Pastor Chris - "We Day Vancouver"

I noticed in a recent edition of the Vancouver Sun that there is going to be a Peace Summit with the Dalai Lama coming to Vancouver the end of this month.  The Summit will be built on dialogues with "scores of noted spiritual and educational figures".  One of the highlights of the event will be "We Day Vancouver," which is billed as "a special Summit program" at GM Place for 16,000 student leaders from BC schools.

We live in a free society, so all of this is perfectly legal, and rightly so.  We live in a democratic society that values free expression, religion and the right of people to practice both.  That said, the event seems to be attracting the full backing of the Vancouver Sun which has invited the Dalai Lama to sit as guest editor of the September 26^th edition of the paper.  Even that is perfectly within the rights of the Vancouver Sun's publishers and editors to do.  What this illustrates for me is the ongoing and increasing pluralistic and syncretistic nature of the society we live in today.

Today there are certain topics, such as religion, politics, sex and the superiority of the Calgary Flames over the Vancouver Canucks (I only said that in honor of Pastor Lyndon who's last Sunday with us is this weekend), that are taboo and if publicly discussed will get you into trouble if you offer up anything other than the platitude "That's your belief and practice and these are my beliefs and practices.  If you want to follow your beliefs, that's fine.  I'm going to follow my own beliefs."  Today as long as you live by the philosophy of "Live and let live!" you're OK.  As soon, though, as you deviate from this syncretistic philosophy you will find yourself seriously lacking in the personal peace department which the Dalai Lama trumpets because you will find yourself under attack and being labelled intolerant, bigoted and prejudiced.

Syncretism, pluralism and compromise are at the heart of the major religions, philosophies and "isms" of the world.  They are not at the heart of the Christian gospel.  The gospel is narrow, the way is straight, and the room for compromise is limited.  Jesus stated it clearly, "I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life!  No one comes to the father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.  From now on you do know Him and have seen Him!"  John 14:6-7.  Not a lot of wiggle room in that statement.

Everyone has their philosophies, beliefs, and rules, but God has revealed Himself to us through Jesus Christ.  These movements, philosophies, teachings, religions and "isms," if they don't lead to Jesus, they lead to death.  The central message of the gospel is "All we need is Jesus; love Him, live for Him, obey Him, Serve Him!"  Christian faith is not just another world religion.  Jesus is not just another cultural form.  And, Christianity is not just another human philosophy, doctrine, or teaching we need to incorporate into our lives.  Jesus Christ is God, raised from the dead, living and authoritative for our lives.