Pluralism

While my first reaction to this word when used in the context of Christian theology is to recoil in terror, I have heard it used in a way that is enlightening. And that enlightenment came from a source that I did not expect.

The discussion was about the dichotomy of the “we have it right and everyone else is wrong” and “to each his own” ways of thinking about religion and God. My source suggested that there is a middle ground that looks like pluralism to the “my way or the highway” crowd, but approximates what he believes is the real teaching of the Bible. This middle ground is not concerned with arguing the heathen into belief in Christ, chanting religious slogans, or proclaiming judgment upon sinners. It is tasked to live as Christ lived on the earth. It is to carry out the Great Commandment — love God and love your neighbor as yourself.


And if the whole of the law is contained within those eight words, then so much of what we say that we stand for as Christians is way off the mark.

My source called it the pluralism question. And while he did not say that his position is “pluralism,” he clearly did not take the position that it is our way or the highway. But our history has been “my way” in everything. It is “my way” when dealing with other Christians and “my way” when preaching the gospel to sinners.

Do not misunderstand me. I believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. There is no other way to the Father but through Him. But the way that we deal with those who have not yet found the way, or with those who have some kind of disagreement about the details surrounding that way, is not “my way.” It is God’s way. And I do not mean to think we are God and give that Hell-fire sermon, but to do it the way God said. And He said it when Jesus said “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.”

So I am not saying that Jesus is not the way. Or that all religions get to the same place. But the way that we reach people who are not yet part of “the way” is with love. It is not with a stick. It is not with a list of rules or factoids about the afterlife.

Rob Bell’s Nooma project said it this way in the teaser for the video “Bullhorn”

God loves everyone, so a Christian should, too. In fact, Jesus said that the most important thing in life is to love God with everything we've got and love others the same way. But it's not always easy to love everyone around us, is it? Sometimes we strongly disagree with other people's political views, religious beliefs, behaviors, or something else, and it makes it hard to love them when we feel like we're right and they're very wrong. But Jesus doesn't separate loving God and loving others. So maybe the best way for us to show our love for God is actually by loving other people no matter how hard it sometimes is. Maybe it's the only way.

The issue is not whether we will hold to what we believe. I am not suggesting that we should not hold on. But when it comes to our interaction with others, whether other Christians or even unbelievers, we should learn the fine art of holding on loosely. I don’t mean loosely in the sense that we could let go. But in the sense that we are not inadvertently bludgeoning others with our beliefs. With other Christians it could mean that we stop worrying about whether every doctrine agrees with ours. And with the unbeliever, it could mean that we love and interact with them without any strings. No time limit for our love in which they either have to succumb to the gospel or be ignored. No requirement that they fix their “sins” outside of belief in Christ. And no requirement that our interaction be directed toward deep, religious/spiritual things.

I’m not saying that two Christians should never discuss their differences of understanding. But when the agreed upon discussion ends with neither persuaded to change, the true Christian love between them should remain evident. I’m not saying that within the context of the church there is no place for authority, unity of mind, and even discipline. And I am not saying that no one should be studying the complexities of theology because everyone does not agree on what is what. But everything that is learned has a context and a place. And its context and place should never be as a battering ram for the assault on the positions of others.

In the words of those profound theologians, 38 Special:

Just hold on loosely
But don't let go
If you cling to tightly
You're gonna lose control