Jose Morelos

The rancid political climate of recent days, and the reaction of many toward the possible building of a mosque in a particular place in New York city, has made me wonder whether we are growing into a nation of cognitive dissonant Christians. Cognitive dissonance is the state of having two conflicting beliefs and attempting to live by each of them. In this case the conflict derives in trying to live like Christ followers, while shielding America from the influence of foreign persuasions. The fact is that we cannot do both. They are mutually exclusive. Attempting to be reconciled with both, a cognitive dissonant condition, results in attitudes and actions contrary to Christ's teachings: frustration, anxiety and then violent behavior; instead of charity, love and peace. Even more important, attempting to live by these two conflicting beliefs neutralizes the only reason for our existence on this earth: being the salt of the earth and sharing the message of Christ to the world.  A world that is coming now into our neighborhoods and which is at our doorsteps.

The United States accepts more refugees from needy, war torn areas of the world than any other country in the world.  In 2008, over 60,000 refugees were accepted to be resettled in cities all across the country.  That number increased to 80,000 in 2009.   Canada is the country that accepts the second largest number of refugees.  The U.S. government also accepts over one million legal foreign immigrants every year.  And, over 600,000 International students come to study in the U.S. each year.   All these are strangers in our midst of foreign persuasion. The last ten years have seen one of the greatest migrations of people in history.  It is when people are displaced that they are the most open and receptive to the gospel.  Many of these refugees and immigrants come from areas of the world where we cannot send missionaries and there are very few Christians.   (Could it be that in God's plan, He is bringing all these foreigners to our shores? Not to see this as God's plan could make us very uncomfortable.)

And life is getting more dissonant for many of us.  Not only do we have to consider the thunderous  voices of commentators on the right of the political spectrum,  but also the recent public opinion of well known religious leaders. The former are doing what they are supposed to do, but as for the latter, they should know better.

Let me state clearly: I believe that there is one, and only one, way to salvation: Jesus  Christ. (Romans 6:23). There is no other way. I believe that only those who appropriate His sacrifice on the cross as their own will go to heaven. (Romans 4:25) I believe that there is no other name under heaven by which any man or women can be saved other than through Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12).  I believe that we are saved by His grace, not because of our actions or our merits. (Romans 11;6). I believe that if any man or women go to Jesus they will be saved. (John 14:6). That is what Jesus said. That is what the Bible says. I think all of us who claim to be followers of Christ agree on that.  But we also must agree in other parts of the Bible as well. To not do it is to live in a state of perpetual anxiety and angst: a state of cognitive dissonance.

Together with the above passages, the Bible also says that:

• We will be unappreciated and hated: "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."  John 15:19.
• We ought to know that this is not our world: "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." John 18:36.
• We don't fight this world the way the world does:  "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does." 2 Corinthians 10:3
• We use different type of weapons. "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."  2 Corinthians 10:4.
• We have nothing to defend here: "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it". 1 Timothy 6:7
• We are not from here:  "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" Philippians 3:20

So, what are the followers of Christ supposed to do instead?

• We are to "Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.... See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit...." Ephesians 5:8-18

I am not saying that we can't have our own opinions, only that as ambassadors we need to keep them to ourselves and "deal with it"; because we can only represent the views of the One who is sending us. The One whom we represent. That is, if we are followers of Christ, because we really have no other choice. This doesn't make us perfect or better than anybody else, because we are not; we are just different. We are not from here. This is not our place. We cannot expect "them" to conform to "us". We are only guests, passing through. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Cor 5:20. Otherwise we are dissonant.