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Do Christians Need to "Coexist"?
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True, the "Coexist" bumper sticker has been around for a while. But it has just recently become a trend here in the Valley. (It takes a while for things to pick up around here sometimes.) I remember seeing a few stickers a year or so ago, but now I cannot get into traffic without being faced with an onslaught of "Coexist" and other tolerance themed bumper stickers. Perhaps the increase came from the new Ghandi Center for Peace the James Madison University opened recently or maybe it has something to do with our newly elected president, but it finally came to my mind to look into the meaning of "COEXIST."
I was surprised to discover the sticker was the brain child of an artist in Israel and the stickers actually come from the Museum of the Seam. Their goal is stated as such:
"Museum on the Seam is a unique museum in Israel, displaying contemporary art that deals with different aspects of the socio-political reality...Between the local and the universal, between pluralism and extreme ideologies, the message of the Museum calls for listening and discussion, for accepting the other and those different from us and respect for our fellow man and his liberty."
Other websites express similar ideas in support of the "COEXIST" bumper sticker. The Experience Project (www.ExperienceProject.com) says on its webpage: "Coexist is a way to demonstrate your support of religious freedom, tolerance, and understanding by showing the "COEXIST" profile badge." (emphasis mine)
The symbols in the sticker stand for many different ideas. The "C" stands for the moon and the star representing Islam. The "O" is a peace sign. The "E" shows the male and female symbols but can also be seen as the e from e=mc squared where it stands for evolution and scientific theories. The "X" is made by the Star of David which is symbolic of Judaism. The "I" represents the Wicca/Pagan symbols as well as the Bah'ai faith. The "S" is a ying yang which is the symbol for Taoism or Confucianism. And finally the "T" is a cross, symbolizing Christianity.
Just who do we think their target audience is with this bumper sticker, hmmm? I think that Lance on www.enochmagazine.com read the message loud and clear, "If Christians believe in love, then we have to love everyone, even those who believe in different gods. Because honestly, why would anyone want to hear about our God and beliefs, if we don't even care enough to care about theirs?"
Yes. The post-modern minds behind "COEXIST" sucked Lance right in. The theme of coexisting in tolerance is not focused on the religions that are represented by any of those letters except for the "T". Christianity. More specifically Evangelical Christianity, where people believe in spreading the Good News far and wide. In a post-modern era that just doesn't meld well with people's idea of "tolerance."
If I were to be frank, my goal as a Christian on this planet is not to be tolerant. It is not to merely "coexist" with my fellow men and women. And I do not know where people have picked up that Jesus was tolerant. What Jesus was and what Christians today should be is people who love and care about fellow human beings. No matter what your background, I care about you. If you are hurting, I want you to be healed. If you are lonely, I want you to find some peace. However, knowing a way to heal your suffering makes it impossible for me to keep silent. We know that clean drinking water is important and we take it to the world. However, I want to show the way to give hope to the world, and you want me to be silent? I don't think I can.
In John 14:6, Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME." (emphasis mine.) It doesn't sound tolerant, but it does sound like an open door invitation to anyone who is willing to come.
Won't you come? We can all coexist in heaven.
