Multi-religious environments around the world can’t be ignored.  This is the challenge facing Christians globally, and I have been confronted by this in Australia.  The growing momentum of different religions through immigration and conversion of Australians is impacting on the position and status of Christianity. 

I witnessed diversity, in all its splendor, last year when Melbourne hosted the week-long Parliament of the World’s Religions, the fourth of its kind since 1993.  I was one of over 6,000 delegates from 80 countries and 220 religions/faith belief systems who attended.

Through attending I was challenged on whether Christians should sit at the table with people from other religions and engage them with respect and humility, or stay away and still attempt to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ.  These two options were evident at the Melbourne Convention Centre each day of Parliament when evangelicals, including myself, walked past banners organised by the Acts 4:12 Group advocating that “Jesus is the only way” and not to put trust in religion.

Can being away from the table be effective in communicating the intended gospel message?  It was interesting that this group of about 20 attracted much attention throughout the Parliament in various sessions and question times, mostly negatively.  One of the consequences was to perpetuate stereotypes of Christianity and its exclusivity.

Does participating at the table rather than remaining at a distance mean that one has to compromise one’s own faith?  I don’t believe so.  There is no expectation in dialogue that one needs to forsake one’s own faith.  Through listening one can learn from others but also open up opportunities to present one’s own faith.  The extent to which learning impacts on one’s own faith is where debate occurred.  The challenge was in presenting the Christian distinctive of the uniqueness of Christ and the question of how to express this truth in such a way as to overcome historical and contemporary perceptions of Christians being arrogant, exclusive and culturally insensitive.  Romans 15:7 is an important Scriptural passage to consider in regards to acceptance.  Being at the table assists this and allows relationships to develop where God, through the Holy Spirit, sews seeds of the good news that can take root and grow.  The role of prayer is vital during this process.

What are the consequences if God’s people are not prepared to come to the table, sit and engage? 

In tackling this issue of how to engage people from significant world religions I take much heart from Paul who models what it means to sit at the table with those who are different and hold different theological/philosophical positions.