My interest in Muslims...

In my post about the Holston Muslim Outreach Team, I said I would write about my interest in Muslims and why I would attend such a program.  It may seem strange to some that I am interested in learning more about Muslims because I don't speak Arabic (Spanish and French are my languages).

Here goes...

In undergraduate studies at Georgia Southern, I minored in International Studies.  I took courses that opened my awareness to "the other".  I also took my first trip abroad, to Spain, during my undergraduate studies.  Though we lived in Segovia for the majority of our time there, at the end of our studies we took a trip through southern Spain and into Ceuta, Morocco for the day.  Not only did I have book-learning of the Moors and their influence, I saw first hand the beauty of the culture in the tiles and archways in those places.

One of my linguist cousins (Frank) studied Arabic and spent some time in Yemen, so there was awareness in my life there, though I'm sure I could be much more aware and learn much more from him.  One summer when I was studying French at Middlebury College, he was teaching Arabic on campus (if memory serves me correctly).

During my years of teaching at Bryan College, I met missionary kids from other cultures.  One student in my French classes spoke Arabic.  I spoke no Arabic.  She had spent time in Saudi Arabia, I believe.  Oddly enough one day in our French 3 outing off campus, I thought I said something in French yet she thought she heard something in Arabic. 

I know one of the members of the Holston Muslim Outreach Team.  I have known Bex for many years.  We went to Costa Rica on at least one mission trip together.  Was that 2000 to La Suiza?  After her Costa Rica time, she went off to college and also spent time in the Philippines and Egypt.  We kept up with her adventures, travels, and studies through the years.  When she left for camel-land to learn Arabic, we were excited for her.  We kept in touch with her through those adventures too.  I have been able to learn about the Muslim people through her eyes and her voice and she shares her experiences and relationships. 

In 2011, I took a United Methodist Polity and Discipline course for my theological studies.  One of our assignments was that we had to first write an Issue/Controversy paper and then write a research paper on a controversial topic.  Because of what had happened fairly recently at that time in Murfreesboro, my topic for the first paper was "Opening UMC Doors to Muslims: Is This an Acceptable Practice?" and for my second paper the title was "Opening UMC Doors to Muslims: continuing the dialogue".  I found resources in my research within the United Methodist church that were helpful at the time.    One of those resources was from The Book of Resolutions, "Our Muslim Neighbors".  This was available in print in the 2008 version.  I'm not sure it is in print in the 2012 version, but you can read "Our Muslim Neighbors" online by clicking on either title.  The link will take you to an online version of the General Board of Church and Society.  It is 6061 in The Book of Resolutions (2008).

My research for those papers led me to discussions with the pastor in Cordova, Tennessee and to those who had worked with Muslims in other parts of the world.  This research had a profound effect on me as it opened my eyes.

The day before I was heading to the program to learn more about Muslims from the Muslim Outreach Team, an AT&T representative called me to try to convince me to change services.  We had a wonderful conversation.  This guy was new at his job, but was good.  He was personable, yet not pushy.  I enjoyed my conversation with him.  Normally I would have hung up much sooner after having said I wasn't interested.  But he kept me on the line.  I learned he was in Niagara, Canada.  Since I had been to the Canadian side of the falls, that interested me.  He mentioned his home was Sudan.  That peaked my interest.  I shared with him that I knew some about the country and the splits (the Methodist Church as the Children's home in Yei, South Sudan).  We talked some about his home area too.  He mentioned speaking Arabic.  I shared that I speak languages.  I told him I was going the next day to learn more about Muslims.  He seemed intrigued.  Was that coincidence or serendipity that I had this wonderful conversation with Amro the day before? 

The Muslim neighbor is my neighbor.  He or she may not live directly to my left or to my right, but I guarantee you that we shop at many of the same places and our children attend the same schools.  I may not even know this person, but if I want to be a neighbor to this person I see at the store or at the school, the more I know, the better.

In case you think I'm picking out one certain group from another, let me assure you that I realize that my "neighbor" is also of European descent, Native-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, ETC.  I hope "etc." will cover all the continents and countries... or I would be typing for a very long time.

My neighbor is anyone and everyone.  For me to know my neighbor means that I must be open to knowing my neighbor.  I must be open to having a conversation, to sharing life, to sharing a meal.  For me, this is what life is about.... sharing our lives with one another.  Getting to know one another.

It's about peace and reconciliation.  It's about loving and supporting one another.  It's about being intentional in taking and making time to get to know others.

In your world, in your community, in your neighborhood, who is it that you need to learn more about, to know better?   What resources do you need to guide you in your learning?

If you are seeking to know Muslims better and live in the Holston Conference, I encourage you to take advantage of the resources offered by the Muslim Outreach Team.

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

Additional resources/articles I found:

Supporting our Muslim Brothers and Sisters (article from a Northern Illinois church)
The Fountains UMC (an example of a church doing interfaith ministry, going beyond interfaith dialogue)
Bridge Refugee Services (an agency dedicated to helping refugees settle locally.  This is one way to help a neighbor.)
Bridge Chattanooga office

GBOD Resources-- Studies about Islam (There are quite a few resources listed here.)
Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships (Scroll down to download a brochure entitled "Basic Facts about Islam")

"Prophecy Fulfilled"--message prepared to give at White Oak UMC

I love snow!!  It was wonderful to wake up in my hometown to snow.  More and more snow came down as the morning continued.  I'll write more about that later.  I thought I'd share a message I wrote for today.  I had been asked to speak at a local church as a Lay Speaker for today, but because of inclement weather, the majority of local churches were cancelled for today.  Here is the message.

“PROPHECY FULFILLED”

White Oak United Methodist Church, Red Bank

December 26, 2010

Matthew 2:13-23 (New International Reader’s Version) [this version is based on the NIV, but has been adapted for easier reading and comprehension]

¹³ When the Wise Men had left, Joseph had a dream. In the dream an angel of the Lord appeared to him. "Get up!" the angel said. "Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you to come back. Herod is going to search for the child. He wants to kill him."

 ¹⁴ Joseph got up. During the night, he left for Egypt with the child and his mother Mary. ¹⁵ They stayed there until King Herod died. So the words the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true. He had said, "I chose to bring my son out of Egypt."—(Hosea 11:1)

 ¹⁶ Herod realized that the Wise Men had tricked him. So he became very angry. He gave orders concerning Bethlehem and the area around it. All the boys two years old and under were to be killed. This agreed with the time when the Wise Men had seen the star.

 ¹⁷ In this way, the words the prophet Jeremiah spoke came true. He had said,

 ¹⁸ "A voice is heard in Ramah.
      It's the sound of crying and deep sadness.
   Rachel is crying over her children.
      She refuses to be comforted,
   because they are gone." —(Jeremiah 31:15)

     ¹⁹ After Herod died, Joseph had a dream while he was still in Egypt. In the dream an angel of the Lord appeared to him. ²⁰ The angel said, "Get up! Take the child and his mother. Go to the land of Israel. Those who were trying to kill the child are dead."

 ²¹ So Joseph got up. He took the child and his mother Mary back to the land of Israel. ²² But then he heard that Archelaus was king of Judea. Archelaus was ruling in place of his father Herod. This made Joseph afraid to go there.

   Warned in a dream, Joseph went back to the land of Galilee instead. ²³ There he lived in a town called Nazareth. So what the prophets had said about Jesus came true. They had said, "He will be called a Nazarene."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This morning, I want us to try to get an inside look at this story, to try to put ourselves into the story, and then to figure out where we are in the overall story.

Today is December 26^th, the first day of Christmas.  We’re reading that the Wise Men had just left.  But in our calendar, they haven’t even come yet.  They’re not scheduled to come until January 6^th, Epiphany.   The twelve days of Christmas and Epiphany are two whole other discussions we could have, so I’d better stick to today’s Scripture.

Let’s get the setting:  the wise men (the magi) have been to visit the Christ child.  They brought him gifts (frankincense, gold, myrrh).  Where we come into the story today, they have left the scene.  After they left, Joseph had a dream.  This is not the first time Joseph has gotten a message in a dream.  Earlier in Matthew we are told that Joseph learned in a dream that the child Mary was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was to be named “Immanuel”.  (see Matthew 1:20-24)

This time, in Joseph’s dream, he is told to flee, to escape to Egypt with his family, for their safety.  Joseph got up, got his family ready and left.  Joseph obeyed.  He didn’t question the authority of the dream.  He trusted what he heard based on previous experience.  He got up from his sleep, he awakened his family, and took off for Egypt.  I think most fathers would relate to the protective nature of Joseph.  He is going to take care of his family.  What amazes me besides his obedience, however, is his faith.  To our knowledge, Joseph doesn’t have contacts in Egypt.  Herod is after his child, so there is no time to search for places to stay along the route via priceline.com or desertinns.org.  Joseph must simply go.  And he does.  Joseph and his family get to Egypt and stay there until King Herod dies.

While they were still in Egypt, Joseph has another dream.  This dream tells him that Herod is dead and it is now safe to return to the land of Israel.  So, Joseph gets up, gets his family and heads back.  But he hears that Archelaus was the king of Judea.  He ruled for 10 years after his father’s death.  (Thayer’s Lexicon) Joseph was afraid to go where Archelaus was. 

Joseph had another dream.  In this dream he was warned to not go back to Judea where Archelaus ruled, but rather to Galilee.  [Just to help us out geographically, Judea is a region of southern Palestine and Galilee is a region of northern Palestine.]  Joseph settled with his family in the town of Nazareth, which is in lower Galilee, and about a three day’s journey from Jerusalem. (Thayer’s Lexicon) [“Three day’s journey in this reference didn’t explain by which mode of transportation.  Further research reveals Nazareth to be about 65 miles from Jerusalem.]

As with Joseph’s obedience to all of his dreams, this fulfilled prophecy.  Joseph paid attention to the dreams and obeyed what he was told to do.  Each time, he took “the next step”. 

When I look at Joseph, I see him as a hero.  He saved his family.  I doubt Joseph would have considered himself a hero, especially not as he was fleeing his country with his family, not knowing where he was going to stay or how he was going to provide for his family.   As I read through the Scriptures and through other materials, it struck me that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were refugees.

One definition of “refugees” that I found mentioned refugees to be “ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances”.  In addition, a refugee is someone who is outside the country of his nationality due to fear of being persecuted.  In Joseph and Mary’s case, the fear was that Herod was going to kill their son, Jesus.  The threat was real.  And, in fact, Herod gave orders for all boys two years and under to be killed.  Fleeing to Egypt and seeking safety there was what the family had to do.

This got me thinking.  And thinking can be dangerous.  I thought about those today who flee their homelands out of fear.  Some of those people seek safety throughout the world. Some of those people seek safety here in the United States.  Some of those seek refuge here in Chattanooga.

I want to share a little bit from a story with you about refugees in Sudan, in Darfur.  These words are from a friend of mine who currently lives and serves as a missionary over there in “Camel Land”. 

there are a lot of refugees in sudan - and a lot in darfur.  something
that sticks out to me among refugees is attitude.  there are those who
have lost children and families and came to the idp (internally
displaced persons) camps and immediately began to find work and provide
for their families and never ever complain (almost to the point of not
even acknowledging the huge loss/change that occurred in their lives).
and there are others who came to idp camps and just sat on the ground
and waited to be given food.  in other words they became victims.  and i
think that there are times that everyone needs help and support, but
there is a difference between accepting help and taking on the role of a
victim.  and i know women who have faced horrible things, who daily
struggle to provide for their families, and they never look back and
they would never consider themselves victims of the war in darfur.  it
would never occur to them to feel sorry for themselves.  rather they
accept this as something that the lord has brought into their lives and
they will (blindly) trust him and follow him and just deal with the
situation and never look back at what could have/should have been.

This past week, in Wednesdays’ paper, there was an article about a refugee from Cuba and his family settling in our area, in Hixson.  The article was about their struggles in their home country, their adaptations to their new life here, and about being recipients of the “neediest cases fund”.  The reason they left Cuba?  “to live freely and express themselves without fear.”

Now, let’s get back to Joseph and his family.  They fled to Egypt.  They were refugees in Egypt.  I wonder how the folks in Egypt treated Joseph and his family? 

Let’s put ourselves into the story.  We’ve already thought about ourselves from Joseph’s point of view (if we are fathers).  Let’s think about ourselves as Egyptians.  We’re in our town and this family of three shows up from Israel.  They look a little different from us, they speak a little different from us (though we might understand some of what they say if they speak a common trade language).  How would we have responded to Joseph, Mary, and Jesus as they sought to navigate our town?

How do we treat those seeking refuge?

In the United Methodist Church, we have the General Board of Global Ministries, better known by its initials GBGM).  On their website, one of the areas of ministry is “Immigration/Refugees”. 

From the website, here is some information about the Refugee Sponsorship Program: “Today United Methodists can embody gospel hospitality by reaching out to refugees coming to the United States. Refugee families struggle to make a new start and recover from the losses they have suffered as a result of their flight for survival. The church community, supported by UMCOR, can ease the way.”  As United Methodists, we support UMCOR through our conference askings, the apportionments we pay.

If you’re not aware, there is an organization in town called “Bridge Refugee and Sponsorship Services”.  They actively seek to help refugees settle, provide them with interpreters, sponsors, and case management.  I’ve heard about “Bridge” for several years, but I haven’t worked with them.  I have met a few folks that do.  They do important work.  Maybe some of you know more than I do and have even volunteered with the organization.  The article I mentioned about the refugee from Cuba referenced this organization as it helped this family settle and find employment.  For those who would like to know more, they have good information on their website about what they do here in Chattanooga, what churches sponsor them, etc. 

There are also other organizations in town that help immigrants that have come to live here.  Among them are La Paz de Dios and the St. Andrews Center.  The St. Andrews Center houses a variety of organizations and ministries and is affiliated with the Chattanooga District UMC.

But, what if helping immigrants and refugees isn’t what God has given us to do?  Then, I’d say that we need to prayerfully consider what aspect of “the least, the last, the lost” God has given us to help.  There are other options: helping the homeless, the hungry, the orphans, the widowed, etc.

In Matthew 25, there is a Kingdom story where Jesus teaches the disciples that whoever they help out in need, they are helping Him.  They didn’t get it.   They didn’t see Jesus hungry, thirsty or in any other kind of need.  If they had, they would have met his need. 

Charlie Brown got it.  I recently found The Parables of PEANUTS by Robert Short.  I have learned much about life from cartoons and collect strips that contain some sort of life message.  Charles M. Schulz has entertained and taught us.  In this particular cartoon strip, Violet is observing Charlie Brown looking at a birdhouse he is holding.  He says: “This birdhouse is going to be for sparrows only!”  She responds: “For sparrows? Nobody builds birdhouses for sparrows Charlie Brown…”  He replies: “I do!”  And in the last frame, as he is walking off, he says: “I always stick up for the underbird!” 

Charlie Brown sticks up for the “underbird”.  What Jesus is asking of us in Matthew 25, throughout his teachings and ministry is that we meet the needs of all--that we “stick up for the underbird”.  

Who is the “underbird “that Jesus is asking you, me to help?  Joseph stuck up for his family, Charlie Brown stuck up for the sparrows.

One of my favorite passages is Micah 6:8, because for me it sums up how I’m to live, how I want to live. 

Micah 6:8 (NIV)

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
   And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
   and to walk humbly with your God.

And just to hear a slightly different version:

Micah 6:8 (New International Reader’s Version)

“ The Lord has shown you what is good.
      He has told you what he requires of you.
   You must treat people fairly.
      You must love others faithfully.
   And you must be very careful to live
      the way your God wants you to.

What about you?  What about me?

How can we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God?

What is God calling us to do in the wake of the birth of the Christ child?

May we, like Joseph, obey.

Amen.

BENEDICTION:

May we be guided by the Holy Spirit to follow the way of Christ so that all may recognize Christ in us and experience Christ’s love through us.

AMEN.