Hi Marni Arnold

Thank you for your comment at Provoketive Magazine (http://provoketive.com). We’re creating a space of rich conversation about life, faith, justice and culture without judgment. Our desire is to provoke the reader’s imagination through conversation and open up spaces of dialogue, learning, and hope.  We want to invite you to come back soon and continue to participate in the conversation. 

Thank you,
Jonathan Brink
Provoketive Magazine

You posted the following comment:
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I certainly agree to this, Jonathan - for the foundation of the Christian faith is truly rooted in Judaism. You can't have one without the other. I also agree that we can definitely learn from others' of other faiths - for, alone, at the core of the monotheistic Judaism, Christian and Islam) religions, there is one father; Abraham. Also, including other faiths outside Christianity, human beings truly are all of God's creation - so almost by default there will be elements of truth woven in other worldly religions belief systems. Yet, even considering these things, though we are to respect others of differing beliefs, Christians aren't called to forego the commission we have been given by God Himself (to spread the gospel unto all the nations).

We encounter a slippery slope when the lines are blurred between respecting others of other faiths...and embracing, or even agreeing in mutuality, the truths they ascribe to as "truth"; and this plays with a line that honestly is extremely tempting to cross.

We, as Christians, need to be very careful of just what we let into our hearts as truth - for as the sinful creatures we are in our natures, what tends to sound good, really isn't good. It's kind of like candy. It tastes really good, but in the long run - it isn't the best for us (especially in copious amounts).

This is the division I firmly believe God is asserting here in the scripture I referenced above. The sword will divide, and it's intended to...but it doesn't mean we can't respect one another. We can, and should, certainly do such a thing...but we need to truly keep our eyes and hearts focused on Who holds the absolute truth above all - and follow Him.