Well at least we plan to be as I wrote this post a few days ago and scheduled it to come out today (21 May). Scheduled as I had started to write pushing into how we approach Scripture when it presents us with mammoth sized problems provided we don’t simply ignore the issues. Anyway, Istanbul.
For those who followed our journey in Sicily where we sensed that we needed to go to a) track with the Imperial history of Europe that has been tied up with Christendom’s expression and b) sow into the future. How successful? No idea at all. And if a good step maybe the smallest contribution into the future.
While there as we prayed and journeyed to different places it seemed that Istanbul became the next place. Neither Gayle nor I have ever been there (though Gayle’s sister has been teaching there for the past couple of years) but the history of the place – back through the Ottoman empire to the clash between an expression of Christianity and an expression of Islam as well as being key as a portal between east and west pulls.
I am asked sometimes ‘Is Allah God’. Interesting question as the word ‘Allah’ means ‘God’. My actual response is to ask a question back – ‘is the Christian God, God?’ I ask that as it depends what content we give to the word ‘God’ as to whether we describe ‘God’ or simply a ‘god’ of our own making. I guess we all have a ‘god’ who is less than ‘God’, and it depends how much less as to whether the less-than-God still has enough resemblance to ‘God’ or not.
To make judgements is not our place, to seek to understand who God is and to make God known is our place. I am not to know if (say) a Muslim who has an understanding of ‘God’ that they were given and seeks to do what is right is going to be a companion in the age to come; neither do I know if someone who grew up understanding God to be continually in a bad mood will be a companion. Salvation is through Jesus alone, not through belief, though both belief and action are relevant.
I do consider though that there are unholy allegiances and there is a fearful similarity between Christendom (clearly exemplified with the crusades in history, and in all forms of hatred) and the desire for some from within the Islamic community to exercise sharia law over others. ‘Over’ is such a key word. The work of God is to invite people not to put something in place that is over. Go back in history and Paul was so clear that he was honouring ‘God’ through the persecution of what he considered was a blasphemous cult. Did Paul serve ‘God’ or was he serving a ‘god’?
Sworn enemies can be at each other’s throats but can be operating from the same source! Jesus aligned the strict sect leaders within Israel (Pharisees) with their ‘father the devil’. I don’t think that went down too well. Christendom – a manifestation of a kind of Christianity, certain more extreme forms of Islam, and certain expressions of Judaism (or Jewishness with those who do not express faith) in my opinion seem to align themselves with the same (kind of) ‘god’.
In history Istanbul was ‘Constantinople’, the new Rome and capital of the Eastern Empire, the headquarters for Christendom. That magnificient cathedral was converted into a mosque. Those conversions of buildings from one religion to another were always seen as a symbol of victory, but I believe something deeper was going on. Islam aligned with Christendom’s model at that point, and I have held for years that the ‘well’ that Islam draws from is that of Christendom.
This will be one aspect we will pray into… There is more that will come out, particularly as this trip we will lean heavily on four people who have insight beyond mine. Grateful for Kathy & Steve Lowton, Maria and Bjorn Isacsson and Paul Wood who will bring what they carry both in terms of insight and story. I suspect as the few days unfold I will post updates.