It goes against every fiber in my being to use this symbol. What COEXIST stands for is that on the basis of religion the world’s people getting along together, no matter what your religious difference. You know, unity. Let the world be as one, despite your specific differences on the “hereafter.” The basis behind this belief is there are many ways to heaven where Jesus, Muhamed, Buddha and others will all be in heaven. On the surface, it sounds good to the world.
However, in John 14:6 Jesus Christ says,
… I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (ESV)
God wants us to have a relationship with Him, so He sent down His only Son (Jesus Christ) to pay the cost for all humanity for all time (John 3:16). So, let it be sure where I unmovably stand-Jesus Christ has paid the cost for my sin, your sin, and all of humanity’s sin spanning throughout time, and by accepting Jesus Christ into your soul you move from spiritual death to life.
Now that we have that settled as to where I stand, let us take a look at some Christians who try to achieve unity as Jesus Christ said in His prayer to God the Father. Through the years, the decades, the centuries, and millennia, Christians have the monopoly on peace which is supposed to lead to unity. Again, not the peace that the world gives, but the peace that leads to unity.
That unity can only come from Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit. By the simple words of His prayer to the Father, Jesus Christ calls us to peace in unity.
You can see it in the life of Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul who took the message of Jesus Christ to those outside of the Jews, with no hesitation (even if it meant physical death). You would think, however, with the maturing of the human race over two thousand years, we would have at least make some progress toward unity, but sadly we do not seem any closer to achieving unity under Jesus Christ than when He was taken up into heaven. So how do we achieve unity? Perhaps a little bit of history will help?
Under Roman Catholicism, the Pope tried unity by forcing rules and by chaining the Holy Bible to the pulpit in churches where the commoner couldn’t even get their hands on one. Then, Martin Luther came along nailing the 99 objections (theses) that he had made. Many of his objections Catholicism did add onto God’s grace, and so, Martin Luther nailed them to the door of the Roman Catholic church. Thus began the Protestant church.
The two churches, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, had successfully broken off into two camps each focussing in on God’s grace but one of them focusses more intently on works and the other one on grace. This can’t be? Can it? Unfortunately, both churches are guilty as history proves.
One of the Roman Catholicism’s catechisms essentially says that Muslims under Abraham have another way to salvation for those who believe in the Creator. What?
Or the various denominations of the Protestant church, ranging from strict fundamentalism to outright going against God’s Word saying that God is a God of love and will understand because He did not live in my culture. What?
I point you back to the verse I quoted earlier in this blog:
Jesus said to the man, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:26, ESV)
Catholics versus Protestants; even the Protestants have different denominations. Denominations run all over the gambit, from far left going too far right. How can Christians come together when we fight over issues that don’t make a difference whether you enter heaven where we have a groom waiting for us or hell where Satan rules?
My wife and I just finished 10 Days of Prayer for Unity for Manchester, N.H. It has taken place since 2009, but we only went this year. However, I don’t think unity is going to happen through Christians from Catholicism and various denominations of Protestantism praying 10 Days of Prayer for Unity or similar events happening. I think God is going to let something happen, and then you will have a choice of unity under Jesus Christ alone or not.
TrueLifeChristianity.com 