There is a critical similarity that warrants consideration in the philosophies of Sandy Bradford (local pacifist/pantheist), Deanna Hanks Henderson (local moral relativist), Frank Jeniker (local atheist Marxist-Leninist), Dan Kelleher and Fred Spoerl (local atheists/secular humanists) expressed in the Daily Interlake. Their solutions for optimizing our world differ: Sandy: get rid of police; and other armed forces; Deanna: think and do as you see fit, as long as you don’t disagree with her; Frank: get rid of the “military-corporate-media-political-religious complex”; Dan and Fred: get rid of religion, especially Christianity.

      The fact that each of these writers think they are right and everyone who differs with them is wrong could also be said of Christians. Anyone that believes Jesus’ words that He is the only begotten Son of God, the only one who was born, lived, suffered, and died for our sins. Jesus cannot logically both be and not be who He says He is. Therefore, believers in Jesus’ words by necessity think that those who disagree with them are wrong. So, are there measurable similarities and differences between opinionated followers of various ideologies? One of various gages that can be used to answer that question is how well the different belief systems match up to reality.

      A critical similarity between the above-mentioned local letter writers that sets them apart from biblical Judeo Christianity is their belief in human capability independent of Divine intervention. They trust in human capacity despite millennia of human cruelty--the many hideous versions of man’s inhumanity to man that have occurred across all cultures, all nations, and across all religious and non-religious belief systems.

      Teaching about love and respect, honesty, fairness, etc makes a difference, but there is a limit to where human effort alone can bring us. Even the most lofty of human thoughts and ideals, and the most noble of deeds performed by humans pale in comparison to God’s holiness “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Secular Humanism, Communism, Socialism, Democracy, Feminism, the Hippie/free love/antiestablishment movements and most forms of religion have had well-intentioned, caring proponents with a desire for justice. They have all failed to heal this world to the extent that they have placed a disproportionate amount of faith in human capacity and intervention and have promoted ideas that contradict the Bible and minimize faith in, and the need for, the Divine. Christianity, in both its pathetic watered-down version so popular today and its violent version more common in the past, falls prey to this humanism instead of believing in God’s redeeming power to transform us. Trust in unredeemed human capability that contradicts history is also contrary to the biblical version of our fallen nature.

      Based on the historical record and Jesus’ words that His kingdom is not of this world, it is unlikely the refuse and wasteland of human striving in ignorance will be eliminated until after His second coming. However, we can make the world a better place to the extent that we show our love for God and His creation by obeying His commandments and being witnesses to His love, power, and majesty. Scripture says that God has created us with the capacity to carry forth His will diligently and with great joy, but the deep level of love, humility, honesty, forgiveness, purity, selflessness, etc commanded of us is not possible by human striving alone. The Bible promises us that ability by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ blood sacrifice.

      “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24).

      The Bible contains the only comprehensive and effective solution to the global human problem. Recognizing our inadequacies in general, and our capacity for self-absorption and wickedness more specifically, it becomes clear our need for a savior. This Christmas season, many gave special homage to the birth of that Savior, Jesus Christ, foretold by Old Testament prophets like Isaiah who called Him “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Those who know Jesus to be who He says He is must respect the rights of others to believe otherwise. Nevertheless, we cannot support the concept that Christianity is just another belief system, of equal validity to every other set of beliefs. Jesus, the Holy One of Israel, did not give us that option.

Annie Bukacek MD