THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 15, 1996 TAG: 9606140088
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E14 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Issues of Faith
SOURCE: Betsy Wright
LENGTH: 95 lines
FOR THE PAST 12 weeks, this column has explored many issues of faith - including the meaning of the cross, judgment and the Great Commission - through the prism of the Christian concept of salvation. Some have wondered why I've focused - or picked on - Christianity.
Quite simply, I believe it is a Christian's duty to seek peace with those of other faiths. Our times demand it. The pragmatic reason that Christians are responsible is because Christians belong to the world's dominant religion, with nearly 2 billion adherents. Therefore, Christians have the power, influence and finances other faiths lack. The spiritual reason that Christians are responsible is because they are mandated by their founder, Jesus Christ, to love their fellow human beings . . . and Jesus never made exceptions to that mandate; all are neighbors.
So why is the Christian concept of salvation so important to this duty to seek peace with those of other faiths? I have found that the way a Christian feels about salvation profoundly influences his thoughts about and actions toward those of other faiths.
Far too often it goes like this: One believes he or she is ``saved'' and thus is a chosen child of God. This means that others who aren't ``saved'' (by the chosen child's faith standards) are outside the realm of God. If someone is outside the realm of God, then that person has no value in God's eyes.
If the non-believer is not a child of God and has no value in God's eyes, then it becomes easy to reason that the non-believer is a child of Satan, God's enemy. If the non-believer is an enemy of God, then he is also the enemy of God's chosen children. An enemy is not a person but an object. An object can thus be ridiculed, disenfranchised, hurt, maimed or even killed.
I believe this line of thinking breaks down in the second assumption: that those who don't accept Jesus as Savior are automatically out of God's realm. I believe no human can say who is and who isn't outside of God's realm.
When I've said this before, I've gotten letters from Christians who say: ``We don't hate non-believers. We just love them enough to want them to be saved.''
That's one of those things that sounds right at first but upon closer examination is just a bit off. Why? Because the history of Christianity just doesn't bear out the truth of that ``love'' for others of other faiths. The history of Christianity's ``love'' for others of other faiths includes things like the Inquisition, the Crusades, the Holocaust, White separatism and the Aryan Nation, slavery in the United States and apartheid in South Africa. These acts of ``Christian love'' speak louder to non-Christians than any of our cliches and Bible verses ever will.
Gee, in a nation proud of its Christian heritage - a nation that only 40 years ago allowed signs in hotel windows that read, ``No Dogs. No Jews.'' - can you wonder why folks of other faiths don't buy our words when we say, ``Really folks, we love you!''
God may (or may not) prefer belief over works, but here on Earth, works speak louder than words.
So, for the last time for a while, how do I believe Christians should live faithfully in a pluralistic world? First, be kind to everyone you meet - regardless of their faith or lack of faith - and treat them as lovingly as you would Jesus Christ himself. Second, return evil with goodness, which means that if someone curses you or treats you badly, forgive and bless him. Third, share the good news about Jesus Christ when natural opportunities arise. (Trust me, if you are doing the first two things, plenty of these natural opportunities will arise. People will ask you about your faith, and you won't have to stand on a street corner asking strangers if they are saved.)
When the opportunity to witness arises, do so lovingly. Don't stress the hell-fire-and-damnation, unbelievers-are-accursed stuff. Instead, stress the good stuff about having Jesus in your life: feeling cleansed of your guilt and sins, having joy, having peace in the midst of turmoil, having a God who is personal and real.
When unbelievers have asked me, ``Do you think I'm going to hell?'' I cannot lie and tell them, ``Yes, I know for sure you are.'' I can't tell them that because I'm not God and I don't know for sure and I don't understand the divine mystery of salvation. So I level with them. I tell them I don't know. I tell them that God is the only one who does know. I tell them to pray and ask God for guidance.
Then I say something like this: ``This is simply what I believe and what I believe God is about. But regardless of whether or not you choose to believe it, I'm still going to love you and care for you. I'm still going to be nice to you. I'm still going to help you if you need help. I'm still going to treat you just as lovingly as I would treat Jesus himself. . . .
``And I'm not going to badger or nag you about this anymore, because I've said my piece. Do with it what you will.''
Several months ago, I attended a terrific lecture at Virginia Wesleyan College. The speaker was Dr. Donald G. Dawe, professor of systematic theology at Union Theological Seminary of Virginia in Richmond. The topic: ``Living Faithfully in a Religiously Plural World.'' Though I did not quote him directly, much of what Dawe had to say has influenced the above column. For a free transcript of Dawe's lecture, call Chaplain Scott Davis, 455-3200. MEMO: Every other week, Betsy Mathews Wright publishes responses to her
opinion column. Send responses to Issues of Faith, The Virginian-Pilot,
150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510; call (804) 446-2273; FAX
(804) 436-2798; or send e-mail to bmw(AT)infi.net. Deadline is Tuesday
before publication. You must include name, city and phone number. by CNB