Andrews Lecture speaker urges cultural engagement

Published: February 18, 2025

Author: Dave Bell

John Inazu, the Sally Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University, challenged his Greenville University audience to “live faithfully but also neighborly” with the people around them – even those who are considerably different.

As the speaker at GU’s eighth annual Andrews Lecture on Feb. 4, Inazu titled his address “Christian Engagement in a World of Difference.”

“Today’s cultural landscape is marked by significant and often irreconcilable differences,” Inazu said. “These differences affect not only what we think, but also how we think and how we see the world.”

The challenge, he said, is to remain engaged in that culture, yet remember that only God can provide “a hope and a future,” as described in Jeremiah 29:11.

“While we are called to live in this world, the Apostle Paul reminds us that our proper citizenship is in heaven,” said Inazu. “This doesn’t mean that Christians should withdraw from politics or wash their hands of any government involvement. But we should always pursue political engagement knowing its proper place in our ultimate allegiances.

“Christians are – and always have been – ‘resident aliens’ called to love our neighbors with deeds of service so that those around us will ‘see our good works and glorify God,’” Inazu added, citing Matthew 5:16.

To live out such a challenge, Inazu urged audience members to consider three commitments:

1) Confidence – “As Christians, our confidence is in the person and work of Jesus,” he said. “That allows us to face uncertainty and differences in the world around us. Faith, as the writer of Hebrews reminds us, involves trusting in things unseen.”

2) Neighborliness – “This means connecting with people in tangible and vulnerable ways,” Inazu said. “It starts with ordinary acts like sharing a meal or simply having a conversation. Don’t miss the opportunity to find common ground with those around you, even though we can’t minimize the reality of our deep differences.” Key elements of neighborliness are humility, patience, and tolerance, he added.

3) Love – “Loving others, especially those who differ from us, requires stepping outside of our comfort zone and risking rejection,” he said. “But this is the model Christ offers. He loved us while we were still sinners and gave his life to reconcile us to God. Our love for others flows from this divine example, as we seek reconciliation, not merely coexistence or partnership.”

Inazu concluded by asserting that deep differences shouldn’t be minimized or ignored.

“We live in a society where many of our neighbors, colleagues, and friends see the world quite differently than we do,” he said. “Christian engagement in a world of difference is not about winning arguments or reclaiming cultural power. It is about living faithfully and neighborly, and bearing witness to the hope we have in Christ. We do this not only for our own sake, or for the flourishing of others, but also to see God’s glory made known.”

Inazu has written extensively on the challenges of overcoming differences, including Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect (Zondervan, 2024) and Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference (University of Chicago Press, 2016). Also, he and Tim Keller co-edited Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference (Thomas Nelson, 2020).

After his GU address, Inazu fielded questions from the audience. Among those was a question about how Christians can engage with people of other faiths – or no faith at all.

“Start with small, ordinary things,” Inazu said. “Talk with them about issues that can have a good outcome. We must first be able to have thoughtful discussions about a variety of issues before we can address issues of faith. And the reality is that we’re not going to have meaningful relationships with everyone.”

In keeping with the title of the lecture, “Christian Engagement in a World of Difference,” Inazu asserted: “We must start with the premise that all people are image-bearers of God. Then, when we have opportunities to interact with people of other faiths, we must leave room for God to work.”

Ben Wayman, chair of the Bastian School of Theology, Philosophy, and Ministry at GU, was emcee for the event. He also serves as the James F. and Leona N. Andrews Chair for Christian Unity, a position funded by a generous gift from the Full Salvation Union. As chair, he coordinates interdenominational programs and speakers that promote Christian unity.

After the lecture, Wayman said that Inazu’s message was helpful for Christians seeking to engage with others in society who don’t share traditional Christian positions. “With all the divisiveness in our country and throughout the world today, Dr. Inazu’s message helped us to think more carefully about how to be a Christian in our context and in this moment,” Wayman said. “It’s only through Christ that we have a new way to live together.”