My Cause

More and more I am seeing how toxic religious hatred, disdain, and exclusivity is.

My heart breaks when I see all the hate; even though this hatred is generally cloaked in ”we hate the false beliefs but love the believers” rhetoric.

Seeing this anger and intolerance day in and day out brings to mind the following questions for specific groups of Christian believers.

Former Adventists: If Ellen G. White or your former SDA pastor ends up having a bigger mansion than you in heaven, will you be angry?

Adventists: If a Catholic priest or a “Pentecostal holy roller” has more ”stars in their crown” than you, will you feel dismayed?

Christians: If a Jew (other than Jesus) or God forbid, a MUSLIM has an exalted place of honor at the front table of heaven’s opening banquet, will you wonder how God could get it so wrong?

What if you find out that those you most condemn as being “lost” actually had a clearer picture of God’s character than you yourself did?

There’s not a single “believer” who will admit that they really don’t WANT to live on a heavenly cul-de-sac with someone who doesn’t “believe” as they do.

Regardless, the actions of many in the now would belie an opposite opinion.

Why can’t we all coexist in peace? Where is the love?

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Perhaps he said this because he knew that the peacemakers generally get pelted with condemnation from all sides.

As a middle child, I have generally been a peace-seeker and a peacemaker. Yet while trying to stand up for God’s character as well as for the rights of others to have and practice their own religious beliefs, I’ve been derisively called:

an Adventist apologist

a Muslim apologist

a Judaizer

an enemy of God

an evil presence

lost.

I’ve been condemned roundly for sticking up for religious organizations that would never actually include me in their ranks, as I believe differently than they do. Yet the fact that I stick up for them earns me continuous scorn from those who hate these organizations.

I’ve been condemned for asking hard questions; condemned for asking “the wrong” questions; and condemned for daring to question the answers I receive from the religious establishment.

I’d like to say I don’t mind being condemned, but that would be a lie.

I don’t like to be condemned, but my need to find the truth no matter where it leads, as well as my mission to stand up for the rights of others will, I’m afraid, always lead to condemnation coming from somewhere.

So be it.

As long as there are peace-seeking, kind, loving, godly people who are being criticized, I will stand up for them, even if I do not agree with their beliefs.

As long a seeker is reaching out and up to God in the best way they know how to do, I will call them my brother or sister in heaven’s family.

God is big enough, strong enough, unbigoted enough, inclusive enough, and unracist enough to reach out to anyone.

God calls me to stand up for His character, His nature, His heart of love. God also calls me to love others.

THAT is my cause.