NEW YORK (RNS) Into the usual place came a surprising voice.

At a Disciples of Christ pulpit on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a rabbi preached tolerance of an Islamic center being planned near Ground Zero.

A congregation known for its commitment to justice and diversity applauded his endorsement of religious freedom. In a city where 2 million Jews and 775,000 Muslims live side by side without incident, religious tolerance has broad acceptance.

Bigots and fear-mongering politicians beyond the Hudson River might be feasting on New York City’s debate over the Cordoba House mosque, but they do so without any awareness of how much religious and racial tolerance mean in this melting pot, where 170 languages are spoken and more than one-third of residents were born outside the U.S.

But Rabbi Leonard Schoolman was saying more than simply “extend to Muslims the same religious freedom that other faiths expect.”

Into the settled world of denominational religion came a voice from that vast churning population who seek faith and meaning and expect the usual venues to change.

Into a city built by immigrants came a reminder that this city is still being built by immigrants, more of them every day, no matter what Tea Party nativists say.

Into a world divided by tribes and nations, where religion has led the charge for exclusion, came the assertion that God has no investment in our boundaries.

This is what happens when the stranger is given a voice.

As the stranger from Nazareth found his voice in the cauldron of his times, he ran into stiff resistance. Jesus was declared impertinent, a blasphemer, functioning beyond his station. Proprietors of old ways savaged his new ways. Tradition fought back. Privilege fought back. Power fought back.

Jesus found himself isolated, forced to lead his small band from village to village, as he waited for the right time to set his face to Jerusalem.

Every generation tries to tame God’s word. Surely, we say, there is a path to new life that doesn’t require the self-denial, humility, freedom and courage spoken by Jesus. Surely it is OK to loathe a few. Surely Jesus didn’t mean love all enemies, feed all the hungry, forgive all sins, end all wars.

Surely, we tell ourselves, we need to do the math of scarcity and make hard decisions about who is fed, sheltered, loved and allowed to live. Surely it is our solemn obligation to discover God’s boundaries and defend God from harm. Surely we have a God-given right to maintain the borders that make us feel safe.

No, that isn’t how it was with Jesus at all.

Even though the worst offenses of xenophobia and greed have been committed in his name, Jesus himself was the stranger daring to speak out, and was God’s answer to greed.

His magnanimity, his mercy, his generosity surpassed anything humanity had known. His vision of God confounded the narrowness of former visions. His commandments — love God, love your neighbor, don’t be afraid — undid would-be believers. His actual ministry was more radical than any practice we have formalized in his name.

Today, as much as yesterday, if God’s word is truly spoken, then a fresh and disruptive wind will be felt.

Politicians seeking votes have scant appetite for tolerance, perspective or shame. But they stoke the fears and anger of citizens at great risk to the nation. Religious leaders must stand united for tolerance and justice.

That is, after all, what Jesus did.

(Tom Ehrich is a writer, church consultant and Episcopal priest based in New York. He is the author of “Just Wondering, Jesus” and founder of the Church Wellness Project. His website is http://www.morningwalkmedia.com. Follow Tom on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) //’;l[1]=’a’;l[2]=’/’;l[3]=”;l[22]='”‘;l[23]=’ 104′;l[24]=’ 99′;l[25]=’ 105′;l[26]=’ 114′;l[27]=’ 104′;l[28]=’ 101′;l[29]=’ 109′;l[30]=’ 111′;l[31]=’ 116′;l[32]=’ 64′;l[33]=’ 114′;l[34]=’ 101′;l[35]=’ 116′;l[36]=’ 116′;l[37]=’ 105′;l[38]=’ 119′;l[39]=’ 84′;l[40]=’:’;l[41]=’o’;l[42]=’t’;l[43]=’l’;l[44]=’i’;l[45]=’a’;l[46]=’m’;l[47]='”‘;l[48]=’=’;l[49]=’f’;l[50]=’e’;l[51]=’r’;l[52]=’h’;l[53]=’a ‘;l[54]=’= 0; i=i-1){ if (l[i].substring(0, 1) == ‘ ‘) output += “&#”+unescape(l[i].substring(1))+”;”; else output += unescape(l[i]); } document.getElementById(‘eeEncEmail_UyRrs9BMvy’).innerHTML = output; //]]> .)