Coexist ??

[Jotham]

Hi all.
I was out and about today and saw a window sticker:
http://www.funbumperstickers.com/images/Coexist2.jpg

Now while i did immediately give kudos to the artist for dreaming up such a sticker, AND i was also taken in by the cool factor of the idea of coexisting. . .

. . . I am wondering how far we can or should go in our coexisting ??

Here's the beef. Circa 2005ish the above "sticker" would have left me angry and wanting to tell myself they (all but us "Christians") were lost and in need of some bible-thumpin' soul-savin'.

You all know my stance on doing my best to daily incorporate more and more of the UL/FG mindset and view into all my relationships. So what i'm thinking is that at this point i actually am not offended in the least by this artistic rendering of someone' attempt to encourage us to live together in harmony and peace. The idea that God Loves ALL of us and that we somehow are going to ALL end up reconciled to Him is OK with me.

So how do you react to such a sticker on the street? Or T-Shirt (yea they've got'em at their website (www.coexistonline.com (http://www.coexistonline.com/index.php))

: ) Thom

[Me Again]

The bible does tell us that we are to "live at peace with all men." That means co-exist, if memory serves me.

On the other hand, while not offended, or in disagreement, I am not disposed as of yet to "throwing the baby out with the bathwater." This remains the difference between universalism and fulfilled grace, in my opinion. I cannot accept fulfilled grace if it, as universalism has, throws out Jesus from the equation. I'm not speaking of some kind of fire-breathing evangelism, but simply the recognition that it is Jesus who reconciled the creation to the Creator. Buddha, Moses, Krishna, Mohammed, et al. did not do it. Jesus did!

That remains the center of my message. Not co-existence.

[Amie]

Thom,

I'm not offended either. Truly if we aren't the first fruits body, are we "christians" at all? I call myself that to clarify that I do believe that Jesus was the messiah, yet there is an identity associated with that label that just doesn't fit me, you know?

We're all children of God and all came to the father through Jesus. We are echad (one in unity).

Amie

[immortalson]

Hi all.
I was out and about today and saw a window sticker:
http://www.funbumperstickers.com/images/Coexist2.jpg

Now while i did immediately give kudos to the artist for dreaming up such a sticker, AND i was also taken in by the cool factor of the idea of coexisting. . .

. . . I am wondering how far we can or should go in our coexisting ??

Here's the beef. Circa 2005ish the above "sticker" would have left me angry and wanting to tell myself they (all but us "Christians") were lost and in need of some bible-thumpin' soul-savin'.

You all know my stance on doing my best to daily incorporate more and more of the UL/FG mindset and view into all my relationships. So what i'm thinking is that at this point i actually am not offended in the least by this artistic rendering of someone' attempt to encourage us to live together in harmony and peace. The idea that God Loves ALL of us and that we somehow are going to ALL end up reconciled to Him is OK with me.

So how do you react to such a sticker on the street? Or T-Shirt (yea they've got'em at their website (www.coexistonline.com (http://www.coexistonline.com/index.php))

: ) Thom

Hi Thom,

I loved the bumper sticker and I believe is truly the heart of God. I believe so differently now than what I used to and I appreciate your heart in sharing.

I believe similarly to Amie when she stated that "We're all children of God and all came to the father through Jesus. We are echad (one in unity)" however I draw a distinction between Jesus and what it was that He displayed, the Christ. It is in Christ that so many find cohesion in thought and belief. I think that Christians are somewhat elitist in that they say you must believe in Jesus whereas I believe we must believe in what it was that he openly displayed or manifested in his life. Christ is without boundaries, no matter what religion you ascribe, Christ is that union between the soul of man and the Spirit of God that transcends labels and is available to all that call upon him (not Jesus the man) but the Christ of God.

Once again, just my opinion here.

Thanks and blessing,
Barb