LIVING IN UNITY

TODAY: A century ago, the “aha” moment for British philanthropist George Moore was his discovery of the essential link between faith and deeds. It inspired him to begin years of public philanthropy. He also inscribed his calendar each year with these words: “What I spent, I had. What I saved, I lost. What I gave, I have.”

Our adult Sunday school class is discussing difficult questions. Because of the nature of the questions, there’s never complete consensus or resolution. But that’s not the point. The value lies in the discussion … the insights gained … the “aha” moments.

One discussion that gave me such a moment focused on other religions. (Are we the one true way to heaven? Is it our responsibility to convert others? Is there truth in other religions? Are all monotheistic religions basically valid and the same as ours?) I related a brief story of my experience with the Refugee Resettlement Board, which includes people from various faiths. We always open and close meetings in prayer. All of us, whether Christian, Baha’i, Muslim, Zoroastrian, etc., pray together. When Khosrow, a wonderful and devout Baha’i, or Rod, an equally devout Catholic, prays, it feels right. I feel very close to God no matter who is leading the prayer.

After relating this to the class, I described that feeling of “rightness.” It was what we pray in the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.” That experience is for me the closest thing to heaven that I will experience here on earth. All God’s children coming together to do the work He calls us to do, which is to care for others. As the song says, “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.”

I get it, but I don’t. I understand, but I don’t. How can I know that Jesus is truly the Son of God, yet at the same time know that those who don’t believe that can have a valid and true faith in God? It’s a mystery, not unlike the Trinity, for me. Ask me to explain it, and I can’t. But that doesn’t negate the fact that that is truth to me.

I know that worshipping with those from other faiths does not diminish my faith or religion. In fact, it nurtures it. I am proud to represent Christianity at that table and can only pray that I represent it in a way that God will one day say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And maybe that’s just the point. The best thing we can do as Christians (or any other faith) is to focus on our relationship with God and try to live that life “worthy of the calling to which we have been called.”

— Joyce Lynn

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist