COEXIST

A popular bumper sticker reflects a growing trend for religious and social tolerance combining symbols of Islam, Judaism and Christianity with variations suggesting tolerance of paganism, sexual equality, Eastern religions and homosexuality. COEXIST has become a mantra of equality for all systems of belief and the acceptance of any lifestyle. The meaning of “coexist” is to live in harmony with or alongside of others disregarding differences in the basic tenets of faith and any condemnation of a sexual preference. Is it possible to ‘coexist’ with other faiths based upon the teachings of Islam, Judaism, Christianity or other Eastern religions? At least one of these systems of faith denies the possibility of coexisting in harmony without regard to differences in faith.

Jesus Christ taught His disciples in John 14:6-7, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” The Son of God taught the only way to God is through Him. Christ Jesus affirmed the only truth that would save a man was Himself. Jesus denies eternal life to anyone apart from Him. In a very clear and demonstrative manner the Lord Jesus Christ removed all other avenues to the Father except through Him. Just on face value the reader of John’s gospel will realize that Jesus removes the possibility of being saved by Mohammed or Islam and to a Jewish audience foretells the removal of Moses and the Law as a means of salvation.

The foundation of Jesus’ teaching was to prove that He (and only He) was the true Son of God. Later the apostle John writes, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). The signs and wonders performed by Jesus prove that He is the only way, the only truth and the only life. Mohammed cannot claim this, nor Moses, Buddha, Confucius, the Pope or Joseph Smith. The Bible teaches the impossibility of coexisting in accepting all faiths as valid. Paul the apostle affirmed to the pagans of Athens there was only one God and “He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). The “Man” Paul spoke of was only Jesus Christ.

Is it possible to “coexist” with homosexuality as an accepted lifestyle? For the believer of Jesus Christ this is an impossibility as the Lord condemned sexual immorality from the beginning of time (Romans 1:18-32). Other systems of faith and churches can embrace homosexuality and attempt to paint a picture of acceptance but this does not change the mind of God who in love condemns those who serve their own vile passions and deny the knowledge of God.

COEXIST is a fraud attempting to dissuade the minds of people to accept anything based upon the personal belief of man. This error leads to a false religion of hope where everyone does what is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25).  Jehovah God said, “You thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you” (Psalms 50:21).