No doubt you have seen this around; the ubiquitous bumper
sticker incorporates symbols of Islam, pacifism, male and female, Judaism,
Wicca, Taoism and Christianity. On the face of it, “COEXIST” seems to be a plea
for tolerance, let’s “get along.” Who can argue with that?
Well I hadn’t really thought about it until we read these
words from John 14 last Sunday, “I am the way the truth and the life and no one
can come to the father except through me.”(v.6). Since then as I’ve seen those
stickers I’ve had second thoughts about whether I’d put one on the back of my
car.
Of course we all need to be more tolerant; we live in a
world that bears the scars of intolerance, discrimination, and hate;
furthermore Classic Christianity has always asserted that there is truth in
other religions, although it has not always acted as though it believed it. The
Hebrew Scriptures were incorporated into the Christian Bible; who doubts that Mahatma
Gandhi was a man of God or that the present Dali Lama is a very fine ambassador
for the Spiritual life?
Christianity believes that all human beings are created in
the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). We can observe the wonders of
creation and achieve some knowledge about God the creator (in philosophy this
is called Natural Law). We can
recognize a shared humanity and the desire of all people to seek something
greater than ourselves.
However, being tolerant and recognizing there is truth in
other belief-systems does not mean that Christianity accepts the notion that
all faiths are equal. Our doctrine of the incarnation posits that in the
history of the world, Jesus Christ represents the fullest expression of God we
have ever seen and known. If that is not true then there is no reason for his crucifixion.
We believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
Of course we need tolerance, respect and peace with everyone
-- especially now. But we cannot reduce this desire to the glib assertion all
faiths are the same and that all paths lead to God. They aren’t and they don’t.
The idea that there is no exclusive Truth is itself a doctrine, one that
excludes everyone except the universalist.
I fear that we are living in a world that is trading the old
triumphalism (I’m right and you’re wrong
and I’m going to make you pay) for a fuzzy relativism (truth is whatever works for you, dude). Personally I’m hoping there
is some middle ground between these ways of thinking, a worldview that is
tolerant and respectful of others but doesn’t shy away from proclaiming the
Truth.
I hope that is what COEXIST is aiming for, but I’m not sure.
Which is why the bumper sticker on the back of my car reads: 2013 World Champions, Boston Red Sox.
That is TRUE!
As ever,
Jeff
