Getting the message out

Last updated on: September 16, 2017 at 6:43 pm by Adrian Warnock

Getting the message out 2017-09-16T18:43:41+01:00 Adrian Warnock

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This afternoon’s panel included the following speakers

They were each asked what their message is. For all of them they wanted to promote peace and understanding between people of faith. As Bob Roberts keeps stressing this does NOT mean that we compromise our faith, nor does it mean that we pretend we agree. Bob keeps saying here that he longs for everybody to follow Jesus.

The challenge is how to we get through the stereotypes. It is really all about love. We must love our neighbor as ourselves. That means respect. That means listening. That means befriending.

Speaking with people from other faiths about Jesus is very helpful for a Christian, dropping religious language and engaging with others about Jesus himself. Speaking about Jesus’ teaching such as the golden rule: “treat other people as you want to be treated” is always attractive to everyone in the world.

Many of us approach sharing our faith by beginning “everything you believe is wrong and let me tell you why.” The largest number of people focussed on the smallest point of agreement gives you the greatest point of impact. Judaism was the faith of Jesus. Islam is a faith with Jesus as a part. Christianity is the faith in Jesus. We can even begin on the things that different religions such as Islam agree about on Jesus. By beginning with agreement we can then move on to areas of disagreement.

When it comes to understanding Israel and their actions, you have to understand history, and the fact that when they put the wall up the suicide bombings became far less frequent.

There is a concern in this room that the Internet encourages us to be angry. Shouting at one another is not the way. You can easily get people excited by yelling. When you decide you don’t want to do that it’s hard to get attention. It is hard not to be biased. None of us can be unbiased. But we can try and be fair. We must quote and summarize their arguments in a way that the others will agree that they have been fairly represented.

We must face the challenge of fear. Because “perfect fear casts out love.” We have to reverse that back to the true Biblical reference which is that when we love someone we are not afraid of them. We must learn to approach people in a loving way. Some of the Christians here have hosted a “love your neighbor dinner” where Muslims were invited and a halal barbecue was enjoyed by all.

It is so concerning for Muslims to try and counter the idea that they are all violent and a threat. Many Muslims believe that all evangelicals want to do is aggressively try to convert them. It is fine to have differences. But we can work on those amicably when we know each other. Since 911 it has not been easy to live in America if you are a Muslim.

We must try to find common ground whether we are talking to someone from another faith or a journalist. In the media we have to try to get positive messages out there. If you walk a mile in someone’s shoes, then the person is a mile away from you and you have their shoes. There is no such thing as a bad question, only an opportunity for a bad answer. Speaking from the depths of your heart is always convincing. Messaging isn’t always so simple, but if you speak from the heart it is so powerful.

Jesus taught exclusive truth claims and modeled universal love.

We must learn to be more humble. We shouldn’t want to fight first.

There are two kinds of messaging. Like messaging and unlike messaging. The architecture of some church buildings are very neutral and if it didn’t say church you wouldn’t realize it was a church. The message is that the building is not unlike an auditorium. To do this you must know your audience. You talk about what you have in common.

Unlike messaging is when you experience something different to what you have ever before. This can blow your mind, and make you stop and think about it deeply. Multi-faith conversations don’t really get interesting until we start talking about differences. Then we can have a meaningful conversation.

Like messaging gets you into a relationship. Unlike messaging develops the relationship.

The most powerful unlike message we have to give people is the lived out reality of our faith.

Global Faith Forum

Islam

Muslims

Previous Post

November 15, 2013

Is peace possible between Israel and Palestine?

Next Post

November 16, 2013 Reconciliation and the role of people of faith

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 and 2 Corinthians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Timothy 1 John 300 Leaders A Life of Joy Abortion Acts of the Apostles Adrian on radio Adrian on TV Adrian's Story Albert Mohler Amazing Grace Arminocalvinist Spectrum Assurance Atonement Atonement Series Attributes of God Barnabas Best of the Blog Bible Bible Software Bible Translation Biblical Inerrancy Billy Graham Bob Roberts Books C. J. Mahaney Calvinism Cessationism Charis Warnock Charismatic Spectrum Charles Simeon Charles Spurgeon Church Leadership Colossians Complementarian - Egalitarian Spectrum Complementarianism Conferences Culture Daniel Debates Deuteronomy DGM08 DGM13 Discernment Doctrine Don Carson Ed Stetzer Eddy Leo Ephesians ESV Bible Translators Interview Evangelism in a Post-Christian World evolution Exodus Expository Preaching Ezekial Faith and Feelings Family Florida Galatians General Genesis Get Wisdom - Proverbs sermons Gifts of The Holy Spirit Gifts of the Holy Spirit 2006 Global Faith Forum Godly Attitudes Gospel Gospels Grace Greg Haslam Grudem vs Piper: The Baptism Debate Healing Heaven Hell and Rob Bell Hebrews Henry Tyler Henry Warnock Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Baptism Hope Reborn Hugh Palmer Irresistable Grace Isaiah J. I. Packer Jack Hayford Joel Joel Warnock John John Lanferman John MacArthur John Newton John Owen John Piper John Smyth Jonathan Edwards Josh Harris Justification Justin Taylor Kenneth Ulmer Leadership Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Samuel Lex Loizides Liam Goligher Lig Duncan Limited Atonement Lou Fellingham Mark Dever Mark Driscoll Martyn Lloyd-Jones Matt Chandler Mental Health Missionary Methods: St Paul’s or Ours? My Story N. T. Wright Nehemiah NWA08 NWA09 NWA10 Opinion OT History Books Pentateuch Personal Personal Revival Philippians PJ Smyth Podcast Politics Preaching Prophecy Proverbs Psalms Raised With Christ Reformed Charismatic Regeneration Relationships Resurrection Resurrection & Salvation Revival Rice Broocks Rich Man and Lazarus Rick Warren Rob Rufus Roland Allen Romans Sam Storms Sanctification Series Sermons Sermons on Philippians Serving Jesus at Work Sexuality Sin St Paul Steve Chalke Strange Fire Suffering T4G T4G Statement TAB09 Tamasin Warnock Teamwork Terry Virgo The Atonement Debate - Chalke book The Soulwinner The Spirit-Filled Church The Traitor Within Theologcial Spectrums Theosis Tim Challies Tim Keller Titus TOAM06 TOAM07 TOAM08 TOAM09 TOAM10 TOAM11 Todd Bentley Tope Koleoso Total Depravity Video Water Baptism Wayne Grudem Worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 May 2025 April 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many books are in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

21 24 39 27

Books by This Author Books by Adrian Warnock

See All Titles »