Small Practical Steps for Large-Scale Effective Peacemaking

Edited by Martin Accad

12 Suggestions by Jared Holsing:

1. I assume the best of my Muslim friends and of Muslims in general, taking them at their word and taking their statements as genuine reflections of their honest beliefs (rather than assume they are just being politically correct or hiding some sinister beliefs that I am told “they” all believe).
2. I attend my local mosque, as a Christian, every Friday night, to sit under Imam Shaker’s teaching from the Qur’an (Dar Al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church/Seven Corners) in order to hear directly from him what he actually teaches my neighbors. This is also a great context for making new friends.
3. I treat the mosque like a place where I am welcome, and I feel free to come and go like a regular person.
4. I read the Qur’an to understand personally and first hand what it actually says and then ask Muslim friends or the Imam when I have a question. (FYI, I also read the Bible on a daily basis).
5. I attended an Iftar at the mosque where I met a new friend, Tammam
6. I invited Tammam and his family to my home for a meal (we’re setting up a time within the next 10 days).
7. I try to read widely from many sources and perspectives attempting to see the world through others’ eyes (a Muslim-Christian virtual library could be a nice online resource to help regular people by directing them to good resources).
8. I comment on facebook and engage in sustained dialogue with my non-Muslim friends, seeking to be a voice of love-for-Muslims in their lives.
9. I go out of my way to build friendships with Muslims in my neighborhood and at work (Nabil, Asif, Ali, Mirza, Emad, Emaam, Habbiba, Rizwan, Abdi, etc, are some of my friends).
10. I ask questions of my Muslim friends to better understand their lives (about holidays, theology, music, family, fasting, politics, poetry, culture, hopes/fears and so on).
11. I share the love, forgiveness and assurance of salvation I have found in Jesus Christ and enjoy an open dialogue with them about this. I also strive to make the shape of my life line up with the example of Jesus (thoughts, attitudes, values, etc).
12. When my Muslim friends suggest books, articles, videos, etc that I ought to watch/read, I follow through and learn as much as I can. I engage in an open and sustained dialogue with them, assuming that: we both love God; we both are grateful for the tradition in which we have been raised; we both have questions; and we both have found answers that we each find deeply compelling. This is a conversation among friends.

10 Suggestions by Michael Ly:

1. I try to see all Muslims as people first, made in God’s image.
2. I bring pastors and other Christians with me to the mosque to meet Muslimsand Muslim leaders. I setup coffee/meal dates between Christians and Muslims in my home or at Starbucks and help them form friendships.
3. I encourage Pastors and Imams to host interfaith dialogues in their churches ormosques. I provide whatever help necessary to pick a topic where honest and respectful dialogue can happen (like the topic of Jesus, love, peace, justice, human rights, etc.).
4. I attend fundraisers for Mosques or Muslim organizations to show my support for the Muslim community. I am personal friends with the local CAIR Director.
5. I bring my family to Muslim community events so that my wife can meet women and my son can play with the children. We also accept every invitation possible for dinner in homes and also invite families into our homes.
6. I teach about Islam at churches and community centers when asked and I try to bring Imams or Muslims to teach with me when given permission.
7. I take church groups on visits to the mosque to sit under the teaching of an Imam and ask questions.
8. I meet weekly with other followers of Jesus and pray for my Muslim friends. We pray against the injustice they face across the world and also that they would stay on the straight path.
9. I have Muslim students studying at the local university stay in my home whenever possible.
10. I do all of the activities above on a volunteer basis, without support or financial help (I have a day job working as an accountant).