Making friends with people of other religions: Pitfalls of giftive mission

Abstract

Well-intentioned Christians desirous of establishing cross-religious friendships, often encounter obstacles to what I call here giftive mission, that is, graciously giving to and receiving from one another. Grace is key, because giftive mission carries a high risk of failure. Nevertheless, wisely navigating several trouble spots in developing relationships with persons of other religions and cultures can help avoid and overcome obstacles. This article addresses five common areas of tension and potential misunderstanding in cross-religious interpersonal relationships: ideas; dress; female/male interactions; communication; and time. This list is certainly not exhaustive. Learning to understand and respect “alien ways” is a lifelong journey, but the joy of building friendships with people of other faiths is a reward worthy of effort to overcome the challenges.