

        Let me be clear.  I am a Christian.  I am not a Jew.  I am not a Muslim.  But I have more in common with Jews and Muslims than I realize.  We all worship one God.  We have the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, and Moses in common.  We share many of the same values.  Muslims and Jews also believe that Jesus was a great prophet.  While I believe Jesus is the Son of God and Jesus provides the way to God, this does not mean that I condemn or demonize those of the Muslim faith who disagree with me. 

        What would Jesus have us do?  Jesus taught us to love our enemy, but does Islam have to be our enemy?   I think Jesus would want us to treat people of the Islamic faith with dignity and respect.  We should learn to how to talk with one another.  Christians need to learn about Islam and Muslims need to learn about Christianity.  We should focus on what we have in common.  But most of all we should be a Christian in our attitudes, our actions, and our relationships to the Muslim people.  I have no doubt that we will find that our Muslim neighbors want the same things we do in life.  We want to find fulfillment and happiness, we want to make a positive difference in the world, we want to honor God and serve him by serving others, and we want peace on earth and good will to all humanity. 

        As the song says, “With God as our Father, brothers all are we.  Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.  Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!”