Pastor Bob Roberts Jr. offers strategies on relating to people of all faiths

TITLE: Bold as Love
AUTHOR: Bob Roberts Jr.
PUBLISHER: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-1-400-20420-5
PRICE: $16.99
RELEASE DATE: Dec. 4

Texas pastor Bob Roberts Jr. has never been the same since being challenged by a Saudi Arabian prince to do the impossible—to somehow bring Muslims and Christians together in the buckle of the Bible belt. That was the start of something new for his congregation—NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas—as its members began hosting an event drawing Christians and Muslims.

A frequent speaker on this subject, Roberts has written Bold as Love: What Can Happen When We See People the Way God Does, with the aim of helping Christians live out their faith among people of all faiths.

The idea for the event began in Portugal at a United Nations think tank Roberts participated in, which considered how to unite people of different religions. While Roberts expected only a small turnout at his church event, more than 2,000 participated—mostly Muslims—to start a dialogue in what had become a culturally diverse area.

NorthWood Church has launched 175 churches, all of which are engaged in community transformation projects worldwide. Roberts also works with state departments, organizations and media at home and in countries such as Afghanistan and Australia, promoting collaborative efforts between people of different faiths.

Globalization, Roberts says, has changed American neighborhoods, giving Christians close-at-hand opportunities to demonstrate the gospel to people from all over the world. He urges Christians to be honest about their beliefs, not to dilute them, and to begin by loving people and building relationships. He believes this requires bold love, not “shy faith,” which must focus on serving God and following His commands, even taking the first step. Further, he has found that nothing builds relationships like serving side-by-side with people who practice a different faith.

Distinguishing between “interfaith” and “multifaith,” the pastor doesn’t advocate the concept that “all paths lead to God.” Whereas interfaith gatherings tend to “ignore core truth,” he says multifaith efforts acknowledge “we have fundamental differences, but the best of our faiths teach us we should get along.”

Roberts admits this effort poses challenges, like fear and opposition from our own “tribe” or community. He describes five fears to overcome and writes: “Only the promises of God, and the power that comes from him, can enable us to reach out to those who may intimidate us.”

Offering practical ways to reach out, he encourages readers to start with service and keep it simple, especially engaging in joint projects for the common good that promote conversation. Roberts and his church have built schools in Afghan villages, worked with multifaith groups at local senior centers, refurbished homes and established student exchange programs.

Embrace theology, says Roberts, because “theology is more important than ever.” He offers five features of theology and six dimensions of multifaith living, including the idea that multifaith interactions deepen our own faith.

The book concludes with the message that Christians must begin with forgiveness—extending forgiveness for mistreatment of Christians past and present and asking for forgiveness for their failure to love others in the way Jesus loves.

To order, call Thomas Nelson at 800-251-4000, or visit www.thomasnelson.com.

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