On evangelicals and interfaith cooperation: an interview with Tony Campolo by Shane Claiborne

Cross Currents, Spring, 2005 by Shane Claiborne

TC: Rather than making theological statements, we need to tell each other our stories. Jesus would tell stories and then say, "what do you make of this story?" One more story.

In the city of Toledo, right in the middle of Spain in the year 1000, when the Inquisition was in high gear. Jews, Catholics, and Muslims in this little city had learned to live together and respect one another and love one another, and protect one another. And the Catholics would not let the Inquisition come in and hurt their Muslim or Jewish brothers and vice-versa the Muslims would not let the invading Muslim troops do anything to hurt the Catholics and Jews. They had found among each other a commonality and a common spirituality that was really quite remarkable. There is a book written on Toledo holding it up as the fact that here was a place where it happened. So let it never be forgotten that there was once a spot in Toledo.

You might conclude with the that little song we always sang at communion:

     Blest be the tie that binds
     our hearts in Christian love;
     The fellowship of kindred minds
     Is like to that above ...

There is a fellowship of kindred minds and you can't deny it. And this is why C.S. Lewis asks the question, "Once I am connected with such a person in love: Could I possible enjoy heaven without him?"

SC: That's a good word.

TC: Yes, a real good word.