US Mennonite Brethren

Jesus commands us to love our neighbors (Luke 10:27) and to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44), and for many Americans today Muslims are our neighbors. Given estimates that from 2.5 million to more than 6 million Muslims live in the U.S., Christians are finding more and more opportunities to interact with Muslims. But Muslims, especially those in the Middle East, are viewed by many Americans as our enemies.

 

Jesus acknowledges that loving our enemies—and our neighbors—isn’t easy, but that, he says, is no excuse. Just how difficult it is to really love enemies is evident by the considerable criticism Mennonite Central Committee has received from constituents as well as other Christians, Jews and a variety of civic organizations for the dinner and meeting it cosponsored Sept. 25 in New York City that included Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. I understand these concerns. Ahmadinejad is a controversial leader and Iran is a country with which the U.S. has not had diplomatic relations for nearly 30 years. Ahmadinejad has publicly denied the Holocaust, called for the destruction of the state of Israel and defied international demands that Iran halt production of enriched uranium.

 

I also credit MCC for following through on their commitment to be active peacemakers even when it is unpopular. It takes courage to accept an invitation to eat and meet with the “enemy” when it will potentially generate misunderstandings and bad press. And it did. “No feast with the beast,” said one protestor’s sign; the executive director of the Anti-Defamation League called the dinner a “perversion of the search for peace.” Criticism came from Jewish and Christian groups, as well as MCC’s constituents.

 

Given the criticism, why did MCC go through with the meeting? Through these interfaith discussions, MCC hopes to build bridges between Christians, Jews and Muslims. They also hope to dialogue with Ahmadinejad, although this didn’t happen in September since the Iranian president spoke for 45 minutes and then left. However, MCC leaders say that over the past two years the Iranian president has backed off his most inflammatory comments. They believe Ahmadinejad has gained valuable exposure to Christian and other peacemakers of different faiths. They cannot be sure what impact the meetings have had. But they are certain that Christian peacemaking must begin with a willingness to talk.

 

Jesus tells us to love our enemies, we say. Doing the right thing isn’t always easy or popular, we tell our children. And yet when MCC hosts a dinner and invites an enemy—at the suggestion of that enemy—some of us are uncomfortable while others are downright mad. Leader readers have shared their concerns about this meeting in personal correspondence with the magazine staff, and Mennonite Brethren have contacted MCC and participated in follow-up forums hosted by MCC. I affirm those people who have done more than privately lament a decision with which they disagree.

 

I commend MCC staff and board members for listening to their constituents and for sharing the reasons for their decisions. I believe MCC truly understands the concerns that are shared on this issue, and yet the agency feels compelled to continue talking with Ahmadinejad, should he initiate another meeting. Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that someone hasn’t listened to us because the discussion has not persuaded the other person to change her mind. In this case MCC has listened, and I encourage those readers who disagree with the decision to continue meeting with Ahmadinejad to support the agency in its efforts to obey Christ’s teachings.