Dangerous Territory

What about those who are spiritual, but who have chosen a radically different path from ours? People like Wiccans, Buddhists, and Neo-Pagans (at least in western countries) tend to believe Jesus was a good man, or even a man who had a special connection with God (or whatever creative force they subscribe to), but certainly was in no way God Himself. Is it even safe to be close friends with these people?

Perhaps a good question to ask in return is, If they have no close Christian friends, how will they learn the truth about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to provide abundant grace and forgiveness? Mind you, these things will have to be couched in significantly different terms than we are used to, even to begin to make sense to them. And as always, it all depends on the Spirit’s call and leading.

There are Christians who can tell you these largely gentle, insightful people have a lot to teach us. And the truth is, there’s not much point in attempting to witness to anyone you don’t feel you could learn from. Because if the sharing doesn’t go both ways, it’s not true, godly sharing.

Therefore the answer to the question of safe friendship might be No. For some Christians, especially those who are new to faith, or who are not able to listen with an open mind without letting it be “so open your brain falls out,” as the joke has it, close friendship with people whose beliefs are radically different but sometimes dangerously appealing may be a threat to their own faith. It comes back to letting the Holy Spirit lead. And that means we will be led in different directions, toward different people, and must not criticize each other. Even when we see someone join a pottery class that is largely New Agers of one sort or another. What we will do is offer strong support and prayer to that Christian who has been called to the front lines of duty.

The Christian who knows the Holy Spirit is calling her to this dangerous territory, where she may be privileged to “snatch [some] out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear,” (Jude 23) will lean heavily on the next verse, about the One who is able to keep her from stumbling. She will be certain to get all her armor (Eph. 6:10-20) firmly fastened every day. But she will also remember she’s still in community, and she needs her Christian friends as much or more than her New Age friends need her. They will be her anchor. They will not judge or accuse, but they will ask searching questions and help keep her honest and humble.

And she will remember, God’s goal is the complete salvation of every soul He can rescue. But her own goal may only be to get her friends to move one inch to the right on the continuum. It may be someone else’s job to move them the next inch, and the next, until somewhere down the line, they come to the cross and have to make a decision. When they stand at that point, looking up at the Savior dying for them, will they have memories of Christians who died daily for them, too, who loved and accepted them where they were? Will there be enough of these memories to counteract the memories they almost certainly have of Christians who dwelt on judgment and condemnation, who concentrated too hard on the blood and gore that they obscured mercy, who made it harder for a modern person to accept this story rather than dismissing it with contempt?

Hardest of all is the person who is outright hostile to God and any mention of Him. It might be helpful to remember that people aren’t born this way. If someone is angry about the whole idea of God, where is he on the spectrum? All the way to the left? Or could he be standing at the cross right now, and fighting it, because the Holy “Hound of heaven” has him in His sights? Is he reacting to ungodly “Christian” parents who beat him in the name of God? We need to realize clearly that a person who has the courage to turn away from God when given an evil picture of Him has done the right thing! This person is closer to the truth now than if he had accepted that image of a harsh, angry God and passed it on.

Are we able to love this person, prickles and all, and respect his right not to talk about religion or God or the Bible ever? Because we may be his very last chance to learn about truly unconditional love.

A preacher once said that we are all just blind lepers telling other blind lepers where the bread may be found. (2 Kings 7:3-11) If we could keep that in mind and remain humble and teachable, if we could remember to love God and love others, we will share our faith in new and more effective ways, and we, like the disciples, will be continually filled with joy. They will come—not to us, but to Jesus.