Multifaith Worship in Dallas-Fort Worth

The Christian Post published yesterday a wonderful story about a Christian church, a Muslim mosque, and a Jewish synagogue in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Texas whose congregations participated in a three-day multifaith gathering. The objective of the gatherings were to offer a unique opportunity for the three faiths groups to get to know each other better, and learn about the different teachings in an attempt to forge friendships. The journey began on Friday, January 22 at the Temple Shalom of North Dallas, traveled to the Islamic Center of Irving on Saturday, January 23, and concluded at Northwood Church in Keller on Sunday, January 24.

The multifaith worship gatherings were organized by Northwood Senior Pastor Bob Roberts, who was inspired by the growing number of diverse faiths in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Each of the services were distinctly Jewish, Muslim, and Christian. Roberts explained that the objective of the services was for each group to be open and honest about their differences, a point he says in critically overlooked in most interfaith services. “The old conversation of interfaith basically said if we all agree on everything then we can get along. So what we need to do is minimize our differences … and only talk about what we do agree upon,” said Roberts. At the Christian service on Sunday, Roberts said, “If we’re going to get along … I need to understand your core convictions, how it impacts your worldview … and I want you to understand Christianity. I want us to be honest about our differences so that we can build a relationship.” Each of the multifaith services was followed by a question and answer session, which all three leaders participated in.

Roberts acknowledges that the greatest religious conflict today is between fundamentalist faiths. However, he explains that being politically correct is not the way to go. “If we have to all convert to one religion we are never going to get along in this world. But if we can learn to respect one another, hold on to our faith passionately, follow the commands of what Jesus as Christians teaches us … then there’s hope.”

At the Sunday worship service, Roberts joked with the rabbi and imam saying, “There is this sense in which we want people to know our faith … to hear our truth and believe our truth. I do. Would you like everybody here to be a Muslim (addressing Imam Zia)? Be honest … you’re already thinking this will be a cool mosque. I’m not offended that you feel that way. You’re an honest Muslim. You’re being true to who you are.”

Roberts has been criticized by other pastors for attending multifaith events at different places of worship. He quickly puts the controversy to rest with a simple question, “Why do you go to restaurants where people get drunk? Why do you go to movies where people undress and do things on the screen that break the heart of God … Why do you want to get in a car built by an automobile industry driven by greed? But I don’t want to have a relationship with someone who’s trying to seek God? That makes sense, doesn’t it?”

Roberts plans to organize more multifaith worship services in the future.

Website: www.christianpost.com