Description
Rick Love (http://ricklove.net/?page_id=2), this episode's guest on The Optimistic Muslim, might have started out wanting to turn Muslims into Christians, but when he learned more about Muslims and Islam he ended up becoming a better follower for Jesus himself. The author of Peacemaking, Rick Love is one Christian who thinks relations between Muslims and Christians, despite all the nasty rhetoric on both sides, has been improving since September 11, 2001, and he's not afraid to talk about why (http://wwwchristianitytoday.com/ct/2011/september/muslim-christian-relations.html).
Host Dr. David Liepert doesn't waste time getting to the important questions, starting off the interview by asking, "How can we help all of our people--whether they call themselves Christians or Muslims or Jews or non-alligned secularists--how can we help people share Jesus and the benefits of following him while they are sharing him in the kind of way that they have different relationships with him...?"
Rick Love and Dr. Liepert discuss if it's even possible to promote Jesus in the name of peace when so many decidedly un-peaceful events have taken place in his name over the years. What does it even mean to follow Jesus? What does it mean for you? For your neighbor?
"9-11 was a huge wake-up call for Muslims like me," says Dr. Liepert, addressing the actions of Muslim radicals--actions that are not typical for followers of Islam. While these horrific actions caused many to call out for a new Crusade, Rick Love, for one, said "no." Jesus was The Prince of Peace, so why is our first reaction when something goes wrong to react with violence or other extreme measures (evangelistic or otherwise)? How can Muslims, Christians, and everyone else work together for a more peaceful world...?
Join the Optimistic Muslim, Dr. David Liepert, as he talks to Christian missionary to Muslims, Rick Love, who has realized that he's Jesus' missionary to Christians too, about why and how he thinks Muslims and Christians will share the world together, the role that Jesus will play, and how it's Faith in God that's going to make the difference for all of us in the end.