Coexist...

I've been thinking about this word for awhile now, especially now with everything that is going on in Egypt. I mean I know that we've all seen them, the cutesy little bumper stickers that say "Coexist" in all the religious symbols. I've been wondering what my role is as a Christian in this "coexisting" world. I was praying about this back in September when the threat of the burning of the Qua-ran came about and this is what I believe to be my stance:

As Christians, are we called to "coexist"? Is there anywhere in the bible where Jesus says to "coexist with your brother". It doesn't say that, so what I believe in, is love. We are called to LOVE: love our neighbors, love our enemies, love God; however, I don't want to be the one that is so blind sighted by loving on others that I forget my real mission here on this earth: to bring glory to God's name. By simply loving our neighbors and what I feel like "coexisting", we are turning a blind eye to one of the greatest commandments that Jesus gave us! In Matthew 28: 16-20, he spells out what he wants us to do, our calling. I have no problem with loving on people. I love love, I really do. I just don't want our love to get to a point to where we become complacent and "accept" others religions as well. I KNOW that Jesus is the only way! I know that, but I don't want to look at a Muslim person and say "You do what works for you. I'm just called to coexist peacefully with you". NO! That's like slapping Jesus in the face and saying to him that you don't believe that he is everything that he says that he is! He says "I am THE way, The truth, and The light" not "A way, A truth, A light".I know saying that to someone would cause conflict, but Jesus also says John 15:18 that the world will hate us. Do you hear that? If we are doing our job correctly and truly living out everything that Jesus taught us that the world WILL hate us! I'm not one for conflict. I don't like it at all and would rather avoid it like the plague. But my biggest fear is that in our quest to coexist, we have denied a person salvation and sentenced them to an eternity in Hell. That terrifies me more than any conflict I have/will ever face. I'm not looking at myself as a self-righteous person or someone who thinks that they are better than anyone. The reality of the fact is that I'm just as screwed up as the rest of us. I need grace, mercy, and forgiveness every single minute of every single day. I have a God who loves me enough to see me as rough and screwed up as I am and chooses to love me anyway. I want to share that. I want to love on people with the love that God has given me. But at the same time, I don't want to forget what I'm here for. Is it radical? Yes. Was Jesus this radical? Absolutely.