Mistaken, But Not Wrong

There it was, in its usual place and in its usual color. Written in a blazing red ink was a simple letter. Just a letter mind you, but one that strikes fear into the hearts all people. In the upper right hand corner of my test was an abnormally large letter, “F.”
Feeling much like Hester Prynne, I understood my scarlet letter. I had failed my geography test, thus making me a failure.
No one likes to get answers wrong. No one likes being wrong, although it is a common occurrence. But is it as common as we think?
In school I was taught that while taking a test, if part of the question is false, the entire question is false. Likewise, if part of the answer is wrong, all of the answer is wrong. There are no points for good motives or intentions in academia. However, when comparing religions, seeking for truth and chasing after G/god, I think we need to take another look.
For a long time Christianity has been labeled narrow-minded for its belief in Jesus being the only true access to God and entry to heaven (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). In conjunction with this belief, Christians have spent a lot of time telling non-Christians (of all stripes and shades) that their beliefs are wrong.
Telling someone else they are wrong can be both an ego trip and a power play. The assumption is if you are wrong, then I am right. There is a clear hierarchy established when one claims the authority to distinguish right from wrong. Pointing out the failures of others can stoke one’s pride, while stinging another’s.
But, is there a way to endorse the intrinsic search for truth, love and the character of God, without condoning the extrinsic expressions of mistaken belief? Can we validate the search, but not its discovery? Is it possible to find a common foundation on which to dialogue about our (humanity’s) communal need for meaning, acceptance and mercy, no matter where our paths may diverge?
I think it is and I believe modern Christianity needs to find this ground in order to earn the right to speak Jesus’ love into the lives of others who missed his trail markers.
The multiplicity of religions, beliefs and philosophies about God stand as ready proof that inherent within humanity is a yearning to answer the nagging question, “Who or what is G/god?”
Some say G/god is personal, while others say impersonal. Some say he is singular, others say he is multiple. Some say he exists, others say he does not exist. Same say he is fact, others say he is myth. No matter what the answer is, humanity has always been asking the same question.
If modern Christianity would just see this fact and dismount from its high horse to join the rest of humanity in its quest for the divine, we would have a more receptive audience when we say, “Lets look over here!”
But it is when we simply shout, “You’re wrong!” that we lose credibility and opportunity. It is part of Christ’s mandate to love our neighbors no matter if they are right or wrong (Lk. 10:29). I believe this love will motivate us to separate the quest for the divine from some of the answers that are found.
It is hypocritical to condemn the search for love, truth and forgiveness simply because it leads to a different destination than what we have found. Isn’t this the very same worthwhile search what led us (Christians) to redemption in Christ and reconciliation with God?
Christians need to separate the motivation for religious union and the manifestation of religious beliefs. When we do this, when we seek out this common ground and treat all people as equally valued travelers on a spiritual journey, we act more like Jesus, who sought our common humanity, to share with us the love of God.
The search is good. The search is valuable. The search is basic to all people, irrespective of where it leads. Christians don’t have to pronounce the pursuit of God, “wrong” because we disagree with the end result. We should honor the quest; even foster it, knowing that those who truly seek God will find him among the imposters (Matt. 7:7-8).