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A Response to
The religion section of last Saturday’s Denver Post / Rocky Mountain News included the following announcements about programs at a well-known Methodist seminary, and a local Methodist church. They read in part: The University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology “have joined to create the Interfaith Center for Religion and Public Life. Through education and outreach, the center will attempt to diffuse the divisiveness of religious differences by focusing on the unifying threads that bind the world’s major beliefs.”I can almost hear some of you breathing a sigh of relief as you say to yourselves, “At least they’re not Presbyterian.” Well, don’t take too much comfort in that fact. The theme of the May/ June issue of Horizons Magazine is Beloved Strangers – Christian Faith in a Pluralistic World, and its overriding thesis is that when it comes to meeting the adherents of the other religions of the world, the time has come for us Presbyterian Christians to start minimizing our differences and emphasizing our similarities. Like the above-mentioned seminary, the editors of Horizons appear to have dumped the church’s historic mandate to evangelize in favor of diffusing “the divisiveness of religious differences by focusing on the unifying threads that bind the world’s major beliefs.” Now, I am fully aware that the culture of America is very different from the one in which I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s. Notwithstanding the fact that my neighborhood was predominately Jewish, my friends and I shared the majority of our values in common. In most respects, America at that time was culturally and religiously uncomplicated. That, of course, is no longer the case. One of the larger Buddhist temples in America is now located on the western edge of the once culturally and religiously monolithic Great Plains, and a visit to any major American city will confront a traveler with a complex and mind-boggling religious and cultural pluralism. Beyond that, I am also aware that some of the missionary efforts of the 19th and early 20th centuries were marked by a kind of cultural and religious imperialism that we have properly condemned and had done with. The question before us now is how properly to do mission in this new context. In answering that question, it appears to me that the editors of Horizons believe that we are on the horns of a dilemma. On the one hand, we can continue to do mission the way that we used to do it – as Christian colonialists. Or, we can decide that the major religions of the world are all legitimate paths to God, and that it is best to blur any lines that may exist in order to create an “I’m-Ok; you’re-Ok” relationship. So, what Horizons is teaching is the “proper etiquette” of dealing with people of other religions. The development of an inter-faith worldview that merely “listens” becomes more important than “listening” for the Holy Spirit’s encouragement to share the person and work of Christ. At the same time, we are told that Christians, Muslims, and Jews share Abraham as their father – which “clearly” makes us all part of the same family. We are all God’s children. All of humanity is created in God’s image. God judges no one. It is not important that people be introduced to Jesus Christ. He may be “the way” for Christians – but not for anyone else. Working for peace, justice and reconciliation with people of other religions should be our highest priority as we live out our faith in a pluralistic world. If we will do that, we are told, we will usher in an epoch of peace that is God’s ultimate will for the world. But, consider the implications. To begin with, it invites us to commit intellectual suicide by thinking that two or more contradictory ideas can, at the same time and in the same sense, be true. For example, to say that Islam and Christianity are both true requires that we affirm with a straight face that salvation is both by human effort and by grace alone. At best, that is nonsense. At worst, it fosters a lie. It also flies in the face of Scripture and our Presbyterian Book of Confessions. Jesus taught, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (this is a universal negative – no one). Before his ascension, he commanded his disciples to “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” (Please notice that he did not add, “Except for Jews, Muslims, or anyone else who is sincerely committed to a different religion”). Early Christians were known as people of “The Way” – not people of “A Way.” Beyond that, it requires that we change the meaning of our Christian vocabulary. Historically, the church – Catholic and Protestant – has placed a high priority on mission and evangelism. Think of Patrick and Columba as well as more modern missionaries. They went to share the Gospel – to tell people about Christ, and to invite them to believe and follow him. In order to do that, they engaged in evangelism. But, we don’t hear much about evangelism from the editors of Horizons; instead they use the ugly word, proselytize – with all of its implications of manipulation and fear mongering. Most of us would concur that proselytizing is wrong. But, is it true that to evangelize is the same thing as to proselytize? Also consider the fact that the dilemma supposed by the editors of Horizons is a false one. Classical trained logicians tell us that the way off the horns of a dilemma is to find a tertium quid – a third alternative. And let me suggest to you that one exists. Remember, the editors of Horizons tell us that we have to choose between admittedly flawed ways of doing mission and evangelism in the past, and a more modern, less particularistic understanding of the world and its religions. That is to say, we can continue to engage in “proselytizing,” or we can accept all religions as equally true. But, that dilemma ceases to be a dilemma once we have a proper understanding of evangelism. Properly understood, evangelism is presenting Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit so that men and women may trust him as savior and serve him as Lord in the church. As Presbyterian Christians we believe that it is the Holy Spirit who draws people to Christ, regenerates them, and gives them the gift of faith. We may be agents of evangelism, but we are unable to make Christians of anyone. According to this understanding, it is patently impossible to proselytize (manipulate or co-opt) anyone into the Kingdom of God. Making Christians out of people is God’s business. So, why can’t we share our faith in a generous, open and loving way
that values all people, and that recognizes their right to do with the
message of salvation what they will? This, it seems to me, is far
more respectful than pretending that we all believe essentially the same
thing. It will mean listening respectfully, and sharing our faith
humbly. It will also mean allowing those who do not agree with us
to hold their faith-understandings with integrity. But, it will not mean
abandoning the particularity of the Gospel’s claims about the person and
work of our Lord.
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