Last October a group of 138 muslim clerics compiled a quite lengthy document entitled, “A Common Word Between Us and You,” in which they outlined what they believed to be some core common ground between Christianity and Islam. Essentially it says that because both Islam and Christianity (and Judaism, by the way) are called to “love god and love neighbor” that we should extend this hand of mutual love and pursue peace and justice between these two religious communities that make up over half of the world’s population. This lengthy document (available here) was sent to many leaders in the broad Christian community (including the Pope, and many prominent liberal and evangelical leaders and pastors).

In response to this open letter The Yale Divinity School’s Center for Faith and Culture put together another document: “Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to A Common Word Between Us and You.” The most sweeping publication of this response was a paid advertisement in the November 18th edition of the New York Times (you can view the advertisement with signatures here). This letter was endorsed by over 300 Christian leaders including…

• Rick Warren, Author and Pastor, Saddleback Comm Church
• Bill Hybles, Author and Pastor, Willow Creek Comm Church
• Robert Schuller, Author and Pastor, The Crystal Cathedral
• John Stott, Rector Emeritus, All Souls Church, London
• Robert Cooley, Pres. Emeritus, Gordon-Conwell Seminary
• Micheal Treneer, International President, The Navigators
• David Neff, Editor in Chief, Christianity Today
• Duane Litfin, President, Wheaton College
• Lynn Green, Int’l Chairman, Youth With a Mission
• Lieth Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals
• Brian McLaren, Author, leader in the in the Emerging Church movement
• Roy Oksnevad, Director of Muslim Ministry at the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism

It included countless signatories from liberal institutions like Fuller Seminary, Princeton, Harvard and Yale, as well as endorsements from professors at evangelical schools like Bethel Seminary (4), Biola University (2), Regent College (1), New Orleans Baptist Seminary (1), and Wheaton College (although later editions have Dr. Litfin’s name removed).

My first objection to the so-called Christian response involves what I would describe as a misplaced attempt at reconciliation (even if it is sincere). These Christian leaders say: “we want to begin by acknowledging that in the past (e.g. in the Crusades) and in the present (e.g. in excesses of the ‘war on terror’) many Christians have been guilty of sinning against our Muslim neighbors. Before we ’shake your hand’ in responding to your letter, we ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world.” This confession and apology is gravely misplaced, given the fact that the Crusades were carried out by the apostate and heretical Roman Catholic church, and the current “war on terror” involves the actions of civil governments, not the Christian church (and if one thing is sure, there is a clear separation between the state and the church).

They do say that the “tensions, conflicts, and even wars in which Christians and Muslims stand against each other are not primarily religious in character.” The fact of the matter is that “Christians,” as the corporate body of Christ, are not involved in any such tension, conflict or war. Therefore, it is not fitting to EVER ask forgiveness in some corporate sense. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting…but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (John 18:36). Biblical Christianity has NEVER sought to create converts by force. It is completely contrary to the mission of Jesus Christ in this age. Any Christian who is involved in the current “war on terror” (e.g. believing military personnel) does so as a representative of the state, not as a representative of the church.

We Christians are involved in a war, and the battle is raging. But it is a war for the truth concerning the nature of God, the person of Jesus Christ and the essentials of the gospel message. These kinds of appeals, from leaders on both sides of the Christianity/Islam aisle, do nothing but further confuse what are the truly essential issues. Love for God cannot be “common ground” if the parties disagree about the identity and nature of God Himself. Jesus Christ is God! If Muslims do not love Jesus Christ AS GOD, then we cannot share this common love they speak of.

Should we all show love, kindness, mutual respect and gentleness to one another, Christian and Muslim alike? Absolutely. But this mutual respect for one another, while perhaps fostering an atmosphere of peace, will never end the real tension that exists. That is because the REAL tension involves the nature of God, truth, and the gospel–and about this there can NEVER be real agreeement between Christianity and Islam.

In this embedded video, I believe John Piper expresses passionately and articulately what the real concerns and issues are in these statements, as well as what our attitude and response should be. Not only does this video express an excellent response to these issues in particular, I also want to encourage you to read another article by Piper, which gives an excellent list of general principles for how christians should relate to those of other faiths. I encourage you to read it carefully.

When prominent Christian leaders endorse such watered-down statements of truth (as in “A Christian Response…”), they muddy theological waters, encourage compromise, and confuse the real issue of gospel truth for Christians already wrestling with a weakened ability to discern truth from error. Yes…you should love your neighbor! And Christian leaders should gracefully admonish Christians to love their muslim neighbors. But PLEASE do not combine this obligation to love our enemy with this kind of watering-down of truth–watered down to the point where the gospel is of no real effect, and the saving message of God is not held out as the one great need of every Muslim. Christians do not need to find some false notion of common ground to proclaim to Muslims that this is truly their great need–to embrace Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and their only hope of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins.

Brian Sayers