Who is My Neighbor?

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There are two main pastoral care issues within this situation. The first is the question of how churches should be hospitable during joys and concerns. The sharing of joys and concerns in worship has biblical roots (Romans 12:15 and Galatians 6:2 ). It is a practice that has been done in churches for centuries. There are a few different ways that churches go about sharing joys and concerns. This usually happens right before the pastoral prayer or the prayers of the people.
The first method for doing joys and concerns is when the pastor opens up the floor for anybody to stand up and voice what they need prayer for and what they want to celebrate. The second way that this is often done is for congregants to write their joys and concerns on little sheets of paper and the pastor will read them, as they see fit, to the congregation. Many churches have moved to letting the pastor decide what the congregation hears because this time is sometimes unintentionally used for gossip.
In Romans 12, Paul offers his thoughts on how Christians should be living together and treating one another. Paul commands us to take care of one another, live in harmony, and to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” What Paul is essentially saying is that if one member of the church is suffering, the church is to share in that suffering. If one member of the church has an achievement or a joy, the congregation is to share in that joy. When members of the church share their joys and concerns, the body of Christ and true hospitality becomes a reality.
Another question that arises from this situation is how a pastor should react when someone offers up a something that is considered offensive or full of gossip. Personally, I ...

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...n to gain a mutual understanding of one another. When we develop friendships with Muslims as members of the human community from whom we have much to learn, we will be able to increase our respect and knowledge of Islam.
Jim was genuinely afraid of Muslims and Sharia law. This fear and hatred that came out both in our worship services and in our conversation is the kind of attitude that is holding back better relations between Christians and Muslims. The action statement that closes out the resolution calls for local congregations to develop ongoing relationships with Muslims. It urges us to initiate conversations, programs, and dialogues that will lead to an understanding and appreciation of both Islam and Christianity. As a congregation of the United Methodist Church, Brownsville UMC is called to be in relationship with Muslims in the surrounding communities.

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