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Jesus commands us to love our neighbors. His parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that our neighbors may believe differently than we do, but they deserve our love and care all the same. We must not overlook his openness to change, to being more inclusive and hospitable.
Interfaith dialogue is only possible when we are welcoming. In response to the question, “Why Lutheran?” our former Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, noted that the Lutheran tradition emphasizes our relationships with others, not what sets us apart.
Interfaith dialogue is at its best when differences are explored and not simply pushed aside, but the exploration and discussion take place in community. In addition to understanding what makes us different, we can find and celebrate the values we have in common. We can do good work in the world for different reasons but still do that good work together.
As Christians, I believe we are called to not only live in community, but to build and strengthen communities. Interfaith dialogue is a crucial part of that because God has blessed our communities with diverse peoples and perspectives.
This message is excerpted from “Building an interfaith community, one step at a time” by Samantha Nichols in the April 2016 Café online magazine.