That the United States is a pluralistic society goes without saying. This nation has always considered itself the “melting pot” of the world. Anyone from anywhere could make a new life in America. It was a land of opportunity. Immigrants from the world over made their way to these shores.
Alabama reflected that pattern. During the early days of Birmingham, for example, the city boasted of its German section, its Italian section, its Polish section, its Black section and so forth. In other parts of the state, Baptists reflected the immigration patterns. Well into the 20th century Alabama Baptist churches worshiped in Swedish, German and a variety of other languages.
Today, pluralism is more rampant than ever. Nationally, one survey found more than 2 million Muslims living in the United States. That is far less than the 6 million often reported but still a sizable number. Buddhists number about 1.5 million and Hindus more than 1 million, the study reported.
The findings are consistent with a 2001 study by the City University of New York, which found that about 2.4 percent of the nation’s population belongs to non-Judeo-Christian religions.
Alabama mirrors those findings. Muslim mosques can be found in Birmingham and other state cities. And the fact that Baptist worship services are held in at least 10 different languages is only an indication of the various nationalities and religious groups living within the state.
How does one view pluralism? The difficulties posed by that question were illustrated by an ABC News/Beliefnet poll that found that 35 percent of evangelicals do not believe that Islam teaches respect for other religions. Thirty-four percent of evangelicals believe Islam does, the study reported. Interestingly, the poll found that favorable ratings of Muslims surged from 45 percent last March to 59 percent after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
A call to respect other religions is frequently heard on the nation’s airwaves. Occasionally, the call goes beyond a call for respect. Some commentators opine that all the world’s great religions are important, that all should be studied for their values and that all are equally relevant for today.
Some go further. Some accuse the Christian church of arrogance in trying to present Christ to those already living moral lives, already deeply committed to their religions.
Such commentators might have said the same thing about the apostle Paul when he stood in the Athenian Areopagus and proclaimed the “unknown God” (Acts 17:16ff). The men of Athens were “very religious in all respects” according to Paul. Still, they needed to know about Jesus Christ. Without hesitation, the apostle told them “God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent.”
He went on to say that God was judging the world through Jesus of Nazareth whom God had validated through the resurrection from the dead.
All the reasoning power of Greek thought could never reach such a conclusion as Paul proclaimed. The power of logic could not comprehend such an announcement. The Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, along with others who listened to the Christian message, turned away. Resurrection was beyond reason.
Paul’s response to rejection was to reaffirm his message as “Christ crucified.”
What was true in ancient Athens is true today. People of different persuasions can be religious. They can hold commendable moral values. Their religions should be respected. But they still need to hear that Jesus bridged the sin chasm between God and man through His death on Calvary.
Christianity does not look to logic or reason to justify its message. Christians believe that God acted in Jesus Christ. That is something God did. It is an historical event that is authoritative. It is the foundation of faith.
When Jewish leaders asked by what authority early Christians preached, taught and ministered to those in need, the answer was simple — in the name of Jesus. There was no other authority. There was “no other name given among men whereby we must be saved.”
When Paul spoke in Athens, he did not present one possible opinion or world view among many. He preached Jesus as “the way, the truth and the life.” Narrow? Some call it that. Truth? Yes.
Some want Christianity to stand shoulder to shoulder with Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions. Such persons want Christianity to be one choice in the supermarket of religions. They want all religions to be viewed as possessing equal value.
Christianity can and should stand shoulder to shoulder with other religions on many moral and ethical concerns. At the same time, Christianity cannot budge from its commitment to the fact that God acted to accomplish His purpose for the world and that He did so in a manner that is made known in the Bible.
Such an affirmation offends some committed to pluralism. For Christians, it is truth. It is fact. The message cannot be defended with reason and logic. The message — the gospel — can only be proclaimed. Once the gospel has been embraced, it becomes the starting point for understanding.
God acted through Jesus Christ to bring all who will into a loving relationship with Himself. That means people from every nation, people from every tribe, people of every tongue. The kingdom of God is a pluralistic kingdom, to be sure. Its uniting center is faith in God through Jesus Christ.
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