Enemies with Smiling Faces - Don Posterski

Course: Culture, gospel and church
Prof: Don Posterski (yes-- he is the author of this book)

When we are probing how to deal with diversity in this book, one of the section headings strike me: defend the cultural space of the others. As a Christian, we are often walled by oppositions that are against values in our religion: same sex marriage, law in place to prohibit languages with discrimination that might lead to making bible reading illegal in public. We are often so busy defending ourselves from all the bows and arrows from the liberalism. We are striving and voicing to be treated equally and justly in the name of freedom. However, while we attempts to protect our sacred ground and defending our own right, we as Christians have never thought of defending other cultures or religions’ right – it is not equivalent to “promoting other religions”, yet it is on the basis of doing what is just, as we loves others as ourselves and not lending a hand to oppress a group.

When injustice such as electoral law in quebec instated not to allow veiled Muslim women to vote, shall we as Christians not voice out in support of the oppressed? -– not the "typical" oppressed group as we have perceived from our culture, yet lending the Muslims the right and space to practice and maintain their dignity and religion in their own culture. What kind of impact it will be, when Christians extend a friendly hand to protect them from such inequality and take the sword to fight for them? It is certainly much louder than proclaiming in words “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” for we have brought the heart of God to them in action.

I wholeheartedly believe, giving space to the others keeps them within the smelling range -- keeps them in the smelling range of the fragrance of our Lord.