Prayer Wars - This Christian's Perspective on the Mulsim Prayer Rally

I don't understand why Christians should be worried about Muslims praying "for reconciliation" in Washington D.C. From a Christian and missions perspective, this is a huge step in dialog with Muslims around the world. Here is a group of people who have been caricatured time and again by American Christians in particular. Islam is not a "hate" or "war" religion, it is a religion about personal salvation, humility, and spiritual commitment. I think Christianity could be described in those terms as well.

"Wait, Wait, Wait!" you tell me, "Christianity is not a religion!" Ok, what is a religion? I would call a religion the practice of a belief system. Miriam-Webster calls it "a particular system of faith and worship" and "a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance." With that definition, most Americans practice materialism and worship money. Some people worship science and some people worship an invisible god(s). Paul Tillich said that our god is our ultimate concern. If our ultimate concern is Jesus Christ, we worship him. If our concern is money, that is our god. Within this framework, Christianity is a religion. Religion is not a bad thing and Christians need to be able to embrace this concept if they are going to be able to honestly interact with cultures and religions around the world.

I will not make an exhaustive comparison of Islam and Christianity, but Christians should recognize that right now, there are Muslims who are seeking reconciliation and are praying for us to seek the same. If I were in the capitol on September 25th, I would make an effort to not pray against the Muslims, but to join them in prayer. America's hands are just as bloody as anyone else's in the world, the difference is, we have a large professional military while many other countries still have citizen soldiers.

Christians, pray not in opposition, but in the spirit of peace. Racism and religionism has not place in the Kingdom of God. Be the voice of peace and love in the world, not division and hate. Just LOVE!