Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:14 – “Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? Or what partnership is there between light and darkness?” (NRSVue)
I like to think of myself as a diversity kind of guy. I like it when everyone is included. I like to see different opinions, not just because it is important from a justice perspective for everyone to be treated equally, but because doing so gives us new perspectives that we otherwise would not have. We do better when we include others. By being exposed to new things, our imaginations become more vibrant and we discover new possibilities we would not have dreamed of otherwise.
I think this is true for religious perspectives as well. I studied comparative theology and have felt like my views on God have only become closer and richer because of my exposure to other traditions and other ideas. Even if I disagree with an ecumenical or interfaith partner on a fundamental level, there is still something about God I can learn from them.
The Bible is full of times that new and unexpected ideas come from outsiders, from Melchizedek to the Syro-Phoenician woman. It speaks of welcoming strangers and immigrants as equals. However, just as often, the Bible talks about maintaining separation from others. This is especially true of marriage, where marrying “foreign wives” leads to idolatry and impious behavior.
In his Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul echoes this second perspective. He draws a sharp distinction between righteousness and light on the one hand and lawlessness and darkness on the other. Some believe, some do not. Some are for Christ; others are for demons like Beliar. The perspective of a good Christian is to separate from such people and live out lives of faith in the Lord.
So, what do we make of this? Should we welcome new people and ideas or keep our perspectives pure? It is a difficult question, especially if we want to engage with an increasingly secularized world.
The answer that I have come up with is that before you start sharing ideas, you need to have a rock-solid faith in your own. You need to put your faith in God and God’s call to you front and center. Only then can you productively engage with other ideas. This needs to be more than just being stubborn. You need to be willing to be challenged and be open to criticism, but you cannot just mix and match what feels right. Paul rejected impure ideas, but not the perspectives of other people, for it was to non-Jews that he spread his gospel. He truly appreciated their experiences, or they would not have sparked so much that is novel in his theology.
When we are true to our principles, that does not mean we need to reject or ignore other people’s ideas. Because if our principles are indeed true, they will help us stay the course. And if they are not, then a little gentle correction may be just what we need.
Be open to new ideas and new combinations but remember to stay true to what made you fall in love with God in the first place.
Prayer: Lord, make me ever faithful to you so I can learn to love in greater and greater ways when I live with others. Amen.
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