The Fullnes of Life Chapter 5

Spanning the

divide By Ian Maher

Scripture

Matthew 15:22-28

The fullness of life | 37

Let’s Focus:Evangelism through conversation and dialogue

There was a time when it would have been necessary forChristians to travel overseas to meet significant groups ofpeople belonging to other faiths, but that is no longer thecase. Population and travel patterns have changed so thatliving and working alongside people with diverse religiousbeliefs and practices is becoming commonplace, particularlyin our large towns and cities. This presents to Christians theopportunity of communicating the good news to followers ofdifferent religions in a way that is respectful of their beliefsand practices, yet faithful to the call to be witness to God'slove for the world as revealed through Jesus Christ.

A good starting point for sharing good news in a multifaithsociety is to get to know, for example, your Muslim or Hinduneighbour along the street. The common identity as people offaith will usually make it quite straightforward to begin discussionabout matters of faith and belief.

On the basis of such relationships it then becomes possible tocreate opportunities for Christians and people of other faiths tomeet together and discuss their beliefs and practices with eachother in more depth. Meetings could cover particular topicssuch as beliefs about God, prayer, peace and justice, the placeof Scripture, etc.

Initially such meetings could be informal gatherings in people'shomes and they work best on the basis of existing friendships.Then, if there is sufficient interest they could be moved to a

38 | The fullness of life

larger venue - either in a neutral venue or alternating betweenthe buildings of those involved in the discussion - perhaps with apanel discussion. Clearly it would be important for the leadershipof the religions to be supportive of any such initiative in order toavoid misunderstandings occurring. But if Christians are up frontabout their desire to talk about their faith in Jesus, yet genuinelyopen also to hear about what makes the followers of otherreligions tick, suspicions can be overcome and the way fordialogue opened up.

Sometimes, the barriers that exist between Christians andpeople of other faiths are caused by misinformation and secondor third-hand accounts of what the other believes. So the bestway to discover what a Christian believes is to talk to aChristian; to find out about Islam talk to a Muslim, and so on.Every such encounter provides an opening to make the goodnews of Jesus known.


Let’s Reflect:The gospel story of the Canaanite woman draws attention to the way inwhich Jesus approached people of other faiths. She was not only fromoutside of the covenant community, i.e. not an Israelite, but belonged toa religious tradition with which the people of Israel had long beenopposed. It was, in fact, the Canaanites who were driven out by theIsraelites when they entered their promised land.

In this story, both the action of the Canaanite woman and the responseof Jesus are significant in helping us consider how Christians shouldconduct themselves in their encounter with people of other faiths. Thewoman saw that there was something about Jesus that set him apart, somuch so that she felt compelled to approach Him about the plight of herdaughter who was possessed by a demon. The fact that she came froma different religious starting point was of secondary importance to her andshe cried out 'Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David' (Mt. 15.22). Herreligious boundary was not so rigid that it prevented her from seeing Godas present and at work beyond it.

It is true to say that all of the world's major religions hold Jesus in highesteem. Their theological interpretations of Jesus differ considerably butvery few religious believers will be dismissive of Him, and that provides animportant platform for discussion and dialogue. Members of otherreligions will often be more open to talk withChristians about Jesus thanpeople of no faith, andsometimes more ready to talkabout him than is the casebetween Christians.

Going back to the story, Jesusresponded to the woman's pleaby saying that his calling wasinitially to the lost sheep of the


house of Israel and then, rather harshly, that it was not fair to take the children'sfood and throw it to the dogs. In Jesus' day, as is still the case in the Middle-East, to call someone a dog was the harshest of insults. It was an unpleasantbut commonly used term by groups who despised each other. That wascertainly the case between Jews and Canaanites. So we see the human Jesusvery much embedded within the culture of his day, making use of that term in asociety devoid of the political correctness which is to the fore in our own. Usingsuch terminology was simply the done thing.

Maybe that is why the woman was, apparently, undaunted by the commentfrom Jesus. She persisted and Jesus ended up by commending her for her faithand telling her that her daughter was healed. Jesus saw beyond the boundariesof his Jewish identity and recognised the depth of faith within this 'outsider'. Thiscould well have been a significant moment in Jesus' ministry when, in Hishumanity, he recognised that His mission was in fact to the whole of humanityand not just to the people of Israel. Notice too, that there is nothing in the storyto suggest that Jesus then sought to distance the woman from her ownreligious tradition. He simply responded with compassion to the need thatshe presented.

In fact, throughout the gospels Jesus appears to be far more concerned withthe intention and sincerity of a person's heart than in the outward trappings ofreligious observance. He looks beyond the external forms of religion to its veryheart and the longing for relationship with God. And therein lies the clue toconstructive encounter between people of other religions. If instead ofdismissing people of other faiths as mistaken or deluded (as is the attitude ofsome Christians) they are seen as people genuinely seeking to serve God in theirlives, an exciting platform of opportunity opens up to share what we know ofGod through Jesus.

God's love knows no boundaries and is at work in the world beyond theconfines of the Christian faith. We cannot draw our own limits around God'sgrace and mercy, which extends to every man, woman and child created inGod's image. To do so is to turn God into an idol of our own making. What wecan do is declare gracefully, but boldly, through our words and deeds, our faithin the God revealed in Jesus so that, like the Canaanite woman, people of otherfaiths might come to recognise him as their Lord.


Let’s Discuss:

1. Do you know any people who belong to other religions? If so, are theypeople who you regard as your friends?

2. What thoughts and feelings do you have about the presence ofdifferent religions within our society?

3. Have you ever spoken to someone from another religion about yourChristian faith? If so, what can you recall from that conversation? If not,is it because the opportunity has never arisen or because you have feltanxious or unsure?

4. Why do you think Jesus did not say anything to the Canaanite womanto challenge her religious beliefs?

5. What practical steps could you take to create opportunities for helpingpeople of other religious traditions with whom you might have contactto learn more about Jesus?


Action:Here are some pointers to settingup an event, working on theassumption that the local Christianleadership and the leaders of theother religion(s) concerned have agood relationship with each other.

1. Choose an appropriate venue. A'neutral' venue for a first meeting,such as a community hall, can behelpful in overcoming apprehensionabout meeting in the place of worshipof another religion.

2. Identify a title for the session. For example, 'The heart of our faith:Christian and Muslim views about God'.

3. Agree the ground rules for the session, emphasising that it's purposeis to help people come to a deeper understanding of each other'sbeliefs, not to attack or disrespect different beliefs. People will needto agree to differ.

4. Decide the format for the session. One approach is for arepresentative(s) from each religion to present their beliefs in 10-15minutes in total. After each speaker, provide opportunity for questionsof clarification only. Then, through a chairperson, the session can beopened up for questions and discussion. If there are only two religionsinvolved in the event, limit the formal part of the session to around onehour. The chairperson's role is particularly important in ensuring thatquestions are directed to the speakers in a balanced way through thechair in a way that is consistent with the ground rules.

5. Ensure some social time over light refreshments before the sessiongets underway and/or afterwards. This will help build relationshipsbetween people from different religions and allow for conversation to continue.


Prayer:Lord, help us to see our rightful place on this Earth. Equip uswith open minds, that we may appreciate every aspect of yourcreation. Help us to be a people that embrace culture anddifference. Give us voices that we can have dialogue, ears thatwe may listen, and smiles that we can be welcoming. Amen.



I remember the first time I prepared to lead a bible study; I was 22years old and went bald! Well, I think that was down to naturerather than the preparation. However, it was scary as well asexciting. Ring a bell? Then read on….

The scriptures are littered with stories of God's people being called to do something they feel they are not humanly capable of. Yet it issimilarly littered with outcomes of God's people completing what Hehas called them to undertake and the blessing therein.

So let's take those fears and chill a bit, in the knowledge that God will help you, as he has helped countless others.

Part of my ministry as an evangelist over the past 10 years has beento encourage and enable, so be encouraged that the Lord ismoulding you in leadership. In my experience it helps to know thatyou do not have to be an expert on the Bible or even a collegeprofessor! Essentially it is all about preparation and discussion. AllowGod to enable you by His Holy Spirit to lead you with confidence anddiscernment. Therefore in order to offer some help to you, I have setout below some of the things that have aided me in leading studies in the past.

Supporting Notes

for Individuals and

Group Leaders

Before you begin Studying the scriptures and exploring other people’s experiences ofevangelism can be for some, very exciting; for others it can be verydaunting indeed.

I have put together some suggestions that may help you as youprepare to get the most out of The Fullness of Life. We hopethat each week you will be stimulated through the scriptures andthrough the content on the Web. To find out more about how allof our Evangelists and staff are working at transforming lives andcommunities visit http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/people to see videos of ministry in action.

Each of our contributors to these studies has carefully thoughtthrough how you can apply this learning in your own life and context,in order to engage in evangelism. Their questions are designed tochallenge and encourage action.



Studying as an individual Pray: Before you begin each study, ask the Lord to guide you and openyour mind. Give yourself time to allow God to stabilise your inner self sothat you can apply what you are learning in your life.

Time: Give yourself space to learn; the studies are designed that youcan learn at a pace that suits you. It may help you to briefly read allseven studies before you begin; this may help you to think about wherethe studies will take you.

Bible: Having your own Bible is important as it will be a book that youwill be familiar with. The version that you find most helpful is the bestone to use. All Bible verses quoted in these studies are from the NewInternational Version.

Notes: Make notes within eachstudy. Remember there are nowrong answers; the beautyabout our relationship withGod is that He illuminatesour life and inspires us bythe Holy Spirit. So jotdown your response tothe question honestly.


Studying as a group For the leader: These notes may be of some help as you prepare tolead the group either for the first time or as a seasoned veteran!

Preparation: Groups are naturally formed of individuals, so beencouraged to follow the points suggested for individuals, as youprepare for your group study. In this way you will find your learning ingroup study deepens through your preparation.

Participation: Discussion is by far the best form of learning.Remember that as the leader you will need to ensure that everyonehas their say. No answer is wrong! Share how God is teaching you,how He is encouraging/challenging you, and how He is doing that with others.

Be focussed: Stick to the study material being discussed for thatweek. It has been my intention that you only have to use the scripturesreferred to. There is no need to look up commentaries or other views.The core essence of these studies is to reflect upon the evangelisticexample given. Therefore the paramount questions of the study are:How can I do this? How do I apply this?

Listen: Encouraging all that listening to other members of a group is asimportant as contributing. If you have an attentive ear, you may besurprised at how much you can learn from others. In parish ministry Iwas always amazed at how the quiet person sometimes came with asuggestion that was as a blast of fresh air.

A balanced input: As group leader you should be able to ensure allhave the chance to contribute. It is important that we ensure thatindividuals do not dominate the discussions. The eagerness one has toshare can often be at the cost of others not having time to respond.Therefore encourage one another; after all, the Christian journey reallyshould not be about outsmarting each other.

Involve God: God wants to share with each of us; His desire to see usevangelise. Be open to the Holy Spirit talking to you and to your fellowgroup mates. Most of all have fun discovering new boundaries.

Supporting Church Army Your prayers and financial support are vital to the success of Church Armyministry. There are many ways in which you can partner with us - at home, in church, with friends, by joining us in prayer, making a regulardonation or even with a bequest in your Will.

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The Fullnes of Life Chapter 5

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