Why Chuck Colson Did Not Endorse the Letter “Loving God and Neighbor Together”

"The statement fails to address the fundamental differences that must be dealt with if there is to be any meaningful progress."

LANSDOWNE, Va., Nov. 20, 2007—On Oct. 13, 2007, 138 Muslim scholars and clerics sent an open letter to Christian leaders called A Common Word Between Us and You. Scholars at Yale Divinity School's Center for Faith and Culture published a response on Nov. 18 in The New York Times titled Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to ‘A Common Word between Us and You.' The statement was endorsed by some 300 Christian theologians and leaders.

BreakPoint founder Chuck Colson explains here why he did not endorse the statement.

"All evangelicals, indeed all right-thinking citizens, should welcome the irenic overture of the 38 Muslim scholars who issued the statement 'A Common Word between Us and You.' There are few things more important than finding a peaceful resolution of Islamic/Christian tensions which have erupted in senseless violence, violence which is contrary to the very nature of God.

At the same time, the response statement fails to address the fundamental differences that must be dealt with if there is to be any meaningful progress. Differences include the character of Holy scripture; the issues of reciprocity and religious freedom, like welcoming Christian churches in Muslim states in the same manner Christian states welcome mosques; and a joint renunciation of violence currently being perpetrated falsely in the name of God. 

Putting these issues on the table from the beginning is essential for meaningful dialogue and the possibility of any genuine understanding. I fear if we do not do that, then we might mislead people in both of our communities."

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Chuck Colson is the founder of PFM, a Christian non-profit organization comprised of Prison Fellowship, the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families, and BreakPoint, which equips Christians to live out their faith in the culture.