"How Long Will You Waver?"

In I Kings chapter 18, The prophet Elijah is facing-down the people of Israel and the false prophets serving the pagan god Baal. As a nation seeking tolerance and syncretism, they had "covered their bases" by worshiping both Baal the pagan god and Yahweh, the God of scripture. Seen as progressive, (like our Western Post-Christian culture today), they "had it all"--pagans and Jews worshiping together with zeal and a false sense of unity and celebrated diversity...

...But that was about to change.

Before I share the rest of the story, I want to tell you about a phone call I received this week. A woman who didn't identify herself called and chewed me out for about 15 minutes. Apparently, she had received one of our postcard mailings and was "Offended by (our) movement." She wanted "to be removed from our mailing list" and when I tried three times to tell her that there was no list, but that this was merely a bulk mailing to everyone in her zip code area, she would interrupt me and launch into another tirade about how she can't stand evangelicals and is "offended" by our very existence.

Why?

She couldn't really explain it except that we think we're right and we're "out to save the world." So, to clarify, she was offended by our exclusivity of faith--that is, that Jesus is the way to salvation (John 14:6). Furthermore, she was so offended by our existence that she didn't want to know we are here and was "deeply troubled" by seeing a postcard from us. She would no-doubt describe herself as tolerant and us as intolerant. Ironically, the purpose of her call was to tell me she couldn't tolerate our existence.

So she is tolerant of everyone except for people who believe they are right...which is everyone. This is confusing--let me try again. She hates Evangelicals because we're intolerant, but she's tolerant--of everyone, except for everyone who thinks they are right, like Evangelicals. But, she thinks she is right, so she's tolerantly intolerant of everyone--except herself...or maybe that means she can't tolerate herself for her own intolerance...maybe...I think....?

Do you see the problem here? Ecumenism and Pluralism and Syncretism and Unitarianism are all flawed. They are based on confusion and ultimately a lie. The lie is that people really believe that others are "just as right" as they are. Truth is--nobody believes that. And, when it comes to the one true God--nobody SHOULD believe that others are "just as good" or their teachings are "just as right."

Now back to Elijah. He "nails it!" He says to the people, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal is God, follow him.' But the people said nothing ( I Kings 18:21 NIV)."

How about you? Are you saying "nothing?" Are you and I silent to the nonsensical insanity of religious pluralism in our culture? Worse, are we part of it? To all of us, Elijah's words present a necessary challenge--"If the Lord is God, follow him!"

Will you?

I believe you will---and be blessed in the process!

In Jesus,
Pastor Joel