I don’t know about you but there is a bumper sticker I have always liked yet I understand many christian people would not agree with me. It is the coexist bumper sticker.
I do not necessarily agree with all the beliefs of the organizations in coexist, but there is a basic concept that I think we as christians should be showing to the world.
Now there are several institutions that I do not know a lot about that make up the group, and I am sure I do not agree with every concept of all of them. What I do like about the coexist organization is the statement that their mission is to advance social cohesion through education and innovation. That they work at the fault-lines of conflicting cultural identities to strengthen the bond that holds a society together through a sustainable model of people working and learning together. This generates social cohesion that reduces prejudice, hate and violence and prevents conflict from emerging again.
I know many christian people will take this in a way that says anything goes. Whatever you want to believe is fine no matter what and we can all go through life together happy and accepting each other with no consequences. Many will feel that education is the key and if we just learn how each other thinks we can be accepting and get along with no problem.
For me, I agree with some of this way of thinking. We should be able to talk, learn, and get to know others of different ideas, faith, lifestyle and nationalities. We should be able to get along, love and accept people who see things differently.
That does not mean we have to always agree or change our way of thinking just to get along. We can be loving and accepting of others even in our differences.
There are certainly many different ways of thought, many different religious groups, the LGBTQ community, atheists, different nationalities, ethnic groups and on and on. We certainly are not all going to agree with each other.
What I am saying is even though we see things differently and we do not agree on everything we should be able to accept one another in love and respect, accept each other for who we are and get along together in our differences yet keep our personal beliefs and individuality.
Those of us who are following Jesus and consider ourselves christians are called to love God and love others. The others we are to love are not just those who believe, or go to the same religious organization or interpret the bible the same way. Many times it is loving those who most religious people would not take the time to be around. It seems to me this is the way Jesus lived.
I think we can coexist with our fellow humans and still hold to our personal faith and beliefs. Each of us can live our lives in a way we feel is right for us and accept those who feel differently.
Hey Mike, my point was not to promote a particular group or movement. It was to promote loving your neighbor, your family in Christ and your enemy. We can love one another and exist together even in our differences. Thanks for your comment.
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You are deceived. The “Coexist” movement, more than any other represents the last days one-World religious system that will persecute those that do not fall in line with their “tolerance”. I believe this will indeed will be the representation of the Great Prostitute mentioned in Revelation 18.
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So true Jack. I have felt the same way for some time now. I have written 2 or 3 articles along that line. Many christian people seem to think the government or a specific political party can make a moral change. Just as many look to a pastor or ‘spiritual leader’ to tell them about God. We need to look beyond human and government ideas for solutions and look to the Spirit of God within us. Thanks for the good comment. Here is one of my articles: https://donewithreligion.com/2015/03/06/can-we-vote-in-morality/
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Our conversation brings up something that has troubled me for decades about Christianity/ians. That is, attempting to legislate so-called Biblical values through Fed/State/Local laws. Don’t they know people aren’t saved by preventing / prohibiting them from sinning? People are saved only by coming to Yeshua. So what value is there in religious campaigns against sin or legislating Biblical behavior?
What the Fed/State/Local laws allow, a believer can, in accordance with his/her conscience, abstain from. It boils down to choosing to follow God’s (higher) standard. The one time in my early 20’s, when I was briefly caught up in a religious campaign against a particular sin, had more to do with my self-righteous indignation than anything else.
I soon came to see the error of that and backed away, but it wasn’t for another 20 years that I came to see scripture’s “live and let live” ideology. Whether it be Jesus telling Peter “what’s it to you what I do with John … you follow me” or telling believers to “let them … be …” in Revelation 22:11.
You’re right; no one (that I’m aware of) was won to the Way, Truth and Life by confrontation, legislation, etc. More often than not, it is the demonstration of love through sacrifice that touches souls.
Aside from Jesus sacrifice, consider young Stephen, the “deacon”. Paul breathing firey threats, looked upon the dying Stephen who said “forgive them, they know not what they do”. All because Stephen recited the prophet in Acts 7:48, telling the Jews that God did NOT live in their temple. Several years and 10 chapters later, there’s a repentant, likely heart-broken Paul, echoing the words of the boy whose stoning he condoned: “God does NOT live in temples made by hands”. How often do you suppose Paul saw that innocent boy’s face in his mind’s eye? Or remembered his loving final request of God?
Would that believers were more willing to be wronged, for the gospel.
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Thanks Jack. I think we are on the same page. I am not trying to promote the organization itself, I am saying we as followers of Christ are to be respectful to all people, whether we agree or not. Jesus hung out with people the religious leaders would never dream of spending time with, yet he did so without compromising his relationship with the Father. Many people see christians as condemning, mean and unaccepting. I do not see Jesus being that way with anyone. Again, I appreciate you reading my article and taking the time to comment.
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Thanks for your reply, Mike. It’s not my intent to argue or fault find. It’s just that I find the Coexist ideology in conflict with spiritual truth. Where they (apparently) see 7 major world religions, there is really only one, that comes in various forms. God’s alternative is Truth, where the Truth is a person, Yeshua (Jesus Christ).
Coexist IMO, is like the medium who heckled Paul, saying “He will show you a way unto salvation”. The subtle lie in that, is the implication there is more than one way. Paul discerned the spirit of deception and cast it out of her. You see, Yeshua is THE Way (THE one and only, THE genuine article). Coexist attempts to lump Yeshua and His Way in with world religion(s). Same spirit as Paul dealt with in the medium.
Revelation I believe speaks of a false peace under antichrist, but even that comes to an end and war breaks out. Honestly, I don’t think man is capable of peace, aside from the rule of Yeshua. Coexistance is a lovely idea, a hopeful sentiment, but impossible without the Son.
To that end, Yeshua said “I am the vine, you are the branches. Apart from me, you can do nothing.” Nothing.
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Thanks for your comment Jack. In answer to some of your questions, you asked about II Corinthians 6:14-18 – I do not know, almost sounds a little like trying to live the grace life mixed with a little law by doing something in our own strength. Whether this is a misinterpretation I am not sure but I do know that Jesus lived among those in the world, loving them, spending time with them, healing them, forgiving them. To say this means to completely separate ourselves from those who do not believe does not make sense to me since in John 17:15, 18 Jesus said to the Father “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world”. If Jesus lived among those in the world, if he accepted them and loved them yet lived a perfect life, I do not see a reason for us to live apart from those who see things differently while we still live for God.
You said you hope that coexist does not mean we have to adopt and practice the beliefs of non-christians. You are right, I do not mean to say that. I mentioned in my article that “I do not necessarily agree with all the beliefs of the organizations in coexist”, “now there are several institutions that I do not know a lot about that make up the group, and I am sure I do not agree with every concept of all of them”, “what I am saying is even though we see things differently and we do not agree on everything we should be able to accept one another in love and respect, accept each other for who we are and get along together in our differences yet keep our personal beliefs and individuality” and “I think we can coexist with our fellow humans and still hold to our personal faith and beliefs. Each of us can live our lives in a way we feel is right for us and accept those who feel differently”. So I agree that we should not change our beliefs or way of life to fit in with others but we allow the love of God to guide us and touch others through the Holy Spirit.
As you mentioned in the last decade christians are being threathened and their rights being violated, I can understand and agree yet Jesus says in John 17:14 “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world”. The world system is going to hate us and violate our rights, yet we are called to go into the world and live in the system of the Kingdom and love others.
As a side note my personal thoughts on this, although not popular, is anyone doing business for the public or in a government office serving the public should do so no matter who or what the public thinks or believes. I do not see making a cake for someone or granting a legal marriage license to someone is a way of denying my christian faith. If you are in the business of serving the public you should do so for everyone. If the person feels something is wrong and that it violates their christian faith then they should get into another line of business. The way I see it serving the public who believes and lives differently is not denying our christian faith. I know many will disagree with me on this, but that is the way I see it. On a personal level that does not mean we have to change our beliefs, yet we can have those beliefs and still treat people who think differently with respect and in the love of God.
You are so right, Coexist as an organization or requiring people to change their beliefs and way of life to fit in will not work. Any man-made organization or institution is not the answer right down to the religious institutions. Only living in the power of the Spirit, loving God and loving others even in our differences is the way of making a lasting difference. Coexist (not the organization) as a way of living for God while accepting those who live differently is what we are called to do as followers of Christ. We are to live in the love and power of the Spirit while loving others and showing a hurting world the love of God.
I hope this is somewhat of an answer to the points you brought up. Obviously this is my personal view and open to disagreement from others. My basic point was to say we should love, respect and accept others even in our differences while living in the power of the Holy Spirit and following the example of Jesus. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
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How do you see Coexist working with 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ?
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
(2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV)
I do see that believers are called to let sinners sin, to let unbelievers continue in their unbelief, but God’s call for us to come apart and be separate, remains. Such is a recurring theme throughout the OT and NT, and is in fact the final admonishment of God for believers found the last chapter of the last book in the Bible: Revelation 22:11-15.
Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
(Revelation 22:11-15 ESV)
My hope would be that Coexist does NOT mean we have to adopt and practice the beliefs of non-Christians, rather, I hope it means only that we should let them be, as in leave them alone. What I fear is those who espouse the Coexist ideology often fail to practice what they preach and instead expect others to embrace foreign beliefs, foreign idols, en route to a ‘one world’ religion. Coexist is potentially the proverbial wolf in sheep clothes.
In the last decade, we’ve seen Christians threatened with prosecution for living their faith: Christians charged with hate speech for blaspheming Mohammed, or prosecuted for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, among other things. In theory, Coexistence should have let those Christians be. Sadly, what we’ve seen, is more of a unilateral interpretation, where God’s people are forced to conform to ungodly demands.
Personally, I think Coexistence will never work, without physical borders anyway, and armed guards. Ideological Coexistence has been a disaster for Christianity, who in trying to coexist with the world, has adopted myriad pagan beliefs and practices such that “The Way” morphed into government sanctioned institutional churches, denominations, et al. It would seem then that God’s call to come apart and be ye separate, is physical AND ideological. In fact, I’d say ideological separation is far more important than physical separation.
Much as I’d like to live in a peaceful world, I don’t think that will happen until Yeshua returns and puts an end to all questions about who reigns over all. Until then, there will always be skirmishes and wars along the borders of competing camps. In my view, “coexistence” in this world is at best nothing more than a “cease-fire”.
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