David W. Swanson

Pastor and Author

A Christian Response to Park 51?

I’d like to cautiously dip a toe into the controversial waters of Park 51 (formerly known as Cordoba House), the planned Islamic community center near the World Trade Center site in Manhattan.  Not surprisingly, this has become an incredibly polarizing debate with politicking and posturing on all sides.  At issue is whether it is appropriate for the center to be built near the site where so many lost their lives to Islamic terrorists.

A Christian Response to Cordoba House (Park 51)

There are important questions this debate raises about the nature of living within a pluralistic society.  My own question is either much simpler or significantly more complex, I can’t decide which: How does faith in Christ frame one’s response to the issues raised by Park 51?

I’m curious how you answer this question.  [Those of you who are not Christian, how does your faith or guiding principles inform these issues?]  Here are a few thoughts that have been rattling around my head.

  • In Christ we have our example to interact with individuals while avoiding stereotypes that implicate entire groups of people.  Those of us with an evangelical bent are especially quick to focus on the way God’s grace is granted to individuals.  Discussions amongst Christians about Park 51 should avoid any generalizations about Islam or this community center that originate from the terrorism committed on September 11.
  • We who believe that God cares deeply for us have no reason to allow fear to become the dominate narrative in our lives.  There is no question about the presence of evil in our world but we have lost the plot any time fear becomes the starting point for our conversations and decisions.
  • The Christian’s posture towards enemies is one of active love.  While most of us wouldn’t consider the Muslims behind Park 51 our enemies, the culture we inhabit would play us against each other in this way.  Enmity aside, the Christian is called to demonstrate hospitality towards those who don’t share our beliefs.
  • Gospel witness to the resurrected Christ is accomplished through proclamation and a life of sacrifice and, at times, suffering.  In the New Testament we see those outside the church being told about what God accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Any harsh and confrontational language is generally reserved for those within the church whose lives distract from the Gospel.  What, I wonder, have American Muslims learned about the Gospel of Jesus during the Park 51 debate?
  • Lastly, those who mourn and suffer are always treated by Jesus with dignity and care.  We who follow Jesus’ narrow way must do the same.  Whatever one thinks of the proposed community center, a Christian response must allow room for the grief that followed the terrorist attacks on September 11.

How about you? How do your Christian convictions inform such a complicated situation?  I look forward to your charitable comments.

David Swanson

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17 responses to “A Christian Response to Park 51?”

  1. Josh S Avatar
    Josh S

    I couldn’t say it better myself. And I’ve tried. Thank you for this perspective.

    http://bit.ly/aE2Zwh

    Sorry for the double-post. Please delete the previous comment if you can. Better link in this one.

    Reply
  2. Tony Avatar
    Tony

    Thanks for posting. I think each of your points are well stated and get to the deeper, more important issues. As Christians, we shouldn’t stray too far from the basics you’ve outlined: humility, grace, radical love.

    The two major threads of response I’ve seen are either rooted in religious fear (what Islam can/will do) or patriotic ambition (there’s us and then there’s you, and you’re not building that here). In general, its a defensive stance. One defends when one is attacked, and one is attacked by an enemy. As you’ve warned, this is a dangerous oversimplification and generalization of the issue. I don’t favor the defensive response: Christ is neither afraid of Islam, nor is he (in regards to America specifically) patriotic. Your point about those who mourn is important, though, and I have not considered that until now.

    I’m not sure I’m ready to take a stab at your bold question, but you’ve helped me think about the issue a bit deeper and wider.

    Reply
  3. Skye Jethani Avatar
    Skye Jethani

    Hey David,

    My friend Eboo Patel, a Muslim connected to those behind the Cordoba House project, invited me to write a Christian response to the controversy a few weeks ago. Like you, I’m not thrilled with the way many “Christians” in the media are framing this issue. You can see my response here:

    http://www.skyejethani.com/a-christian-reponse-to-the-ground-zero-mosque/584/

    Reply
  4. Dan Vdm Avatar
    Dan Vdm

    I don’t know if Park 51 should be built where it is proposed to go but it does seem like some Christians politicians are showing their true colors. I heard a couple minute commentary by Huckabee where he said something like if it is built he hopes gay bars and strip joints are built around it. Why would one want that? Kind of makes you lose respect for the guy.
    You don’t have to go to the ground zero area to find controversy surrounding the location of religious buildings. In Du Page County there are currently at least five proposals that are being met with neighborhood push back.
    One Christian Church was voted down even though it seemed to meet the zoning restriction. Enough neighbors came to complain. A house that was turned into an Islamic prayer center also has brought many neighbors out since it is being used without going through the proper approval process.
    From my Christian perspective they should all be treated equally. If Churches can be built than other religious buildings that meet the same criteria should be allowed. If Churches can be denied because of neighborhood push back then other religious organization should be open to the same fate.

    Reply
    1. David Swanson Avatar
      David Swanson

      Dan, of the examples you are aware of, are the reasons some church buildings are opposed the same reasons Park 51 is being opposed?

      Reply
      1. Dan Vdm Avatar
        Dan Vdm

        It seems to be more of an issue of not in my backyard. I don’t think it would make much of a difference if it was a Christian
        Church or another religious building. The people who come out to complain always say how it doesn’t have anything to do with the type of religion practiced but who knows.
        I believe the the board members who vote on the special use might actually give preferential treatment to a non christian organization to appear inclusive. That said the county is being sued by an Islamic group for not granting them their permit.
        Even if you don’t agree with the area 51 building you might be careful what you wish for it might impact your religious organization some day.

  5. Jason Dye Avatar
    Jason Dye

    I’m with Josh: My sentiments exactly, though you’ve helped to verbalize them in ways I haven’t yet.

    We certainly need more dialog and less fear-mongering in our national outlets, and the direction is looking awfully fearful.

    Reply
  6. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    According to the Koran and hundreds of years of human history, Islam is a very violent, vengeful, blood thirsty religion that even today does all these ridiculous things before our eyes and the eyes of the world, yet includes those who claim it’s name and seek to spin a line of peace. The news is full of reports how mosques are used as teaching halls of hate against infidels and benevolent offerings gathered to go to support bombers. It’s all so cunning. Is there any doubt that the devil himself is behind every beheading, bombing, stoneing, honor killing, and every contradictory claim of peace that comes from Islam? We know is he not omnipresent but he has millions of equally evil angels with him. We also know he is a master of setting up systems of deceit where participants are trapped in the system, risking life to get out.

    The things I have just said require no hate for any Muslim. They only require a heart that is aware, alert and sober regarding the devils tactics. 1 Peter 5:7-9. We are specifically told to “resist him.” Muslims are not the enemy. They are willing victims of the enemy, the Devil. Love them? Yes, with great “self-control” and alertness. Believe every word they say about themselves or their plans? No, not even close. They give high moral standing to lying that benefits Islam in some way. It’s not just here or there. It’s everywhere around the world.

    Secular folks do not believe in the Devil so they are easy prey and easily duped. They are actually on the same team of the deceived as Muslims. Many believers are the same because they are not aware of the Devil’s schemes.

    2 Cor. 2: 15 –
    For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

    For some people in the world, believer’s “aroma of Christ” will be the “smell of death”. Are we afraid of that? Will we compromise our resisting of the Devil to appease and try to be liked by all? Will we give ourselves permission to be the smell of death to all unbelievers? Hopefully not. None of us are equal to this task. (I better not say anything about “peddling the word of God for profit”. That is a different concept but it does play a big part in believers inability to be filled with the Spirit so they can be the aroma of Christ.)

    Praise God for those doctors and nurses who loved Muslims more than their own life, went to serve, and were shot with no mercy. Their reward is great.

    Reply
    1. Josh S Avatar
      Josh S

      Tim,

      I am not certain of the purpose of your statement above, except to paint Muslims as wholly untrustworthy across the board. I’m curious to know how many Muslim people you have been friends or co-workers with. I suspect that it is very few, if any.

      In my own personal experience (which may not be representative), the Muslims I have known have been respectful, kind, and grateful to be in the US. My friends who are missionaries to Muslims, first in Morocco and then in a heavily-Muslim area in France have reported great hospitality and kindness from the Muslims, even after they were known to be missionaries.

      So it is in this light that I address your comments.

      ~~~
      I believe that what you said in your first paragraph could be written about Christianity in all fairness. Let me attempt:

      According to the Bible and hundreds of years of human history, Christianity is a very violent, vengeful, blood-thirsty religion (see 2 Samuel 2:23-26 bloody, gory death among friends; 2 Chronicles 13:15-18 Judah kills half-a-million Israelites; Deuteronomy 2:32-35 Israel kills women and children; Deuteronomy 3:3-7 killing of men, women & children across an entire region; The Crusades; The Inquisition; etc) that even today does all these ridiculous things before our eyes and the eyes of the world (Killing of abortion doctors, burning warehouses full of women & children like David Koresh, etc), yet includes those who claim its name and seek to spin a line of peace. The news is full of reports how churches are used as teaching halls of hate against homosexuals and immigrants (and in the 60s, against African-Americans) and benevolent offerings gathered to go to support bombings and beheadings of Muslims (in Nigeria).

      It’s all so cunning. Is there any doubt that the devil himself is behind every beheading, bombing, stoneing, honor killing, and every contradictory claim of peace that comes from Christianity? We know is he not omnipresent but he has millions of equally evil angels with him. We also know he is a master of setting up systems of deceit where participants are trapped in the system, risking life to get out.

      After all that, can you imagine saying, “The things I have just said require no hate for any Christian.” ??

      ~~~~
      To say that Muslims are ‘willing victims of the Devil’ is no more (or less) true than to say that athiests are willing victims of the Devil, or people-raised-in-a-Christian-home-but-don’t-know-Christ are willing victims of the devil. I might disagree with your choice of words, but I agree that these people are all in need of a Savior. To say that all of these people–or any single group–is a super-special, extra-evil tool of Satan that makes them unworthy of any regard seems over-simplified and disingenuous to me.

      It is critical that we as Christians reach out in love to ALL peoples, because Christ died for ALL people. Even the ones we tend to not get along with because of political or national affiliations.

      ~~~
      If you are going to claim that every mosque (or even most of them) are hotbeds for jihadist teachings, I would ask you to back that up with citations. Particularly in light of the fact that there are approximately 3-4 million Muslims in the US (estimates vary though) and we have had only a small handful of terrorist attacks from Muslims born in the US (two that I can think of–the Times Square bomber and the Ft Hood shooter. I am sure there are a few more, but just as many Tim McVeighs). If there were truly 3-4 million hate-filled, war-mongering, blood-lusting people in the US, then why aren’t we all dead or afraid to walk down the block? Even a thousand such people would be capable of making the country come to a stand still…

      It seems to me that the majority of extremist Muslim groups come from areas of the world where economic and political disenfranchisement is the major cause and the religion just happens to be the vehicle through which people are convinced that suicide/homicide is justified. And in Nigeria, this happens as much with Christianity as it does with Islam.

      None of this is to say that Islam is a means to salvation. That’s an entirely different issue, and one I’m pretty sure we agree on (salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone). But putting an entire class of people in a group, labeling that group with a fear-eliciting title (terrorist), and then attempting to marginalize that group seems an ill-fated strategy. At best, it causes artificial and unnecessary divisions in our diverse nation, creating a second class of citizens to whom the Constitution does not apply equally; at worst, it creates a self-fulfilling prophecy in that group of people through marginalization that causes them to be anger-filled.

      As Lincoln said, “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make friends of them?”

      As Christ said, ““You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

      We are called to love the Muslims in our communities. And what an opportunity to show them the greatness of the Gospel!!

      -Josh

      Reply
      1. Tim Avatar
        Tim

        Your “in all fairness” section seems to me to be a sad attempt at childish arguing. The child feels some desperate need to grasp at something, even if completely separated from reality, throws it out there to cover their emotions and hopes the argument sticks. We both agree God’s people are to love Muslims and point them to Christ. However you seem to have a definition of love that has certain amount of naiveté, or blindness added in that means no one should mention anything about what is done by a large number of Muslims, what the teachings of the faith call for, and what the rest of Muslims are chained to. If you can’t discuss it, then I would say you have a shallow view of love.

        Jesus always addressed the key point of deception, misdirection and death in an unbelievers life. That is what you would expect from someone who is the way, the truth and the life.

        To connect to the original post, I said what I did to communicate that the Park 51 one effort by the Muslims who are pushing it or who like it, is merely one of many efforts by Muslims that is full of deceit. The fact that there are many nice, kind Muslims does not erase the reality nor mean we should not discuss the reality of what is involved. If their kindness and niceness is not a cover for deceit, then they will be open to discuss reality and the truth about deceit in their system of faith.

  7. Matt Duhamel Avatar
    Matt Duhamel

    Dear Tim,

    The sheer level of over-simplification and generalization in your comments has inverted my mind with its pure stupidity. I can only tell you that my response is a distillation of anger at your opinion, and any self-righteous smarmy response on your part of the lines “this is the truth, I will pray you see the truth” will only fuel my rage against you.

    Reply
  8. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    Matt
    I have read your response, appraisal of my thinking as it flows from history, the present and the Bible. I have no anger or rage against you.

    Reply
  9. Matt Duhamel Avatar
    Matt Duhamel

    But it you won’t admit that you’re entire “thinking” is anathema to the very essence of our belief?

    Reply
  10. Larry Eisner Avatar
    Larry Eisner

    I personally believe that they have the right to build on any property that they have purchased, so long as it doesn’t infringe upon the rights of any citizens, much like a Jewish group could establish a Synagogue or a Christian group could establish a church, or whatever. I really have no problem with whatever Americans do with American property that Americans have purchased. Awesome for them.

    If they built a shrine for the terrorists who lost their lives? That would be a problem. But that’s NOT what’s going up. So who cares what a group builds on private property with their own funds. Living in America guarantees that this is the kind of freedom afforded to anyone. There’s no stipulations with that. If you can afford it, with legally-obtained funds, then you have the right to build. Period.

    Anyway, the part of me that is MOST in ire is the state of Christians who would rather do the speck of dust in their brothers’ and sisters’ eyes, instead of dealing with their own (and I don’t say this mildly) crap.

    The church needs to right itself, before it tries to demand ANYTHING of anyone else. And this is the cause for the current state of disrespect and disenchantment of our nation towards the Christian church. We are not, as a body, acting as we should. We get too politically involved, waving the banner of Christ, where it isn’t needed. Do we need to vote? Of course. Do we need to elect officials who champion the causes of the church? Of course. But beyond that, we can call attention to injustice. That’s about it. Our call is to take care of the widows, the orphans, the poor and destitute. Not to alert the nation to the “growing threat” evidenced by a flipping building being erected.

    I’m sorry for those that lost family in 2001. It is a distinct tragedy, and a scar left on the name of Islam that they will have to prove otherwise for quite some time, as many are leery of the religion due to some zealots. (Much like many dislike the Christian church for people bombing abortion clinics or something.) Anyway, my point is that the best way to honor those people is to love everyone, as Christ commanded. We don’t need to take up their religion, or claim it as correct. But we need to love those people! And crying foul and freaking out because they want to build a building is not demonstrating Christ’s love for them. It’s alienating and showing them that all we can do is be reactionary idiots that don’t want to know the people behind the building, but instead react on assumptions and prejudice as to the motives and desires of the people who wish to build this community center.

    Anyway, I think it’s a tragedy that Christians don’t mind their own business, and it degrades the name of Christ to do anything but love their neighbors. Our neighbors. Whatever happened to turning the other cheek?

    Reply
    1. Dan Vdm Avatar
      Dan Vdm

      I agree with most of what you are saying. The one area we may disagree is that I believe that Christians are to inactive politically. I think we need to raise the bar on how politics operates. Just look at Illinois with its reputation for corruption. Our State is 13 billion dollars in the hole and our politicians solution is to borrow more. If we continue to bury our heads while our elected officials continue to do business as usual in the end it will impact how we are able to help the poor, educate the children, improve the lives of the handicapped etc. I think a good starting point is to demand honesty from our elected officials.

      Reply
      1. Larry Eisner Avatar
        Larry Eisner

        Sorry, Dan. I replied in the wrong place. See below. 🙂

  11. Larry Eisner Avatar
    Larry Eisner

    Dan, I’m not saying we’re to be exempt from politics. I’m simply saying that our beliefs should guide what we support, but if we use our beliefs as a hammer on those who disagree with us, we are doing Christ a disservice.

    We’re not going to brutalize someone into the kingdom. Most Christians accept this in personal relationships, but we fail to see this within the greater context of our lives. We’ll hold rallies and wave signs and the people who AREN’T held to the same standards as those of us who have accepted Christ do not understand (nor should they, yet) why we’re so vehemently opposed to say, abortion or whatever the cause du jour may be.

    I’m not saying we don’t care about these things, but we should remember that God is our king. That while we should give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, that we are not of this world. That our main effort here is not to bring about a Godly nation through law, but to do so through our efforts to love those around us in His name. So let’s put more effort into loving these people who oppose us, instead of making them enemies in court or in congress.

    I simply think that we spend far too much effort on things politic instead of things of the heart. We need to work with God on our own lives and be certain that they are good examples prior to trying to bring the hammer on those who would oppose us. I guess I just believe that God will deal with those who are against Him, and we should rally when he says, but otherwise, simply be in obedience to His calling.

    Reply

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