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Let’s step over the threshold of “stalemate” and create new stories, says Samir Selmanovic, in an interview with ThinkFWD host, Spencer Burke. Selmanovic’s book, It’s really all about God, was born out his faith journey that began with childhood in a Muslim family where belief in God was considered a crutch, although the traditional religious holy days and celebrations were observed. When he became a Christian, he was expelled from his home and spent two years sleeping on the couches of church members who took him in. He confesses he spent many years stridently arguing for the “rightness” of his particular religious beliefs—“My beliefs are true; yours are not.”
Today, Samir encourages us to rethink our faith and move from “It’s all about me.” to “It’s all about God.” Muslim, atheist, Jew –these are adjectives to the name “Christian,” he says. Samir is part of a gathering called Faith House which invites the community to share a common space (a living room) and experience their neighbor’s faith. All of our different faiths, and the different “mysteries” that each of us are, affect each other. Learning about my neighbor’s faith and experience, allows me to see new beauty, and poses questions that help me deepen and broaden my faith.
We need to encounter brothers, neighbors, even strangers of different faiths. We need a perspective that says, “There must be more about you, about others, than just to serve MY story.” Samir says, “I cannot argue for the absence of grace and say that YOUR story must be a lie for mine to be true. We are called to judge things by their fruit. Take a close look at our theology and if it sounds reprehensible, then we need to admit that.”
For Samir, humility and hospitality IS the doctrine, the dogma, and to practice it is to go deeper, not to water down, our faith. Christianity exists to serve the Kingdom of God, not the other way around. Look around you, says Samir. The Kingdom of God is here—enter it!
Personal Reflections
How do I view the religion or spirituality of others? As walls and fences to protect or doors, windows and bridges so that I’m not isolated?
How can I begin to view questions from other religions or faiths as beautiful gifts to be given and received?
Small Group Questions
As a community, how can we develop the key Christian character identities of humility and hospitality?
Do we find ourselves defending God, or developing the Kingdom of God?
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July 13th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I am trying to subscribe via itunes and am not getting any feeds (past or present).
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:14 pm
In a recent letter to my brother, I rejected the idea of being labeled a “theist”, and told him I would prefer “Christian atheist, studying Islamic truths and customs”. I was intrigued by the combination of labels on your book cover, and have rejoiced at every word that I read in your description of prophets and religion. In 2008, I managed to publish my novel “Book 67, Book of Unspin” with Holy Fire Publishing, and continue to write Letters to our local newspaper here in Port Hardy, British Columbia. My whole ambition for writing is fueled by disgust at the use and misuse of words like “economy”, “spiritual battle”, “Church” and “Peace Plans”, etc.. My last article argued that if the Imam could join with the Christian community and Jewish community to finance and operate the proposed Activity center in the Ground Zero neighborhood, it might have the equal and opposite effect of the original attack.
July 28th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
–We need to encounter brothers, neighbors, even strangers of different faiths.
True. We need to encounter them, just like the church in Acts did, telling them to repent of worshiping false gods and demons, when they should be worshiping the true God.
–Take a close look at our theology and if it sounds reprehensible, then we need to admit that.”
And…it isn’t. There is nothing reprehensible in the sacrifice of Christ for the sins of those who will repent and put their faith in him. There is much reprehensible in someone thinking he is so much smarter than God that he thinks himself able to tell those who have no faith in God that they are ok with God.
The truth may be hard, but it is not reprehensible. Lies, no matter how outwardly beautiful, are always vile and ugly.
September 7th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
everyone would love to be debt free and have some financial freedom then become rich**