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Article: 003
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE - A VIRTUE OR UNDESIRABLE ATTRIBUTE?
Christians are often accused of being very dogmatic in their belief that Christianity is the only way to reach God and heaven. While there are other religions, such as Islam and various offshoots of Christianity who also lay claim to this belief, Christians are the most outspoken in this regard (mainly through evangelism) and tend to suffer the most criticism for it.
Despite all the seemingly good people and well-meaning religions which have sprung up around the world over time, Christians still feel the need to share their faith to the good and bad alike. But isn't that akin to trying to fix something that's not broken? Shouldn't Christians rather concentrate on ministering to those who need it and leave the generally 'good' people alone? After all, surely a God of love wouldn't condemn good people to hell?
Well, I suppose that may be one way to look at it (the human way, that is), but God doesn't look at what we do on the outside, He's looking at the condition of our souls on the inside.
From a Christian's point of view there are the two following Bible verses which are taken as instruction to minister to all the lost (i.e. those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, which includes those who consider themselves 'good'):
Matthew 28:19&20
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Mark 16:15&16
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
But even with these Scriptures in mind, can't the evangelism and "religious fanaticism" be toned down just a bit? Judging from all the wars and battles fought in this world in the name of religion, this world would probably be a much more peaceful place if all religions would practice more compromise.
What I'm curious to know, however, is how many of these religious wars, done in the name of God, was God actually a part of? Look at the never ending fighting that happens between the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. Does either side honestly believe that God is endorsing their fighting and hurting of their fellow man all for the sake of religiosity? That is what it actually boils down to. How many times have we simply expected God to bless our actions instead of acting upon that which God has already blessed? Jesus didn't take the form of a man and die for the sins of humankind in order to establish a religion on earth. Those who fight in the name of religion to protect their rituals, customs and traditions are doing it simply for themselves and to protect what makes them feel comfortable. God is not a religion and Christianity is not a religion, it's a way of life - there's a difference. Religion is man's search for God whereby Christianity is God's search for man.
Do you think God cares how you receive the breaking of bread - seated in your chair or up front in the Church? Do you think God cares whether or not your arms are raised when singing praises to Him if He know you were wholeheartedly praising Him with your spirit? Do you think God gives two hoots whether you wear a suite and tie or shirt and jeans to Church?
God is after the condition of the soul - the rest is all dress up. Am I now giving license to dress sloppy for Church and to not participate in the praise and worship at all? Definitely not. All I'm saying is always check your reason for doing things - make sure that what you do is exclusively for God and not for man.
Too often we get ourselves caught up in the religiosity of life. We end up caring more about how we look to other people instead of how we look to God. And when we do try to care how we look to God we're more concerned with our outward appearance instead of what's inside. Sad to say but a good portion of Christians give Christianity a bad name. It's no wonder so many people want nothing to do with God. And those who are more concerned with the religiosity of Christianity instead of its spirituality and having a personal relationship with God, are the same people who are watering down God's Word in order to make it more 'socially acceptable' to the rest of the world.
So at the end of the day, regardless of what Scripture says regarding the spreading of the Gospel, the world would still rather that Christian's keep their Christianity and their God to themselves. Is this any wonder taking John 3:19-21 into consideration:
"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
So many people are in a comfort zone with their lives. Accepting Christ would result in changes occurring and that is what many are rebelling against. God will only do what is best for us but it is fear of the unknown that keep so many away from knowing the awesome love and wonder of Christ.
So really then, what is the 'religious compromise' that so many Christians have with the world? It is more than an undesirable attribute that sells out the Son of God, it is a human weakness - hence the reason we need God. We cannot live supernatural lives with our natural human strength. It's only from tasting the magnificence and glory of God that we come to understand that standing up for Him against the world, and its dictates to make God's Scriptures more 'socially acceptable', is our only option. With God there is no compromise - we're either for Him or against Him. God's Word has spoken.
God bless,
Reaching Out Ministries
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