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    Would You Accept an Invitation to Speak with the Dalai Lama, Bishop Tutu, and Pravrajika Vrajaprana?

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    For your response:

    1.  Would you speak at an event like this.  (Obviously, I know that Rob Bell and Doug Pagitt are not endorsing the other speakers on the platform, but this does feed into the criticism both have had from inside the Christian camp, does it not?)

    2.  What good could come out of an event like this one?  (I’ve thought about it and couldn’t really come up with anything).

    Todd

    I know that we kind of poke when some blogs get mad at 'their own' like John Piper for sharing the stage with a person such as Mark Driscoll. But, would you accept an invitation to speak at an "InterSpiritual" day that featured people like the Dalai Lama and top Hindu, Islamic, and Sikh leaders? Rob Bell and Doug Pagitt have. They'll be sharing at the Seeds of Compassion event in Seattle later this month. I'm wondering... what could the end result of this day be for the Christians involved? What's the end game on this one?

    Comments

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    1. stewart on Mon, April 07, 2008

      I would speak at an event like that with one caveat… I would want to be welcomed fully as a Christian. Occasionally these kinds of interreligious experiences require everyone to drop the exclusivity of their faith. For Christians that means talk about God - not Jesus. Or if we talk about Jesus, it is expected to be about him as a teacher - surely not as Savior or unique Son of God. Ironically I haven’t run into this problem much outside of the US. In my limited experience it is usually in the US when I am asked to drop key elements of my faith to enter into religious dialogue.


      I think we can be respectful of others without agreeing with them or pretending that we are all the same.


      I know Rob. I’ve never met Doug. But I suspect both of them will be able to be fully Christian, bear witness to their faith in Jesus, while at the same time being respectful of other faiths.


      What’s wrong with that?

    2. Wendi on Mon, April 07, 2008

      I completely agree with Stewart, especially with the caveat.  Although we see it otherwise, Christianity is considered “one of” the major world religions.  If we are invited to dialogue respectfully but candidly about the teachings of Jesus, the differences between the Christian faith and other world religions, I think there is very much good that can come.  It surprises me Todd, that you can’t see any possible good from Christians joining in this discussion.  Many outside the Christian faith have very negative perceptions that are influenced by right-wing Christian political activists or televangelists.  This seems like a chance to represent a more balance our faith.  It also says publically that we are willing to join hands with all people of good will to address issues of concern to all of us.  The “Seeds of Compassion” website describes the panel like this:


      [The Youth and Spiritual Connection Dialogue begins with a panel focusing on contemporary children. In today’s complex culture, with problems such as media overload, social pressure, short attention spans, isolation and fear, how do we bring awareness of spirituality and compassion to our children in the first years of life?]


      Isn’t it reasonable that a Buddhist, Muslim and Christian parent would all be concerned about the social pressures their children face?  So why would we not all discuss how our respect faith would help children face these pressures?  In fact, don’t we send an arrogant and pejorative message if the evangelical Christians are the only ones absent from the discussion?  Again, this assumes the caveat that Stewart mentioned, that Pagitt and Bell don’t have to drop the primary elements of their faith (which is not to say that they need to make a 5-point gospel presentation every time they get a turn at the mic).


      Wendi

    3. Derek on Mon, April 07, 2008

      I too would accept the invitation to speak at such an event if I was allowed to talk about my faith. It really would depend on what they are asking me to do. If they are asking me to join a round table, brainstorming session on how we can become more tolerate of other religious beliefs, then I would be out. If they asked me to speak on the subject of compassion, spirituality, social justice, civic community building, etc. and I was allowed to speak on any of those subjects as a Christian, then I would say yes.


      There would be tremendous opportunity for a Christian to proclaim the gospel in a contextualized way to a crowd interested in various religious perspectives. This is the UP side to pluralism. People want to hear from a variety of sources on various issues and so they will lend an ear to a Christian speaking on the subject, if we speak in a way that is respectful and contextual.


      If I were to make such a presentation, I would not speak on the error of other worldviews, philosophies, religions, etc., but I would simply proclaim the truth of Jesus as laid out in the Scriptures. My fear is a Christian would give into the pressure of tolerance and wouldn’t necessarily speak as a Christian. They might…dare I say…water down their message.


      Certainly Rob, Doug or any Christian who agrees to speak there will be criticized, but I see it as a worth while endeavor.


      Derek

    4. CS on Mon, April 07, 2008

      “1.  Would you speak at an event like this?”


      No. 


      2 Corinthians 6:13-14 says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”


      “2.  What good could come out of an event like this one?  (I’ve thought about it and couldn’t really come up with anything).”


      Like you said, Todd, none. 


      In this particular forum, all faiths are being given equal or tilted footing.  If someone there came out and cited John 14:6, I would strongly believe that that person would be chased out pretty quickly.


      We have to stand by the position that our Savior is the only way to God, and that the other religions in this world are wrong.  We cannot acquiesce our faith as Bell and Pagitt have in this case.



      CS

    5. Wendi on Mon, April 07, 2008

      CS – how is sitting on a panel with people of other faiths, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE you profess faith in Jesus and have DIFFERENT beliefs from the other panelists, being unequally yoked?


      Your logic would make it unbiblical to help in your child’s public school classroom if the teacher is Muslim, or chair your neighborhood watch committee if the officer assigned to your neighborhood is Buddhist, etc., etc.


      Wendi

    6. Pezz on Mon, April 07, 2008

      Unless you are going there to say, “I respect your right to follow a false religion that will ultimately result in you spending eternity in hell.”  or “I love the freedom we have in this country to be wrong, and a false religion other than Christianity will result in the eternal lose of your soul.”


      I can’t think of a good reason to go either…..


      Jesus didn’t mince words when it came to decrying false teachers… nor did Paul etc.


      Should we?

    7. Leonard on Mon, April 07, 2008

      I don’t know if I would take the opportunity myself, not for the reasons sited by CS.  I am not excited about Paggett representing my faith in any sphere but I suspect he would not be excited about me representing his either.  Bell is a brilliant communicator but I always feel like something is a few degrees off.  So I guess I would feel better about this if someone who represents my faith was more in line with my faith. 


      I believe that we must be careful not to gyp people by giving them everything but the Gospel.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians…For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Cor 2:2  


      This is a message he determined to preach.  I think that if the goal is to partner in interfaith spiritual awareness to children then no I would not consider myself speaking for that.

    8. nathan workman on Mon, April 07, 2008

      wow, todd & c.s.  i guess i have a hard time understanding the position you’re taking on this.


      i guess i read acts 17, paul in athens, through the same lens as this “seeds of compassion” event.  paul enters the city, waiting for his friends to join him.  sees the city for what it is, “very spiritual” & engages them at that point.  yes, he is willing to call them to a place of hearing that Jesus is THE “unknown god” [to use the athenian language]. l that was their question.  but he had to first go to where they were, the aeropagus.  he went to them.  and just as a frame of reference, they’re not coming to us.  they’re not showing up in church on sunday and asking us, on our turf, in our context, under our “rules of engagement” to enter the discussion.  they’re simply asking some of the leading, respected,  grounded & Godly men to participate in and effort centered around compassion.


      i’m there!

    9. Tony Myles on Mon, April 07, 2008

      I’m not sure if I’d do the gig… depends on what they’re paying me.


      (wait for it, wait for it)


      Of course I’m just kidding - that’s not even on my radar.  I wonder, though, how many of us would quickly (perhaps unconsciously) view the opportunity to speak as a “gig” that we say yes or no to.  I’m not sure that it’s always quite so easy - some of us have developed “speaking standards” that need to be questioned, whether it’s “I’ll say yes to any chance I’m given to speak” or “I’d never share the stage with unbelievers in order to avoid being confused with their belief systems.”


      Perhaps (ready for the cliche?)  we should pray more.  But instead of the quick prayers we’ve learned how to pray in order to ask God for approval and then trudge forward without waiting for the answer, we really wait for the answer… and we do it… even if it contradicts our preconceived standards.


      Kind of like Peter on the rooftop who was told to not consider unclean what God had considered clean.


      Or like the lukewarm church in revelation who needed to tweak its standards.

    10. CS on Mon, April 07, 2008

      Nora:


      “They have not even spoken at the event; you have not spoken to them about their intentions, and yet, you have already judged them as “acquiescing the faith,” What happened to giving a brother the benefit of the doubt?”


      I won’t mince words here.  Given all of their past publications, public speaking, interviews, and other dissertations on the faith, I would have to say that they are false teachers, and their theology is wrong.  That’s why I did not give them the benefit of the doubt.


      Wendi:


      “how is sitting on a panel with people of other faiths, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE you profess faith in Jesus and have DIFFERENT beliefs from the other panelists, being unequally yoked?”


      Given the list of the other speakers there, and the forum and purpose for which it is happening, I could not see any way in which our faith could be accurately shared.  Could you imagine, for instance, John MacArthur being put in this forum?  Or, what if someone pointed out sin, judgment, and the wrath of God to the Dalai Lama?  Think that would stand with the other speakers?


      If we cannot speak about any aspect of our faith in a forum lined up with other people who can speak about any aspect of their faith, that constitutes being unequally yoked.  Not to mention the tacit “okay” we may be giving other faiths by being in such a forum.



      CS

    11. CS on Mon, April 07, 2008

      nathan workman:


      I read an excellent dissertation about Acts 17 recently, and recommend it to the understanding of what Paul was doing at Mars Hill.  Please take a look at this article.


      http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2008/04/paul-and-culture.html



      CS

    12. Todd Rhoades on Mon, April 07, 2008

      Wow… didn’t expect to have the push-back on this one.


      I’m not saying that Pagitt and Bell are wrong for speaking there.  Most of you know that I don’t buy into that ‘guilt by association’ argument, or that you have to agree with other people on the stage at a neutrally sponsored event.


      My concern is how this looks to their critics.  The buzz is already rolling on this one; and it doesn’t help the emerging cause AT ALL to be promoted at the same conference as the Dalai Lama.  Know what I mean.


      As far as what will come out of this?  That was my other argument:  probably nothing.  The audience will be very spiritual, to be sure, but all over the place religion-wise.  I don’t see that an event of this type will change anybody’s mind.


      At the same time, I would probably scream ‘outrage’ if there was no Christian invited to the table.


      That’s all… no deep thoughts on this one from my end.  (There usually aren’t any deep thoughts on this end).  http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif


      Todd

    13. Jerry on Mon, April 07, 2008

      Just the kind of event Jesus would use to share His message

    14. eric wright on Mon, April 07, 2008

      I don’t think they care what it looks like to their critics…their critics are already critical of everything they do anyways. Besides one of the foundational principles of the emergent/emerging movement is the ability to really listen to and learn from people of other faiths. I think it is a great opportunity to represent Christ in an arena where Christ would not be represented otherwise.


      Because we are the temple of God we bring His presence and Kingdom with us…and His presence and Kingdom are certainly needed in an event like this.

    15. Eric Joppa on Mon, April 07, 2008

      I have to admit, I am not sure if I wouldn’t do it. I agree with you Leonard, that Pagit is not a guy I want representing my faith, but I’m not sure I have a problem with Bell being there.


      As you said earlier, Bell is a brilliant communicator. Without being intensely dogmatic, Bell has always, when I have heard him, hit the nail on the head and represented Jesus very well to me. That said, I know there are things that I disagree with him on as I am learning more about him from his books.


      When it comes to speaking to and reaching the lost, Rob Bell has done a phenomenal job when it comes to those disenfranchised and frustrated with the church. Whether we want to admit it or not, the world is against the church because, IMHO, we have become such angry separatists.


      We try to separate ourselves even from those among our own circles. We are seen as overly dogmatic and increasingly judgmental. And I am saddened to say this is a fairly accurate statement in general.


      If people in the world are going to ask a Christian pastor to speak to subjects that everyone can agree are hurting kids and families, why in the world would we turn that down? Don’t you think Jesus wants his perspective and voice on that platform?

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