What I perceive to be one of the greatest challenges of our age is living in a pluralistic society. We have greater technologies than those who lived before us and with that we are keenly aware of our fellow earth-dwellers. Daily we see and hear a variety of opinions, beliefs and cultures. This raises lots of questions. What do we do? How does this impact our beliefs? Do we need to reconcile some things? Give up on some beliefs? Who is right? Is one idea more correct than another? What if we're wrong (or incorrect)?
What does it mean to judge someone?
Some think the best course of action is to look down on the differences. If you're not like us then you're wrong. "If you're not for us then you're against us" Anything different may erode and compromise what we have. Really?
Are we not all human? Do we not all want the same things? Safety for ourselves and our family? To feel loved? Are we really that different?
Some think the best course is to simply ignore the differences. If we don't look at the differences or respond to them then it doesn't matter. We are all fundamentally the same, right?
True...but we are different. We have different thoughts, different opinions, believe differently and come from a different background. It's what makes you, you and me, me. To simply ignore the differences means we run the risk of ignoring the person entirely. Ignoring yet another beautiful soul.
Some think the best course is to bring in and incorporate all aspects of other's beliefs, opinions and cultures. We can somehow reconcile it all. This would be the best way to be in harmonious balance with one another. Sameness will help bring peace. Will it though?
Can you hold all of those thoughts and opinions? Can we reconcile it all? If we are all the same wouldn't that be...boring? Do we all have to be the same, think the same, talk the same, believe the same to live together in peace?
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not a purist. I enjoy listening to what others believe and think. I think that we can learn a lot from one another. I love other people and respect them. I see the value in other's perspectives and beliefs, but I also value my perspectives and beliefs.
Jesus' sacrifice on the cross so that we might be close to God. God's infinite, unrelenting love for us. A God who wants to be close to us. A God who chose to live among us, teach us, and suffer like we do. A God who gives so much that it is great news. We have a unique perspective and belief.
I don't want to lose that, do you?
More next time...
This is interesting...again, I'm ready for some more! ;) As I read this blog, I couldn't help but think of Ronnie Dunn's song, "Bleed Red" where he sings of how we all feel the same things and have the same yearnings. Much like what you were talking about. I think it is important to take hold of our own beliefs and embrace them, and perhaps that is how we guide the way we live. That isn't a bad thing! But since we all feel hurt, want love, desire safety, can we unite in community with one another to hear out these specific concerns in the lives of one another? While we may have differences in beliefs, it doesn't mean that we can't be in conversation and perhaps adapt new ideas or ways of doing things into the structure that we already know.
ReplyDeleteIf we were all the same, yes, it would be incredibly boring. No one would ever grow or change, because there wouldn't be other ideas and views to challenge your own or make you question anything.
ReplyDeleteThe key is understanding that "different" is not "bad" -- it's just "different." It's not a contest, where one has to be better than the other, and NO, we do NOT all have to do it the exact same way. There's not always a "wrong" way but many times there's a "wrong way for me", which is why there are so many different ways.
Thanks for the comments!
ReplyDeleteCriss- I totally agree. You also touched on what part of my next post will deal with. Hopefully you'll read part 2! I also see a lot of folks that treat different as bad. Maybe I'm wrong about this? Perhaps it's just a dying remnant?
Elizabeth- I agree with you too! Again, see part 2 soon! You're so good by jumping ahead :)