A Growing Divide

Last night I watched a CNN special by Christiane Amanpour called "God's Warriors."  Perhaps you saw it as well?  It is a three part series - the first on Jewish radicals, the second on Muslim radicals and the third of Christian radicals.  The section I saw last night was on the Muslim radicals.  I must say - it was overwhelming, hopeful, terrifying and illuminating.  At the least, it is a brilliant piece of reporting.  But more than that, Ms. Amanpour took me into a world that I know so little about and showed me just a glimpse of all that I need to learn.

There were many points made in the segment that deserve careful discussion.  But there were some statistics that might help frame an interesting dialogue.  I can't remember the exact numbers (I will look them up) but a stunning percentage of young people are flocking to mosques across the world in numbers greater than their parents.  In other words, Islam is drawing the young people instead of the older generations.  Christianity, on the other hand, is experiencing the opposite.  We now have a Biblically illiterate generation of young people who would rather go shopping on Sunday than attend a church.  The point was made in the segment that we have become so consumed by materialism that we are ignoring/neglecting the practices of our faith.  While young Muslims are being trained in the history, stories, traditions, scriptures and passions of their faith, our young ones are failing to connect to any of these.  They are, instead, spending their days searching for the next purchase to make.

To be sure, this is a grossly over simplistic view.  But there seems to be a nugget of truth here.  I am by no means advocating a radicalized expression of Christian faith, but I wonder if we ought not teach our young people with more intentionality about these stories which have formed us in ways we only barely understand - not out of a place of fear (that the Muslims are after us!) but rather because our story is also one of love and belonging and welcome.  Our story is one that can give them strength when life challenges them, guide their feet as they navigate moral ambiguities, offer them grace when they stumble, and teach them to love because God first loved them.  

I don't know about your experience, but it has made a difference in my life to know that God created me and said "she is good."  It changes my sometimes selfish perspective when I remember that I am to call you "sister" or "brother."  We are family - you and I.  We are connected by a God who creates us, sustains us, and hopes for our wholeness.  And this gives meaning to my life.  That is a gift that I want my kids to have too.