If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Rom. 12:18)
Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. (1 Cor. 10:33)
Introduction
Recent events in Malaysia point to rising ethno-religious tensions. This appears to be true in schools and universities where racial polarization is widespread, and in society at large, where religious tensions seem to be on the rise. Some Muslims feel threatened when Malaysians of non-Muslim and Muslim faith hold forums to uphold the supremacy of the Federal Constitution and the unalienable rights that it gives to all Malaysians. They see this as an attack on Islam. High profile cases of conversions of Muslims have been highlighted in the media and have brought out into the open the debate about the right of a person to choose his or her own religion. All of these have contributed to a heightening of tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims and, to a lesser degree, among Muslims.
Economic distribution policies have also contributed to strained relations among the different races. These have been in place for almost forty years but were less acutely felt when the economy was fast expanding. Now that the economy is slowing due in part to globalization and in part to inappropriate policies, there is greater competition for limited economic opportunities. This is leading to greater strife between different groups and individuals in the struggle for survival.
In this environment, politicians and community leaders are often tempted to play the racial or religious card in order to be “champions of the people” and garner popular support. This forces Malaysians of various races to take extreme positions on issues because to refuse to do so will be made to look as if one is a traitor betraying one’s own kin. This further segments and threatens to fragment society.
Malaysians should be thankful to God Almighty that we have so far been able to manage the situation and been able to co-exist stably, at least on the surface. This is no guarantee, however, that this state of affairs will continue indefinitely into the future. We must all work to preserve the peace or we will lose it. Christians, in particular, need to be frontrunners in this regard. We, above all, have been given the mandate to be world’s peacemakers by following the footsteps of the Prince
of Peace.
The Christian’s Dilemma
We would be dishonest to ourselves, however, if we did not admit that we face a fundamental dilemma. As Christians who believe in the Bible, we hold that only Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Thus, we feverishly seek to share the Gospel with others and try to bring them into the kingdom of God. The problem is that while some may see the light and convert to Christianity others will resist because they are not convinced that what we proclaim is the truth and the only way.
They believe that their own religion is just as good, if not better. This leads them to ask us to accept what they believe or even try to convert us. Being good Christians, we naturally feel compelled to politely refuse. Where does this leave us? We can end up being more entrenched in our belief of our rightness and continue our “warfare” against the “forces of darkness”. Or we can capitulate and adopt a universal position. Neither is a viable solution. We cannot pretend that all roads lead to God, neither is it possible to go on not declaring the uniqueness of the Gospel.
That brings me now to a very poignant question: Could we have somehow got it wrong when we say that Jesus is the only way means that someone must hear the Gospel, confess his sins, believe Jesus died on the cross for him and accept Jesus before he can taste salvation? The answer, I’m inclined to believe, is “maybe”. The salvation that Christ won on the cross was certainly not just applicable to those who heard and believed. It would apply to many more including those born before Jesus, those who have never had a chance to hear the Gospel and those who are incapable of responding because they are babies or mentally incapacitated. The stock answer we have when asked about them was God is a just God and will deal with them fairly. They will not be lost merely because they cannot hear the Gospel and respond to it. Those who do have the opportunity to hear and still do not believe, however, have spurned the grace of God and will be punished with eternal damnation.
Does that mean we stop preaching the Gospel and let our neighbours go their own way hoping that God will somehow save them? This is the fear of particularists or exclusivists who are opposed to the inclusivist idea that the salvation won by Christ on the cross is far more effective in its application than just to those who hear and believe. People do not primarily go to hell for not believing in Jesus Christ. They go to hell because they chose evil over good and “their” way instead of “God’s” way. Even those who choose good over evil (and that can be a very tricky business because our hearts are so deceptive viz. the Pharisees and other religious people who thought they were loving and serving God when it was in fact the opposite), we are imperfect and need the grace of God ministered through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for the sins of all mankind to pay the price demanded by the law. But who is to say who will benefit from that supreme sacrifice of God’s Son on the cross? Only He who judges the innermost thoughts of every man’s heart knows. We do not.
Does holding an inclusivist position enable us to live in harmony with one’s non-Christian neighbour? Who is our common enemy? The Evil One that seeks to destroy what is good and noble and kind. Who are the children of God? They are certainly not exclusively those who belong to other religions. After all, many will call Him “Lord, Lord” on Judgement Day will find out that they don’t belong to Him as they thought they did.
| Could we have somehow got it wrong when we say that Jesus is the only way means that someone must hear the Gospel, confess his sins, believe Jesus died on the cross for him and accept Jesus before he can taste salvation? |
Are people saved because they are Christians? Or, they are saved because they desire God and believe in Him and live lives of faith unto One higher than themselves? Many hear the invitation of Christ and respond to His call. Others unable to hear such an invitation nevertheless live out their lives to the best ability in the light their consciences afford them. Can we not put aside our religious labels and work alongside those who seek to promote good and fight against evil? We stand together to fight against the destructive elements within each religion and culture but do not tear down or destroy that religion or culture as a whole because in so doing we make enemies of those who should be friends.
We seek to dialogue but not debate with those from other faiths. It is not trying to convert you to my religion but to open up your mind to what God is doing in our midst today. You can perhaps discover a deeper and truer relationship with God if you extend your search beyond your traditional boundaries.
Conversions are necessary but not just from one religion to another. Conversions can take place within as well as between religions. It is not the religious label that counts but a genuine encounter with God. Hence, we do hear of conversions not just from other religions to Christianity but also of disaffected Christians who had found the Christianity they grew up with wanting and who converted to other religions when they could not find the answers to the deep questions of their hearts in their churches. One can attribute such conversions to all sorts of reasons and blame the Christian communities or churches that failed them, but we cannot stop them from following after the cry of their hearts for what they perceive as getting in touch with the real God. If we say we support the individual’s right to choose his or her religion we must be prepared to accept conversions out of Christianity as much as into Christianity according to the individual’s conscience. The only thing we need to fight against is the evil of forced or underhanded conversions.
The sharing of the Gospel has to be done lovingly and wisely, not in a triumphant and offensive manner but as someone puts it “one beggar sharing with another where to find food”. The onus is on us to share what God has done in our lives and what He can do in theirs but it is entirely up to them how they choose to respond to the Gospel. There is indeed no compulsion in religion.
Other Aspects of Living in Harmony
There cannot be peace and harmony until all the citizens of a country feel secure that their needs are met, their rights respected and they have a common future together where everyone will be cared for. This utopian vision is hard to achieve in reality but people will be satisfied if they at least see that there is an honest attempt to go in that particular direction.
History has taught us that as long as we are fighting for our own rights at the expense of others’, nobody wins. We must fight for the rights of everybody so that all win. Human nature is such that we will fight for and defend our rights more than that of the others; but if we continue to do so we only intensify our striving against one another and may end up destroying one another.
Compromises have to be made, sacrifices given especially to those who are left behind socially and economically irregardless of race or religion. When we can love and help the poor and needy, even and especially those not from our own community or ethnic group, it speaks powerfully of the love of God in our hearts. It is hard to fight against love.
How then shall we live? I believe that we have to start loving our neighbours and desiring their good. We do so by entering into their world, understanding their position and helping them in practical ways. We don’t need to talk to our friends but our enemies. We have to help create an atmosphere whereby we can have genuine friendships, knowing we can trust each other because the other is not out to do me in but to do good in my life. When we can build bridges of genuine friendship and tear down the walls of hostility and suspicion, then perhaps we can experience lasting peace. It never works to wait for the other side to take the initiative. We must start the ball rolling by doing what is good and right irregardless of the response we get from the other side. Their suspicions would be overcome, their fears allayed and their hearts opened if we persist in loving them as we love ourselves. |
