What!!! You want me to do what with who?

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night." - Psalm 1:1-2

The early Christians do not condemn the other religions, yet they do not allow the other religions to distract them from their purpose and mission to connect people to Jesus. Paul is willing to accept the others, in order to connect with the person. These attitudes of acceptance grant open opportunities and Luke repeatedly records them encounters as a positive means for bringing people to Jesus. Yet, I can't help but wonder if the American Church has taken it to far. Why can't the message of Jesus Christ still be the central theme?

To many times, we settle for the easy by diluting our beliefs in order to maintain a friend, a network, or a business relationship. We even see these boundaries crossed in our current political structure. For example, during a major funeral of a head of state, we see Christian ministers, Muslim Priests, Catholic Priest, and Jewish Leaders sitting on stage or presiding over widely publicized funeral or memorial services. I often ask, "Would the early Christians support such a view of cooperation?" I think the most notable of the last USA Presidential Campaign is Billy Graham supporting Mitt Romney as a fellow believer. As a Mormon, Mitt Romney does not worship the same God as we do, yet Billy Graham is viewed as such a public figure for the Christian / Protestant faith. Again, "Would the early Church supported such a view?"

For me it comes to Paul speaking to the crowd while seeking common ground and discovering a statue of worship to the unknown God. Obviously, Jesus was an unknown God and Paul grabbed the opportunity to make a connection. The early Christians began as a sect of the Jewish faith and were working to draw in others to this new found trust in Jesus. It is through faith and total enveloping of the life of Jesus that salvation and freedom from sin was achieved. Thus, there seems to be a tolerance of other faiths as a means to preach the message of Jesus to the other faiths. In other words, they would maintain the relationship only to preach and live the relationship of Jesus with the other person. They do not declare that other religions are a means of salvation. In fact, Paul and his companions so often condemn such faith in false gods. Yet, they do not deny the relationship, but seem to embrace them so as to preach to the relationship.

The early believers demonstrate a willingness to share the stage at major funerals so as to present the Gospel Message to the crowd at the funeral, including those of other faiths. To refrain from sharing the message only goes to deny Jesus' relationship with in your own life. Paul states that we are all things to all people so as to present the message of righteousness in Jesus Christ. Thus, it is our goal to proselytize in all things.

I do not know if Mitt Romney is a Christ-Follower...he certainly presented himself as one on the campaign trail and His relationship with God is between he and God. This does not change the fact that we are to be ones that present the living Jesus in all that we do by the actions we demonstrate in our lives.

You know I love ya, Don