The Perils of Pluralism
Many Christians are encountering new challenges at work, in school, online, or in community facilities. A pluralistic society is demanding that we pay our dues to a variety of religions, lifestyles, and identities. New questions are arising, especially in the younger generation. Should we join in smudging ceremonies?1 Should we say Blessed Ramadan to a Muslim? Happy Diwali to a Hindu? Should we wear inclusive armbands, pins, or stickers?2 Should we use preferred pronouns? How do we react to a "coming out" post on social media? What about if even quietly or tactfully refusing means losing your job, being demoted, losing a contract, or being called a bigot? What if it leads to accusations of hatred, abuse, or even criminal charges?
To answer these questions, we need to look at the changes around us in light of God's Word. Western civilization seems to be heading towards both the past and the future. We are surrounded by dizzying trends of neopaganism, tribalism, and identity politics. It is difficult to nail down in all of its diversity, but somewhere at the root of all of this are matters of idolatry and humanistic identity.3 In this brave new world, there is an absolute right to forge a unique identity. You either become an ally or an enemy of all of your neighbor's identity project. Those religious traditions or identities that are farthest from Christian, patriarchal, or straight now seem to be owed the greatest respect. If you do not pay respects to these idols or ideas, you risk being labelled an extremist. The political, academic, media, and corporate world increasingly demands that you pay lip service, bow to the idols, and join in the feasting.
The "Progress" of Pluralism
The philosophy of pluralism lies beneath many of the changes that have swept through Western civilization in the last few decades. This philosophy is "...a theory or system that recognizes more than one ultimate principle, in contrast with monism."4 Practical pluralism may have seemed attractive to many for a time,5 but embracing the underlying philosophy is dangerous for Christians. The problem is that it is ultimately a descendant of ancient polytheism: the belief in many gods and individual idols. For pluralism to thrive, it has required that the ultimate principle of God's law had to be swept away to allow for a diversity of religions and lifestyles. This is why Canada's movement towards official multiculturalism beginning in the late 1960s was paralleled by laws abandoning the Lord's day, "redefining" the family and marriage, and allowing the murder of infants and now the infirm. Laws had to be swept away to make room for a plurality of lifestyles, worldviews, and religions. Pluralism, by virtue of its underlying philosophy, will increasingly be at odds with the ethics and the gospel of Christianity.
Pluralists are now demanding that you love pluralism itself with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. They cannot live alongside a testimony that insists on keeping the first commandment, or any commandment, as an ultimate principle. Christians are being tested. The relentless march of pluralism is rapidly infiltrating homes, hearts, churches, and schools. In the Reformed churches, some are softening their approach to arising challenges. Others are quietly confused about how to respond in the workplace or school. Some are wounding their own consciences as they cave in to pressures. Others simply do not talk about such things. Some have even gone as far as to signal "virtue" by liking or promoting the sins of their neighbors on social media. We are increasingly asked: are these just matters of individual conscience, or is the truth really at stake? How should Christians think about these things?
What does God's Word say?
First, remember that the exclusive worship of the Lord our God is at the very root of our identity as God's redeemed people. "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:2–3) The root of the word "before" in the first commandment speaks of God's face or countenance. The old William Tyndale translation of 1525 captures something of this: "Thou shalt have none other gods in my sight." The God who saved us does not want to countenance any other gods. Keep them out of His sight! The entire world needs to know that it is an offense to our holy God to pretend others exist, there is no other. (Isaiah 45:6) We offend God, and we deceive our neighbor, by pretending that their false religions are legitimate.7
Second, remember that idolatry is dangerous, and it is still around us. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image... you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.” (Exodus 20:4–5). Most ancient people seemed to believe that the physical idols that they made were not literally their gods. Idols were, however, an attempt to represent gods according to human imaginations and preferences. The process of idolatry allowed mankind to harness the gods, and to create them in their preferred image. They turned the Creator into a creature, and thus attempted to rule over Him. (Romans 1) Even as the law of God was being given to Moses, the Israelites were shaping a golden calf according to their own ideas. False religions still do this, reshaping a concept of deity into something less than holy and less than gracious. Idolatry reverses the creation order, putting the human at the top, and the idol below. This does not require making a physical statue or picture. To encourage or endorse a false religion is to join in the falsehood of idolatry. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21)
Third, remember that embracing false gods or false worship is at the root of sexual perversion and the breakdown of the family. Romans 1 teaches very clearly that idolatry leads to deviant sexuality. Covetousness for what is not properly ours, including illegitimate relationships or sexual identities, is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5-11) Pagan temples were centers of perversion, and the neo-paganism that is currently emerging is no different. If this was a problem in the ancient times, it seems only have to grown in ours. We no longer live in the information age, we have moved to the image age, and now even the age of images that preach their messages. The images have been given voices. In the age of TikTok, YouTube, and online pornography, it is becoming clear that idolatry has possessed the internet, and it is rapidly infiltrating hearts. As images proliferate, we are seeing the tides change. It is no coincidence that the same culture that demands that you pay lip service to your neighborhood Hindu festival demands that you bow to transgenderism. This is why when a teacher in an Oakville High School acts out so egregiously, pluralism demands that the school board bow to the legitimacy of his image.7 They have no choice, for he is an example of supposed humanist victory over God. He has shaped “her” image, and so is seen as a brave champion, victorious over God. He has broken through some of the last vestiges of the Christian worldview. This must be supported, along with redefinitions of marriage and family. There is no middle road. You are either ally or enemy. Make no mistake, this is a war with God. We must not endorse the idols, images, or identities which defy God's prerogative as Creator. If the world thinks the church is an ally, then we are joining in the approval of their falsehoods. We would be warring against God. This is the most dangerous ground that a Christian could tread on, it is a path towards apostasy.
Fourth, we need to realize that pluralists are increasingly demanding that you go beyond mere tolerance. You must applaud their neopaganism, and deny that idolatry is sin. Clinging to Exodus 20 and Romans 1-3 is becoming a matter of grave offense. If you profess that idolatry or humanistic identities relate to sin, you will be on the outside. You are the enemy of their community. In relation to this, I have found that over the past few years that it has become harder and harder to evangelize in many places. The message of the gospel calls for selfish identities to be abandoned, and this is painful. Discriminatory preaching, and convicting preaching, is even become less and less welcome in many churches. Iconoclastic (literally “idol-destroying”) preaching or evangelism is increasingly controversial. The identity idols of our age are clung to so tightly that calls to repentance are seen as the cause of anxieties and depressions. There is actually truth to this in a sense, such preaching should hopefully indeed lead to intense anxiety in these cases. The reality is, however, if we speak of idolatry, deviant sexuality, or other fleshly practices as sin, we will be labelled as abusive, and perhaps even the cause of suicide or self-harm. Sadly, the idolator will be offended, and convinced that they are righteous, and that you are hateful. Yet, if we truly love our neighbors, we must be faithful in pointing them to Christ, who is the only way to the Father. (John 14:6)
The battle lines are being drawn. Neutral ground is rapidly disappearing. Which side will you stand on?
Christians must to grasp that our faith itself is a threat to post-post-modern identities. In Canada, there is a growing catalogue of hate-speech laws and anti-conversion laws that relate to this. These laws expose that our governments are now in the business of protecting idolatry, and seem to be preparing to attack truth. The laws are not yet being applied indiscriminately, but it seems that the time may come. The specter of social credit also seems to be a part of the puzzle, hinting at a future where Bible believing Christians and possibly orthodox Jews may be further marginalized. It is no coincidence that anti-Semitism rises in ages of idolatry: the law of God is still, on one level, embraced by Judaism. (Romans 3:2) It seems likely that we will face a difficult future. If we stand.
The Way of Escape
Will true Christians have to lose their places in their communities? Will our kids be able to go to university or college? Will we suffer persecution in the near future? What should a Christian do? Sadly, some professing Christians will buckle under pressure. To embrace the philosophy of religious and moral pluralism, however, is to deny Christ. We must persevere:
First, a Christian must indeed flee from idolatry, but should do so with hope in the Lord’s preserving power. First Corinthians 10 outlines how Israel fell into idolatry, and how disastrous that was. That history is a sober warning to the church. But this passage also encourages us with the hope that the Lord promises to take care of those that flee temptation. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:12–14) Facing temptation calls for an approach of sober self-examination, then hope in God’s promises, then resolute faithfulness.
Second, the Bible contains many encouraging and inspiring accounts of how the Lord gave his children practical ways of escape. Believers in the Bible times often lived with polytheistic cultures. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome all had systems that often imposed polytheism. When the message of the law and the gospel was carried into these contexts, it met resistance. And yet the Lord strengthened, sustained, and saved his children in all kinds of situations. Abraham was called out of a land of idols. Think of Joseph, Elijah, Daniel, Daniel’s friends, and the missionary Apostles. When these believers refused temptation, the Lord provided ways out. Some even overcame kingdoms, and changed the world. Those that stood firmly sometimes ended up in the positions of the greatest influence! That way of escape may not be easy, but even a martyred Christian is guaranteed an eternal hope in a better city. There is an escape for you Christian, you need not make it yourself!
"Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” - Mark 10:29–31
Thirdly, and most importantly, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the key that unlocks our understanding of the way of escape. The Son of God came to earth to be incarnated as the “express image” of God. (Hebrews 1:3) He withstood the direct temptations of Satan. (Matthew 4:1-11) If you study those temptations, you will see how relevant they are to this discussion. Satan offered Jesus a way of escape through a selfish miracle, a dangerous stunt, and false worship. Our Saviour refused. Later, Jesus was attacked by the Pharisees and Scribes, who were purveyors of an ultimately humanistic false religion. Their “Judaism” was not the way of truth, but the way of the father of lies. (John 8:44) They used the law of God to elevate their own identities, rather than honor God. Their lies, and ultimately their humanism, demanded His death. At the cross, false religion sacrificed the express image of God in an attempt to maintain sovereignty over their own chosen identities. They refused to bend the knee to the King of Kings, and because of His gospel preaching, they thought they had to kill Him. But we who are of the faith know the rest of the story. Christ is risen indeed, and His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. He gives life to all who trust in Him. In union with Him, we are given the righteousness of the one who was never idolatrous, and perfect in all of His worship! He is the Way.
Encouragement for Faithful Witnesses
Not only does Christ give life to his faithful church, he endows them with great power. I have often wondered at the picture of the two witnesses in Revelation 11. Many have questions about them: Who are they? Is this a picture of Moses and Elijah? Are they John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus? Is it a picture of Peter and Paul that was fulfilled in the first century? Will these be two future martyrs who are given great power for a time, as dispensationalists believe? Or is this perhaps a symbolic picture of the sure testimony of the church of these last days: truth-filled, witnessing, powerful, protected, and even preserved through martyrdom?
I think we should not let the questions about interpretation distract us from the encouragement Revelation 11 gives. Look at the power the Lord gives to his witnesses to change the world! Realize that the Lord will indeed use powerful disasters to judge His enemies, and bring others to repentance. Consider the hatred that rises against His witnesses, and do not be surprised. Realize that the beast himself will fight against them, and appear to win for a time. They will appear to be vanquished, dead and gone. The world celebrates! They feast and even exchange gifts for a time, celebrating the supposed death of Christianity. They claim that "God is dead!" Then, by the almighty power of God, His beloved are brought to life and carried up to Him. Revelation 11, I am sure, is intended to bring comfort to the marginalized and persecuted church of all ages. It is richly symbolic, and its encouragement is for all of us.
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:31–39
There is only one path forward, though it might be difficult, it is ultimately the safest of paths. It is the Way. We must stand against pluralism, and for Christ alone.
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1 Smudging ceremonies are becoming more common in Canada, and especially in Northern Ontario in school assemblies, at the openings of new facilities, or other events. Smudging involves burning cedar, sage, sweetgrass, or tobacco, and using the smoke for ritual purification of a person or an object. Some believe that this smoke cleanses them from sin or curses, which is consistent with the ancient beliefs of many indigenous religions around the world. I have spoken with Native Canadian Christians who rightly understand that this practice is not compatible with our belief in the finished work of Christ. (Hebrews 9:12-14) Christians who encounter these situations ought not to join in, but to abstain and pray for an opportunity to speak of the hope within. (1 Peter 3:15) We need to be aware that due to some of the sad history relating to the residential schools and colonization, abstaining from smudging may be seen as offensive. Some are offering you what they believe is a better way of cleansing. We need to be careful that we publicly witness that we have found cleansing in Christ alone.
2 It is a reality that symbolism can be challenging, and navigating some relationships in the current context is difficult. How do we deal with a culture that is changing definitions and concepts ever more quickly? How do Christians communicate the original, God-given, meaning of symbols such as the rainbow? It is arguable that we should not entirely surrender every symbol to humanistic definitions, and yet we find ourselves as a minority in a culture where God's good signs are used in idolatrous ways. Ultimately, Christians have to be thoughtful about which message we are communicating to the community around us though our words, actions, or even "likes" on social media. We need to be increasingly careful that we do not mislead others into believing that we endorse the opposite of what we believe, in order to preserve a testimony of truth. Pray for wisdom. (James 1:5)
3 The writings of Carl Trueman and Rod Dreher may be helpful to think through some of these issues. If you want to do some academic-level reading that shows how developments in philosophy and psychology relate to topics of identity and sexuality, I suggest Carl Trueman’s, “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.” If you would like to explore how we are likely entering a new age of totalitarianism, Rod Dreher’s “Live not by Lies” is thought-provoking and readable. Dreher's work should be read with some discernment, it is notable that he is Eastern Orthodox, and that some of his solutions are debatable.
4 Definition from the New Oxford American Dictionary. It is worth noting that there are Christians who speak of themselves as "Principled Pluralists." They indicate by this that there are benefits to peaceable engagement with a pluralistic society and culture, and that it is possible to cooperate with diverse neighbors without abandoning the principles God's law. The reality, however, is that we are now being increasingly asked for more than cooperation or even tolerance. We are being asked to endorse what we do not believe in.
5 For several decades, we have lived within a nation which has encouraged living at peace with a growing diversity of neighbors. Many of us could live within that arrangement, even while we had concerns with the direction our culture and government was heading. God's people were indeed taught to treat foreigners with respect and love: "If a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:33–34) We also may “...seek the peace of the city” we live in, even when we disagree with its standards. (Jeremiah 29:7) Seeking to be peaceable does not mean, however, that Christians should ever endorse or encourage the sins of neighbors.
6 See Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 94: "What does God enjoin in the first commandment? That I, as sincerely as I desire the salvation of my own soul, avoid and flee from all idolatry, sorcery, soothsaying, superstition, invocation of saints, or any other creatures, and learn rightly to know the only true God, trust in him alone, with humility, and patience submit to him, expect all good things from him only, love, fear, and glorify him with my whole heart; so that I renounce and forsake all creatures, rather than commit even the least thing contrary to his will.”
7 See https:/financialpost.com/fp-work/halton-school-board-power-ban-trans-teachers-outfit-too-scared (Accessed January 6, 2023).
Gustave Doré (1832-83)