Love the Stranger is from SPCK’s series the New Library of Pastoral Care. Like the whole series, this book is written for people concerned with pastoral care and the wider social context.
The obvious advantage of the book is that the authors have had experience in India and Pakistan and both now work in the English scene. Over against that positive feature is the fact that this is an Anglican book aimed at the full-time ordained ministry. Those of us starting from different presuppositions which break the parish mould find the literature frustrating.
But the central fact tackled by this book is undeniably very significant. The multi-faith dimension in the British Isles has visibly shattered the long-held view that Christianity is the only practical religious option for the Anglo-Saxons or Celts. The numerical presence is itself compelling—at least 800,000 Muslims, 320,000 Hindus, 300,000 Sikhs, 100,000 Buddhists (not to mention 385,000 Jews)—in that there are more Muslims than Methodists, Hindus than Baptists, Sikhs than the URC and Buddhists than Pente-costalists!
At the heart of the matter is the question of the attitude of Christians to other faiths. Since culture and religion are so clearly one—and as racism has reinforced this—we face a formidable task in unlocking this dilemma. And is it to be done by evangelistic confrontation or ecumenical dialogue? That is the question!
Since ‘the history of Christian relations with those of other faiths is for the most part a very dismal tale’, some of the practical approaches outlined are of real interest. These include seeing ministry as
(1) ‘Loitering with intent’. Like Jesus, to begin where people are and not where we want them to be;
(2) ‘Problem-solving’—getting alongside people in their difficulties;
(3) ‘Ritual Specialist’—learning from, and interpreting, worship and practices.
These are but the beginning because, if they are taken seriously, difficulties will immediately arise from the expectations of a congregation unless they can be carried by the clergy into a fresh understanding of mission. The role of the local church and models of ministry are both areas for exploration here.
But, even more deeply, the attitudes Christians take to others is crucial. Can we learn from other faiths? Is there any objective knowledge, possibility of contrasts or affirming similarities? The writers maintain there is much to learn and much to gain.
Yet, ultimately, what is the relationship to be between faith and the faith?—that is the question for Christians. In pursuing it, we have to acknowledge that this scandal of particularity is offensive to others. ‘Hindus deeply resent the Christian claim that salvation is to be found only through Christ.’
If we are prepared to hold to our own deep-seated convictions about the lordship of Christ (no other name) and come to an understanding of other faiths, we are encouraged to face up to three tasks:
(1) To read the Bible with new eyes: ‘the assumptions we bring to our reading of the Bible profoundly affect the message we think we take from it.’
(2) To ask whether real dialogue has been undertaken. Principles of dialogue are affirmed: dialogue begins when people meet each other, dialogue depends upon mutual understanding and trust, dialogue makes it possible to share in service to the community, and dialogue becomes the medium of authentic witness.
(3) To see if we accept the fact that ‘the piety of the environment’ is ‘breaking down under the pressure of urban and industrial change’! In other words, that religious cultural conditioning is no longer the key coding and determining principle in shaping human life.
While I fully accept all three theses—and underline that those of us in inner-city ministry have long been compelled to face all three tasks at the different level of the working-class culture—I am still left asking myself whether Christian ministry in multi-faith areas can have any cutting edge without a clarity of conviction which may (perhaps must) show itself in a posture of confrontation rather than accommodation. Yes, we have to ‘love the stranger’ and yes, we have to ‘name the name’. It is not an ‘either or’ but a ‘both and’.
The book is a diving-board into a deep pool—and the appendices will provide techniques for the activity and rescue-lines when you get into difficulties. A very full bibliography, grouped under key sections, a list of relevant church groups, an essay on ‘New Religious Movements of Indian Origin’ and a case-study on mixed marriage are there for your use.
