Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, begins for
Muslims in the U.S. today. During Ramadan, Muslims fast (no food or drink) from
dawn to sunset. This is challenging under the best of circumstances, but even
more difficult considering the heat wave that most of the United States is
facing right now. Join me in praying for
those who are practicing the spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer for
the next 30 days.
…Christians should always expect, not only to teach, but also to learn in their encounters with adherents of other religions. Yet we often find it very difficult both to teach and to learn. Sometimes we become so driven to challenge people with the gospel and to call them to repentance that we fail to see the remarkable ways in which the Holy Spirit is already at work in their lives and even in aspects of their religious heritage. The result is a self-righteous posture that does little to commend the gospel winsomely…. We have a wonderful gift to offer in the life-giving power of the gospel. But we can also learn from other religions. The artistry of faithful witness is to learn how to do both together.(From “The Crucified One is Lord: Confessing the Uniqueness of Christ in a Pluralistic World” approved by the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America in 2000)
