Christians: Before you commit yourself to finding ‘common ground’ with unbelievers, be sure to identify the ground you’re not willing to surrender.
One of the most effective methods of creating atheists has been the church’s relentless search for ‘common ground’ with unbelievers. You’ve interpreted Paul’s plea to ‘become all things to all people’ (1 Corinthians 9) as license to abandon any aspect of the faith that makes anyone uncomfortable. You think you can stop following Jesus in order to pursue relationships with pagans.
Identifying points of agreement isn’t wrong. It is not a sin to discover that you and I went to the same school, drink the same beer, like the same movies, or both enjoy throwing frisbees. If these things are foundational in forging a friendship, that’s marvelous!
The problem is when you start changing the beer you drink and the movies you watch solely for the sake of ‘common ground.’ Adjusting your behavior is actually giving ground. It’s moving into new territory. When Christians give enough ground, they cease to be Christians.
Over and over again, Paul told us his mission was to preach Christ. His efforts to ‘be all things to all people’ were for the purpose of accomplishing that mission. He never, ever, ever, ever, preached another Savior. While Paul would have thrown frisbees with pagans, he wouldn’t have sacrificed babies to Molech. There is no ‘common ground’ with other religions.
Jesus, for his part, claimed to be the only way anyone can get to God. He mentioned, more than once, that his disciples were to love everyone (including non-believers). When you obey Christ and love your enemies, that’s not finding common ground with them. That is standing with both feet planted in biblical teaching. You have nothing in common with the world when you love people.
Pagans don’t share your beliefs about loving enemies. Pagans don’t share Paul’s beliefs about becoming ‘all things to all people.’ Pagans don’t share Jesus’ belief that He is the only way to God. The only way you’ll share common ground with unbelievers is for somebody to move. Either the pagan moves into the light or you’ll have to move into darkness.
(1 Corinthians 9:24) “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
2 Responses
So making peace with “pagans” is evil (as your blog is titled) in your little world. Your kind of attitude is one of the reasons theists turn into atheists. Atheism is growing and when you are condemning atheists in this way it could become annoying for Christians who have atheists as loving family members. Your rhetoric is beyond the simple fact atheists simply have no belief in gods.
I find this helpful, but perhaps a bit over dramatic. Maybe overly defensive and aggressive might fit what I’m thinking. (?) But I’m sure you have people in your life who aren’t believers (yet) who also wouldn’t necessarily be accurately referred to as “pagans”. Lol. I guess the Lord leads us to Pray and interact with these in ways fitted to our situations. I’d caution you against being too “circle the wagons”/siege mentality. It usually off puts rather than draws people to Christ. Just a friendly caution. Enjoy the day that the Lord hath made. – Barabbas