Question:
How can Christians engage with those around us, while both respecting people
whose beliefs differ from our own and still maintain our gospel confidence?
I
believe that God has provided a way to deal with the pluralism. Pluralism is a
condition or system in which two or more states, groups, principles of
authority coexist.
Too
often, the fact of pluralism is obscured in this country with an idealized
vision of “one nation, indivisible” and the pursuit of “a more perfect union.”
But our actual existence is often characterized more by difference and
disagreement than by unity.
The
truth is that today we are divided by some deep and seemly irresolvable
differences over things that matter to us.
God
gives us three passages of scripture to enable us as followers of Jesus to
engage with our culture, meaning the people, to show respect for their freedom
to believe what they choose, but also to maintain a solid foundation on faith
in Jesus and to boldly proclaim the gospel of God’s grace.
Ephesians
4:1-2
I
therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the
calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, bearing with one another in love.
The
first thing God has provided is our calling to a relationship with Him through
Jesus.
Our
calling as followers of Jesus is not:
To
make people believe what we believe
To
win a theological argument
To
establish what we believe is superior to what others believe
Our
calling is to live to show the love relationship we have with God through
Jesus.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is living in a daily relationship with Jesus.
The
second thing God has provided is humility through the Holy Spirit.
Pride
is something that will always separate us from God because God opposes the
proud but gives grace to the humble. Pride always will lead us to exalt
ourselves above others and create a wall between us and others. It is hard for
people to hear and see Jesus in our lives when we are filled with arrogance.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is living humbly before God and others.
The
third thing God has provided is gentleness through the Holy Spirit.
The
word gentleness is the word we get our word meekness from. It literally means
strength under control. It means I don’t try to force people but I use the
power of God’s Spirit in me to show the character of Jesus to others. It means
I don’t demand my rights but give them up to meet the needs of others even when
it means I have to sacrifice.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is relating to others with a gentle attitude
that shows tolerance even when I disagree with a person.
The
fourth thing God has provided is an ability to bear with others in love.
It
is daily giving grace to others. When people struggle, we bear with them, even
when it is something they have brought on themselves. It is not judging but
loving others. It doesn’t mean endorsing their lifestyle or their decisions or
their beliefs, but not condemning them or rejecting them because of what they
believe or do.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is showing grace, not condemnation.
Hebrews
13:14
For
here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
Philippians
3:20
But
our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ.
The
fifth thing God has given is the knowledge that this world is not our home.
We
are created with a desire for the eternal. We are to focus on eternity, not the
temporary. Our home is our eternity with Jesus. If that is truly my focus, then
I will know that God is in control and I will want others to know Him and
experience the security of an eternity with Him.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is living as a pilgrim who is just passing
through this life to our real life.
The
Christian calling is to be shaped and reshaped into people whose every thought
and action is characterized by faith in Jesus, by hope because of Jesus, and the
love of Jesus. And a people who speak and act in the world with humility,
patience, and grace.
With
Humility and Gentleness Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,
Joe
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