Tag: Istanbul

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.

We have tickets booked for Istanbul for a few days toward the end of May. Istanbul with a history back into antiquity, and Istanbul that came into focus during our days in Sicily (seems a long time ago!). So here comes a rambling post.

I am amazed with the diversity of what people give themselves to in life, and as far as having a focus for the advancement of the gospel is concerned I am very uncritical of whatever people give themselves to – other than being very cautious where people are motivated by ego, or to help God out! Those aspects can be ever so subtle. I have vested interest in being uncritical as it then becomes easier to justify whatever I feel to give myself to!

Rambling post about to begin! Global issues are huge and not about to become less complex anytime soon and the expression of the gospel is very diverse in different parts of the world. My focus is Europe and (broad sweep) it was the cradle of the gospel within a short period of time after the initial apostolic era with a huge part of the NT focused on the expansion of the locale where the good news of Jesus was proclaimed. Challenges – and changes – took place slowly over that period. A Hellenisation of the message began, I am sure in great measure to connect culturally, but that Hellenisation brought a shift over centuries from a very earthy message (how could it not be earthy when the resurrection of a body was central?) to a ‘going to heaven’ and ‘avoiding hell’ becoming central and when those two become central there is a short path to drawing very firm lines of ‘in / out’ and of exercising huge control over people. Add to this the Constantinian move of ‘by this sign you will conquer’ and there is quite a shift from the original message. How big a shift? Well Jesus invited / instructed followers to carry a cross (figuratively), not to crucify others but it certainly made it easier for others to crucify them – the instrument was already available. [Gayle and I were once with a well-known couple whose books are on many book shelves and we were instructed to get ourselves guns as at that time there were various threats on Spain from certain Islamic quarters… I thought this was a joke and waited for the punch line. There was no punch line.] I am not to judge whether Constantine had a conversion but certainly cannot endorse the message that we conquer by the cross on our swords.

Subtly, and maybe not so slowly, a message has gone from that cradle of the gospel (Europe) to many parts of the earth. Honourable people have taken it and the power of the gospel is evident with the changes that have taken place, but at some level the ‘clothing’ for the gospel has been one of colonisation of cultures and progress is measured by the christianisation of a nation.The gospel does bring about a cultural change but must never dominate at any level of control: the kingdom of God is not the ‘control’ of God but the invitation to be transformed and as a result to be part of a transforming movement – a movement that is focused relationally through a message of reconciliation and with a central focus on the marginalised.

So Istanbul… or Constantinople as was. Founded in 330AD as the ‘new Rome’ it was a major ‘Christian’ hub with a mega push through the construction of the Hagia Sophia (not quite the ‘holy’ or ‘wisdom’ that we find in the NT!!). Fast forward and… OK here come personal perspectives.

Today there are three monotheistic faiths that all claim Abraham as their father. Those three take diverse shapes. But at the extreme end all three have an expression of militancy over others with a divine mandate to use force to control (and even justifing genocide). Is there a difference between the three or are the extreme version of each simply a version of one another? I suggest the latter is the case, and that the ‘god’ they claim to be in subservience to is the same ‘god’. A three-fold cord is not easily broken.

[This is where I see the unique significance of Jerusalem / land of Israel. In conflict and perpetuating conflict it excels, but if there is one place on the earth that potentially can reveal reconciliation that is the place… We can discover what God is doing by seeing the perversion of it – God works in the opposite.]

So off we will head to Istanbul. A small group who are far from being smart and knowing what to do.But with a focus on the now-mosque (Hagia Sophia) for historically there was an increase of the spread pf Islam once they were able to inhabit the previous house (originally an impressive cathedral) that manifested Christendom. Maybe we can help cut the tie between Islam/ Sharia law and the ‘Christian’ expression of it as manifested through christendom? I have long maintained that whatever followers of Christ exhibit is what can change (for better for worse) the wider society, along the lines of ‘you have heard it said… but I say to you…’

Christendom and Europe. Europe is essentially post-christendom. Seen as a demise of values by some (and there are some ‘losses’) but I consider it totally necessary and with a leverage to see the possibility of a more earthy-related faith in Jesus prosper – the sort of faith that was exhibited in the oikoumene of the Roman Empire. And ever so telling that it was that oikoumene (ready made shape and structure) that was offered to Jesus in the wilderness… and turned down.

Beyond the focus on christendom there is an east/west gateway in Istanbul. At this time there is an ongoing shift from west to east. So prayer for something so indigenous and expressing a gospel without the encumbrances of the clothing that has for centuries shaped our understanding of the gospel.

So tickets booked… and if we make a little contribution to the future that will be wonderful. Little acts and prayers – all we ever have to offer.