Template #2 – Express God’s Love

The second tool of PEACE PATH is to "Express God’s Love." It naturally builds upon the first tool. You cannot "Participate in God’s Dream" for the world unless your highest intention becomes expressing God’s love to others without hidden agendas.

One of the most powerful questions we can ask each other is: How can we be a blessing to you and your people? When Muslims ask this of Christians or Christians of Muslims, doors and hearts will open in your community.

• The key to unlock hearts by listening to the answer to this question and not to assume you already know what they need.

Friendship and authentic dialogue are two of the most frequent answers We have found that many Muslims are hungry for genuine Christian friends and to be accepted in our "Christian Nation."

Truly, the mission of God begins with friendship and is fulfilled by loving your neighbor. For many of us, this has to start in our backyard, in the communities where we live.

Expressing God’s love is a practical thing. Never assume that you know what people need. If you ask them how you can bless them they will tell you! If you want to participate in God’s Dream for them then attempt to meet that need and become friends.

• They will give God glory and say, "Truly you are a real Christian. Until we met you we thought all Christians hated us." 

If Muslims show this kind of love to Christians they will say; "Now we know what a real Muslim is supposed to be. You are not angry terrorists who hate us."

• Expressing this type of love works well for both faith communities because love flows from the heart of God.

A person of peace is a person of character and respect in the community that has influence with others. If you can find a person of peace and ask them the question about how you can be a blessing to them, they will not only tell you the answer but they will introduce you to their friends and the rest of the community.

• In other words, if this person likes you the rest of the community will both like and accept you.

It is important that both Muslims look for people of peace in the Christian community and that Christians look for the person of peace in the Muslim community.

• It is equally important that we find mosques and churches of peace. Don’t waste your time if they are not sincere about peace and reconciliation.

If someone just wants to argue with you, or try to convert you to their religion or is not really interested in friendship just move on. This is what Jesus told his disciples to do.

• Don't waste time or get bogged down in polemics, apologetics, and converting each other. There is a place for discussion on these issues, but it needs to be in the context of real friendship with the goal of participating together in God’s Dream.
• God has a bigger Dream for all of us. Remember, the greatest expression of God’s love that we can offer is genuine friendship.

• The first reconciliation tool of the PEACE PATH vision is to Participate in God Dream for saving the world. Muslims and Christians do this by becoming friends and loving each other as neighbors.

• The second tool of the PEACE PATH vision is to express God’s love. We do this by asking the question; "How can we be a blessing to you, your family or your community?"