Overcoming Hatred With Love
When people in the USA ask me if I was ever afraid living in the Middle East and North Africa, I knew what they were looking for in a response. We have many preconseived ideas of how the Arab world is because of our own experience with 9/11 and the subsequent new awareness of terror attacks at the hands of Muslims around the world.
My response to this frequent question was: “I am more afraid in the Walmart parking lot than I am in the Middle East!” After almost 20 years of living among Muslims, I’m fully convinced that, when true love is conveyed, hatred is overcome. I do not believe that this will ever happen through governments, guns or diplomacy, but can only happen through individuals engaging in relationship for the cause of Christ. Because I loved and lived among Muslims, my family, my church, my friends began to see them in a new light, to pray for them, to even engage them in their own communities. It is my prayer that we will each begin to see them in a new light and engage them in a positive manner for the glory of God.
I could not agree more. I too have visited and lived among Muslims. It seems to me if people would make the effort to get to know Muslims, then they too would see why you and I are more afraid in a Walmart Parking lot. So much fear is generated because of so much ignorance.
You are right, Steve, ignorance is usually the main cause of fear, and Satan likes to keep us that way. This is why my husband and I have worked so hard to write and teach Christians and other groups about Islam and Muslims. The more we know, the better equipped we are to share and love.