Jonathan Bornman, an American scholar and missionary, discusses peacemaking between Muslims and Christians in a recent All Things Reconciled podcast.
Christians tend to either aggressively present their faith or live in a passive, friendly, but not open way with Muslim neighbours, says American scholar and missionary Jonathan Bornman in a recent All Things Reconciled podcast.
Bornman, who has dedicated his life to working in “nonviolence and peacemaking in the space between Muslims and Christians” (to use his own words), describes a third way that starts with hospitality.
“It’s not hard to share tea, to smile – everyone knows how to do these things. Be willing to both give and receive hospitality.” This helps build a community in which open sharing of one’s faith is possible.
It doesn’t always work. Over a career in multifaith communities overseas and now documentary filmmaking, he’s been cursed and spit at. “Yes, there is rejection. However, Jesus said, ‘Bless those who curse you.’ Sometimes it didn’t work out very well, but I tried.”
His advice? “Be vulnerable and be prepared to suffer for Christ’s witness. In this suffering something beautiful from Jesus comes out.”
Listen to the full podcast episode at TheEFC.ca/All-Things.
The World Evangelical Alliance Peace & Reconciliation Network
does its work through the generosity of donors. Connect with the PRN or donate. Invite Canadian director Joel Zantingh of Guelph, Ont., or global director Phil Wagler of Kelowna, B.C., as a speaker. Read more of these blog posts at FaithToday.ca/AllThingsReconciled.