CHRISTIANITY AND PLURALISM

(A Talk presented at the Ezra Conference 2004 organized by the Fellowship of Christian Unions at Kabarak University, Nakuru)

By Reuben Kigame

OUTLINE

1. Definition

2. A biblical comment

3. Manifestations of Pluralism in our world today

4. The Christian's response

1. DEFINITION

(a) What is Christianity?

For our purpose, Christianity shall be understood as referring to the common faith held by all who believe in and follow Jesus Christ. We must, however, qualify here that Christianity is not a religion, even though many view it as such. A religion is basically man's organized attempt to reach and please a God of his own making. Christianity is the faith held by a people who have responded to God's reaching out to man through Christ. It is the faith held by those who are redeemed by Christ and seek to live like Christ. The life and teaching of Christ are the pillars of their life on earth and the basis of their hope of the after-life. Christianity is, therefore, a faith that does not hold onto anything that contradicts Christ and His Word.

(b) What is Pluralism?

Pluralism is man's attempt to find unity by dissolving any kind of distinction or restraint. It is the acceptance of everything in the name of tolerance in a bid to forge forwards in the quest for global unity, progress and peace. Pluralism glorifies and celebrates the achievements of man and seeks to cultivate man's independence from the supernatural.

2. A BIBLICAL COMMENT

The first mention of man's attempt to consolidate and move towards global unity in the Bible is recorded in Genesis 11:1-9. Challenged by the fear of being scattered abroad in the world and, perhaps, disintegrating as a race, effort is made to consolidate civilization by building a city and a tower. While this effort may be viewed as wise in man's economy, it is undermined by God for at least two reasons. First, it was a violation of the command to "fill the earth and replenish it" given in Genesis 1. Second, the above-mentioned consolidation was done in the name of man and not God. For this reason, it rings of self-perpetuation and a spirit of independence from God.

Examine the passage below and take special note of:

1. Man's desire to unite versus God's desire that man fully exploits the blessing of diversity.

2. "Man's wisdom" versus God's wisdom.

3. Man's efforts versus God's will.

4. Man's arrogance and cupidity versus God's power and sovereignty.

Note, too, how this is a commentary on the present efforts by man to dissolve differences of any kind and unite as one world apart from God and how this finds the fullest expression in pluralism, the concept that we can all lay aside our differences and unite as one through the spirit of tolerance and mutual understanding.

"And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the

face of the whole earth.

And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which

they have imagined to do.

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad

upon the face of all the earth.” Genesis 11:1-9

COMMENTS:

With one language and one city to live in, they could reach one goal. (verses 1-5). God stops their scheme in view of the apparent lack of restraint that was imminent. (verses 6-9).It is not the unity and the gregariousness emanating from their hard work that God undermines, since He encourages this in several parts of the Scriptures. Instead, it is the arrogance and cupidity that expresses itself in wanting to "make a name" for themselves and the implicit lack of restraint in doing evil, that God curtails. This is for man's good. As for the extent of man's wickedness and lack of restraint, God has already sent a flood and will in Gen. 19 send fire as judgment.

The Christian challenges pluralism in the world today due to this very same cupidity and lack of restraint, and not gregariousness and unity per se. He takes sides with God rather than with man and his humanistic machinations and imaginations.

3. MANIFESTATIONS OF PLURALISM IN THE WORLD TODAY

Pluralism can be discussed in various ways. Below is a summary of some of the most vivid manifestations of pluralism. The list is not exhaustive.

1. Globalization: This is the attempt to make the world one big village without geographical, cultural or economic limitations. As in Genesis 11, the modern world seeks to speak one language again and has been working towards one global economy. Indeed, the dream of many a humanist is the formation of a one-world-government. With the internet, air transport, space exploration, radio and television, this is largely seen as having succeeded. The Christian rejects this notion of globalization because:

(a) God challenged it in Genesis 11.

(b) It portrays a false sense of independence.

2. Religious unity: This calls for the undermining of absolute truth and accepting the notion that truth is relative. It is believed and taught that all religions are equal and lead to the same God. The various religions are seen as the different roads to the top of the one religious mountain. Christianity rejects this pluralism because:

(a) It is based on absolute truth.

(b) The various contradictions in the religions of man show that they cannot lead anyone to God.

(c) Christ clearly declared that He is the only way to the Father and no one comes to the Father but by Him. (John 14:6).

3. Unity of moral values: Here, as in religion, values are seen as cultural and morality as relative, and hence the need to abolish any moral restraint for the sake of unity. Here, values are democratized to the point that there is no right and wrong. We are to tolerate the murderer as merely clinically sick and ordain homosexual clergy because they are created as such and can do nothing about their estate. Prohibitions against sex out of marriage is seen as being unreasonable and discriminatory.

The Christian challenges this by insisting that:

(a) There is a moral law and God is the absolute moral lawgiver.

(b) God will always judge the violation of His laws.

4. Cultural unity: Here man says, "let us unite under one global culture." In this kind of unity, unity really implies no cultural norms at all. Unity means, let go insistence on your own cultural values. The Christian rejects this because the Bible is superior to every culture.

5. Intellectual unity: Here, ideas are studied and acquired as a means of achieving universal understanding and peace. The university becomes a place for the pursuit of "unity within diversity". Here, you attend a class in World Religions where you are taught that God created the world. You then go to a class in Archaeology, Geology or History and learn that we all evolved from lower primates and that the universe is a product of random processes of chance. The next endeavor will be to find a synthesis, manifested in such ideologies as theistic evolution, etc.

The Christian rejects this arguing that contradictions do not lead to progress and that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge and wisdom.

4. THE CHRISTIAN'S RESPONSE

As already seen, the Christian takes sides with God rather than the world. Nevertheless, a further question must be asked: How can the modern Christian confront pluralism?

1. Understand it.

2. Speak against it.

3. Write against it.

4. Peacefully demonstrate against it.

5. Pray against it and for the rule of God to come.

6. Avoid being caught up in it.