One problem with interfatih dialogue is that the invitation can be missing, and also the explanation of what happens to the rejector, and the acceptor, of the invitation can also be missing. In contrast to this, when God gives his messages (compare the local preacher to the true prophets of God), He makes them clear, and explains fully the consequences of both belief and rejection. His messengers are given authority by Him to do this, and are given assistance by him to do this. Praise be to our creator! How kind He is to us.

God doesn’t need to dialogue with us. He says, and we listen. It’s not a much of a dialogue. He has the right to accept or reject our prayers. We need Him, He doesn’t need us.

So these days, an interfaith dialogue is not always a true reflection of the kind of meeting that God has ordered, because the so-called ‘dialogue’ may or may not include the invitation to accept the understanding that comes forth, and it may or may not mention the rewards of belief and the consequences of disbelief. I think there are other hindrances too, but for now I want to mention this one.

However, if you take out the middle man, the religious fervent, and get to the nitty gritty, which is in the scripture, you can see that God presents his revelations and other signs to us and then He invites us to believe, and He notifies us of the benefits of belief and the drastic consequences of disbelief. This occurs in the following example:

Alif Lam Mim.

Say to those who do not believe: “Soon will ye be vanquished and gathered together to Hell, - an evil abode indeed!”

[Qur’an 3:1-12]

Note in the passage how the people are compared to the people of Pharaoh. It mentions that the people of Pharaoh had been in sin, but had not yet been requited for that sin, yet once their messenger came, i.e, Moses, and the scriptures show that by God’s leave he gave plenty of chances to believe, once that had happened then the right to punish was upon the almighty. Without a messenger He does not punish us for our sins.

The Qur’an contains signs for believers and for all mankind. Who will see the signs? The above also mentions this. ‘Only those of understanding’ , it says above. So how kind is out Lord, that He has also given us a prayer that the people of the book can use in order to be guided further, in order to be among those who are of understanding, as in the above text where it says: “Our Lord! Let our hearts not deviate after you have guided us...”

Glory be to our Lord.

Sebastian Reed, of the followers of Mohammad.
.

What do you mean, one problem?

Glory be to our Lord.

Yes, indeed, glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ.

“(We believe) in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.”

This we maintain in any interfaith dialogue without any wavering.

Hurrah for David Palmer ...at least you take out the Church..as we have different perceptions. True inter-faith dialogue can only be based on honesty.

One problem with interfatih dialogue is that the invitation can be missing, and also the explanation of what happens to the rejector, and the acceptor, of the invitation can also be missing.

Surely this is up to the context and the personal preference of the dialoguees? If I was involved in any inter-faith dialogue I would make the Gospel very clear, which includes both of the above.

I live in an area of Sydney where these Interfaith dialogue meetings have been happening frequently.  First you will find that Christian literature is not allowed to be handed out to any of the participants.  The meeting tends to be filled with rent-a-crowd of non-Christians who have no intention of listening.  When the Christian speaks he is often drowned out by noise from the rent-a-crowd mob.  The non-Chrisitan speakers just dismiss any logical or well argued points of the Christian Speaker with almost total illogical replies.

Nothing changes, no one gets to hear about Jesus because that topic is banded or drowned out by jeers from the crowd.  You can’t challenge the other mobs faith or you will be sued.  Basically if you’ve seen the crowd ratio you really wouldn’t make it out of the meeting unscathed to say the least.

The local Newspaper praises the other mob and tell us how wonderful the meeting went in building tolernace and understanding between religious and national communities in the area. (Yeah Right!)

So I’m not sure what meetings you have attended, but that has been my experience.  My hubby & I have come to the conclusion that non-Christians who attend are not there to learn anything about us, just to let us know they are there and they have the numbers. 

Without willing hearts to seek for the True God no one can understand what is being shared with them.  It is a spiritual warfare we are in.  They need to have their spiritual eyes & ears opened.  These Interfaith meetings are often just political tools.  If you want people of other faiths to come to Jesus you need to pray and be prepared to share the gospel with them one on one when God gives you the opportunity, at the shops, at work or whatever. 

JN 6:43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

MT 13:15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’

Just out of interest Milica, what were hoping to achieve through attending the interfaith gathering session?

My hubby & I have come to the conclusion that non-Christians who attend are not there to learn anything about us, just to let us know they are there and they have the numbers.

Hi Milica,

That is not an uncommon experience from what I’ve heard and read over the years. And it’s not just a local experience here in Australia - it happens all over the world.

‘Numbers’ can be deceiving too. In street demonstrations, for example, you might have a few hundred - or even a few thousand - turn up to promote their particular stance - whilst the ‘silent’ and ‘absent’ majority are not able to be seen in their tens of thousands and their millions. It’s all about perception and appearances for the media’s “30 second TV news film grab” - and seeking for the LCD approach - the ‘lowest common denominator’ as to what we might have ‘in common’ rather than to explore our differences, some of which are immense and contrary.

Cheers, Kevin

Joshua Aldersley - 12 October 2008 05:17 PM

Just out of interest Milica, what were hoping to achieve through attending the interfaith gathering session?

Not sure, we found out about them by seeing an Advert for the first meeting through the Local Newspaper.  We are not members of the several Churches whose Pastors/Minsiters who were involved in the InterFaith meeting organisation.

Nothing was handed out, as to what would be discussed.  I can only tell you what the Advert said, which from memory was something like “a gathering between religious leaders to discuss differences and foster understanding and tolerance”. 

Can’t tell you anything beyond that.

Milica Cook - 12 October 2008 07:19 PM

Can’t tell you anything beyond that.

Surely you must have some idea. Were you interested in learning about the religious beliefs and practices of others? Were you seeking to proselytise non-Christians? Did they offer a free halal and kosher barbeque that enticed you?

to discuss differences and foster understanding and tolerance

Yes that’s the PC code-word phrase for it - we have to learn to ‘tolerate’ what others have to say - and they ‘understand’ why they are intolerant of what we have to say.

From the last paragraph of the opening post we read :

So how kind is our Lord, that He has also given us a prayer that the people of the book can use in order to be guided further, in order to be among those who are of understanding

In other words Christians and Jews need to become Muslims according to this point of view. There seems to be a one-way street on ‘fostering understanding’ being practised here.

Joshua

Not born yessterday.  Find someone else that will debate with you.

Milica Cook - 12 October 2008 07:42 PM

Joshua

Not born yessterday.  Find someone else that will debate with you.

I’m sorry, but I don’t exactly understand. I thought my question to be most reasonable. Could you please tell me what objection you have to my question?

Hi Joshua,

I see you have returned. Why not give Milica a break and respond to the challenge of my post here?

O people of the book! Mohammad is a messenger of God. O people of the book! Come to a common word between us and you.

At the website http://www.acommonword.com/ there is a basic message from Muslims to Christians. Praise be to God. He will judge between his servants on the day of accountability. His judgement will be fair.

Mohammad is a messenger from the almighty, bringing a reminder to the believers, and following in the path of the other messengers. Glory be to God! He has not taken a son.

If I lie, the sin is upon me, and if I’m telling the truth, what will you do when you are asked about it by the almighty? God knows, so ask Him if you are willing to be guided by Him. Surely, He knows the secrets of the heacens and the earth. Surely, He knows if He has any children or not.

Sebastian Reed
23/148 Regent St.
Redfern NSW 2016

Ph. 9310 4550 (w)

Milica Cook - 12 October 2008 01:12 PM

First you will find that Christian literature is not allowed to be handed out to any of the participants. 

Milica, were the other faiths permitted to hawk their literature? Or was there an official stand where literature could be obtained and they just did not want literature being passed out informally?

Eric.