Perhaps you have seen the religious bumper stickers that spell out the word “Coexist” by using various religious symbols. The idea is that all the religions of the world are equally valid and so religious practitioners must embrace each other in peace. As idealistic as that thought might be, “There is no peace saith the Lord, unto the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22). Tragically, the religions of this world are wicked. The man made religions of this world are wicked because they offer a false hope of salvation. Only in Christ is there salvation from the penalty, pain, and pollution of sin. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Any religion which leads individuals away from God, away from holiness, and away from eternal life cannot be good.
The spirit of wanting to be inclusive and tolerant of false religions is nothing new. Between c. 931 BC and 909 BC there was a ruler in Israel named Jeroboam. Wanting to prevent the citizens of northern Israel from reuniting with those in the southern kingdom of Judah, Jeroboam decided to introduce Egyptian idols to be worshipped at Dan and at Bethel, which marked the two boundaries of Israel. Making two calves of gold, Jereboam said unto the people of Israel, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kings 12:29).
By his actions Jeroboam appeared to be tolerant, understanding, and inclusive as he incorporated the Egyptians gods into the worship of Israel. By his words Jereboam appeared to be thoughtful and compassionate, thinking only of the best interest of his people and making worship easier for them.
However, what Jeroboam did and said “became a sin” in the sight of God. It was wrong for Jeroboam to seek other gods beside the Lord. It was wrong for Jeroboam to force upon Israel the practice of idolatry. It was wrong for Jeroboam to lie and rewrite history by saying, “Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kings 12:29).
The Christian must remember that the God who is the genuine and true God is an exclusive God. He does not want His people to give His glory to anyone else, no matter how noble the desire for peace might be. It is wrong and sinful to promote a policy of peace at any price, in politics, or in religion. It is sinful, for evil produces evil because individuals live like their gods.
A glaring example of this truth is revealed in ISIS and other Islamic organizations such as the PLO and Hamas. Their professed god is Allah. Their prophet is Mohammed whose hands were stained with innocent blood. Those within the Islamic community are living out the ethics of their god Allah, and their prophet Mohammed, which is to force all people in every nation to submit to their way of thinking. Those within the Islamic faith do this because their culture is one of intolerance reflected in their beheadings and stoning of men, women, and children who oppose them. While the Western culture uses mockery and humor to protest the actions of the East, the Islamic community uses intolerance. They reflect their god.
The god of the Secular Humanist is no better. Their god is atheism. Bowing before this god the Secular Humanist rise to live out the ethics of atheism which are manifested in acts of self-indulgence. Then, the Secular Humanist move to superimpose their godless values and beliefs on others thereby giving to the world Communism, the religious philosophy of evolution, and unbridled abortions. To do all of this the current choice of weapons for the Secular Humanist is deceit throughout the public educational system, followed by liberal propaganda, and judicial legislation. Historically, the weapons of choice have been revolutions, riots, and armed force. By following their god, by being soulless like their god, Secular Humanist have literally slaughtered more people than any other group in human history.
No Christian should ever bear a secular bumper sticker advocating religious co-existence. The cross is the only religious symbol the church needs or should promote. Though the cross is to those that perish foolishness, unto us which are saved it is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18). Paradoxically, the cross remains a sign of love to the Secular Humanist, and to the Islamic militant. The sign of the cross is God’s way of saying to violent and self-centered souls, “I love you.” Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). That is the intolerant truth. The conquest of the love of God in Christ and Christianity is the goal, not mindless godless co-existence.
