Hostile Takeovers
by R.C. Sproul Jr.

P: Pardon me, but you are a Christian aren't you?

X: Yes I am. Is there something I can help you with?

P: Maybe so. Perhaps you can tell me why you Christians cannot seem to get along with everyone else.

X: That's kind of hard. Who do you mean by 'everyone else'?

P: The obvious, anyone who doesn't believe the same thing you do.

X: It still seems hard to explain. Christians are commanded by Scripture to live in peace with everyone if at all possible. It is in Romans 12:18.

P: When would it ever not be possible? Isn't God love? And if you all claim to be chosen by God, it would seem to follow that you would be the most loving, tolerant, and accepting of others.

X: I love the way you people accuse us of intolerance by raising a Christianesque standard that you believe to be binding on everyone but do not practice yourselves. I could take the time to explain that your complaint is self-referentially absurd (that you lack tolerance for the intolerant). Or I could give you a history lesson on how Christians have sacrificed themselves, their fortunes, and their families in service to medical missions, hospitals, orphanages, etc. But I'll just sum up the reason you are looking for as to why we can't "just get along'. CONQUEST.

P: Conquest?!?

X: Conquest. You want to incorporate everyone into one quasiunion of harmony with both no distinctives, and no unifying principle. That is impossible for anyone with convictions to accept. But more often than not it is the Christian that takes the heat for not falling in line.

P: That's not fair. There are many examples of different races and religions that have banded together for the betterment of the world. And Christians have been among them!

X: That is true. But what you are talking about now is occasional common grace projects that, historically, Christians have spearheaded and if not, those who led the charge did so because of the influence of the biblical doctrine of the dignity of man and of God's creation. However, it was the cause that bound them together, not the belief system. And while some hold beliefs that allow for compromise, the Christian does not.

P: Explain

X: I can save you from drowning without denying the virgin birth of Christ.

P: I'm not asking you to give that up. I personally don't believe it. It is all nice stories and fairy tales to me. But I have no problem if you think they are real.

X: But you see that is exactly the point. You are defined as a people with no story. Whereas we Christians are people because of a story. Every week we gather to retell the story in word, song and presence, of God's grace in sending His Son to die for us. Your non-story agenda of making everyone "get along" to form some type of global community will only happen if people give up their story. And vice versa.

P: Vice versa?

X: Yes. Why don't you embrace the tenets of Christianity right now?

P: Are you crazy?

X: No, just making a point. And making my way back to my original summation of our disputation.

P: Which was...

X: Conquest. You see, the church is not here on a "peaceful mission." We are here to take over.

P: What?!?

X: That's right. We are commanded to spread the story that defines us to every corner of the globe. No race, religion, irreligion, or nationality is to be spared the evangelization process.

P: And earlier you were accusing me of trying to get everyone under the same umbrella. What's the difference?

X: The difference is that we don't want compromise, we want conversion. This is true incorporation of values and ideals. Christians hold spiritual citizenry in a holy nation. We are a people unlike all others.