This is not intended to be a rant, nor a condemnation, nor a political statement; I am not even attempting to make some theological argument, though it is based upon the way I am understanding faith and life. I am not attempting to belittle the suffering of the friends and families of the Charlie Hebdo victims, or any victims of terrorist action; nor am I attempting to criticize the publication Charlie Hebdo or any satirical work.
This is me, as a Christian, living and serving internationally, wrestling with questions of terrorism, faith, freedom, responsibility and more. I am not asking that you agree with me, and if you disagree please don't be disagreeable, but I am willing to dialogue about it. I don't have the answers and I'm writing in hopes of bringing clarity to my own process while tossing out the questions that some of you may have also been wrestling within your minds and social circles.
The terrorist activity in France last week, targeting the satirical publication Charlie Hebdo, was by
every definition a tragedy. The perpetrators of the act of walking into a workplace with the intent of ending even just one life is without excuse. The act of killing a wounded officer on the ground at point blank range is sickening.
It is ironic that a publication that holds nothing sacred is being elevated to martyrdom. The article that ran in Al Jazeera English,
Let's Not Sacralize Charlie Hebdo, is correct--it is a publication that takes aim at the sacred (of all religious and belief persuasions) and all absolutes. And modern, western civilization has been holding up the "Je Suis Charlie" hashtags, placards, and tee shirts as the new WWJD bracelet.
And that's where my questions started getting raised. I want to stand in solidarity with France--and with Nigeria whose
own latest devastation at the hands of militant Islamic-based terrorists (Boko Haram) is titanic in proportion--these terrorist acts are an insult to all faiths. I want to stand up for free speech--just as I want to stand for freedom of religion--
even if the speech or religious belief that is chosen is counter to my own.
But I believe that freedom of faith and freedom of expression also come with responsibility, namely to not be dismissive, deriding, demonizing or destructive to the faith and expressions of others.
And this is the catch-22 of our era--the challenge of living in interfaith communities or just in the same world in the internet age--our various faiths or degrees of faith (or lack) come into conflict with one another from the prayers offered at public gatherings, to public memorials and displays, to publications, to social media posts, to...
"Je Suis Charlie" may be a rallying cry of solidarity, but what are we saying by jumping on the bandwagon? That I agree with the guy who draws a picture knowing that it will intentionally offend and belittle the belief of millions? That I agree with an article that mocks a culture and race of individuals whom I hardly know but will perpetuate stereotypes and prejudice?
I know that "Je Suis Charlie" arose out of good intentions. But good intentions can also hurt people.
And with that in mind, I have to say, "Je ne suis pas Charlie."
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A few years ago, frontman Marcus Mumford of the band "Mumford and Sons" did an
interview for Rolling Stone magazine. Marcus' parents were leaders of a Vineyard church in Australia, and many noted the spiritual themes and lyrics within the bands music. In the interview, Marcus is asked if he considered himself a Christian, and his answer really outraged the Christian community because he said,
"I don't really like that word," he says. "It comes with so much baggage. So, no, I wouldn't call myself a Christian. I think the word just conjures up all these religious images that I don't really like. I have my personal views about the person of Jesus and who he was. Like, you ask a Muslim and they'll say, 'Jesus was awesome' – they're not Christians, but they still love Jesus. I've kind of separated myself from the culture of Christianity."
The Christian community labeled Marcus a "sell out," "ashamed of Jesus," and all sorts of accusations. I don't think that Marcus (and countless young adults) was necessarily ashamed of Jesus--and I'm not trying to label him a Christian--but, as he said, ashamed of the Christian community that goes with that label.
Why do I bring this up while writing about Charlie Hebdo?
I have two related thoughts:
First, I think that many have jumped on the intention of demonstrating solidarity with France without fully thinking about what the statement "Je Suis Charlie Hebdo" may also imply. I similarly see so many "Christian" or conservative publications and articles that have a good/catchy headline, or main idea, or notable author, but upon further examination, the rest of the content is narrow-minded, mean-spirited, full of stereotype and prejudice, or even just ignorant--yet it gets forwarded, re-posted, or shared through social media, often because a friend we know had done the same. By such careless, thoughtless activity we create the "Christian" prejudice & stereotypes that are getting in the way of the young, marginalized, outcast, searching, atheist, agnostic, Hindi, Muslim, Buddhist, or others--they can't see the Christ, without stumbling through the walls of our "Christian" stuff. (By the way, love him or choose to pile on him, I agree with Rob Bell's thought that "Christian" makes a poor adjective; see his book Velvet Elvis.)
Secondly, because the Charlie Hebdo situation also has to do with the terror inflicted by militant Islamist-based faith, I see/read politicians, western media, & social media users bashing, stereotyping, and increasing prejudice toward Muslims and those from Middle Eastern cultures; sadder still is that many are doing so in the name of Jesus. And while they have climbed on the back of the One who bore the sins of all humanity (who came not to condemn the world but save it), they simultaneously take the whips, mocking, spitting and change the shouts of "crucify" with modern "crusade" against Muslim and Middle Eastern people. As one person from a western culture, representing and attempting to serve in Jesus name in the Middle East, I am often embarrassed and sometimes ashamed at what I see/hear reported, reposted, or retweeted. I know that some Muslims have intentionally declared war and take to violent, destructive action against Christians and western culture--and I am not a pacifist and believe in defending ourselves and fighting against evil men--but I do not think that Christians ought to be taking up the speech nor the digital words and images as weapons and inflict the same sort of barbarian, vindictive action upon the reputations of millions whom you do not know or understand. Such talk/posts create and foster enmity, not understanding and any chance for a better tomorrow.
I recently read this Muslim publication that reported on a unique document held at the oldest monastery in the world, St. Catherine's at the base of the Sinai Mountain in the heart of the Middle East. Surrounded by an ever increasing Islamic region, the leaders of St Catherine's sent a delegation to the Prophet Muhammed, founder of Islam, to request protection in 628 AD. Muhammed responded graciously, and his response remains at St. Catherine's to this day--it reads...
The Promise to St. Catherine: “This is a message from Muhammad ibn 
Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”
Like me, I bet few from my country of origin, or within my faith movement, have ever heard/read that; yet, we so quickly forward hatred or fear in defense of Jesus. How much could we learn if we would be willing to listen to one another? How much could be healed if we heeded the instructions of the ones we claim to follow? We'll never really know because we rarely get started nor stay on such roads.
From Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
If "salt" is "truth which prevents moral decay and leads to holiness," then I think that our well-intentioned posts, forwards, and all the religious talking heads get this in reverse--they're heavy on the salt with (at best) a side of grace. Salt as seasoning is to create thirst and bring out the flavors of what is being seasoned. So little grace is being served in our conversations today, and especially in response to atrocities like at the offices of Charlie Hebdo last week.
Finally, we need to spend some time on this verse and Ephesians 4:19 and any other Scripture referencing our words (whether written or spoken) and find some application as it relates to the digital age in which we find ourselves. We've jumped into a world wide web of confusion and darkness, and we're doing little to adequately bring the light and love of Jesus Christ into it. I fear we have installed the apps and instilled additional confusion and barriers.
So there it is--my thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears, wondering and maybe even wandering. We're living in a complex world that is ever in closer proximity to one another, yet we haven't discovered how to be neighbors. We have the tools that could foster dialogue and fuel understanding, and instead we use these tools like simpletons who simply perpetuate the cycles of fear and hate. You may have your own thoughts and questions--mine may have really disturbed you and you want to dialogue, even to correct me--post a comment, send an email, pick up the phone, schedule a Skype or day at Starbucks. I'm willing to hear as well as be heard; I'm willing to walk with you to a deeper, different expression of faith than that of the "Christian culture"--I want to find the heart of Jesus for the world in which we live, and if you want that too, let's start the conversation...
