When I see one of those bumper stickers instructing me to “COEXIST” (or else…), a little chill goes down my spine because I realize it’s an icon of the growing war against Christian culture and civilization, and against me specifically, just as it is a war against you specifically, whether you are a Christian or not.

I saw an amusing version of the bumper sticker which read “Coexist – you first”.

What people who would have us “coexist” really mean is that Christians (they have no argument with Hindus, Moslems, Scientologists, etc.) must accept the concept that all beliefs are equally valid and equally true. Christians should forget all about that narrow, out dated, bigoted notion that there is only one way to view morality, and that there is only one God, and that there is only one way to God. If you want to believe that God is a teapot, or that there are a million gods, or that little green men “seeded” life on the earth, or that we all evolved out of a big lump of rock which was made by an expansion of nothing and that there is no God, that’s being sensible, inclusive and loving: if you want to believe that life shows abundant evidence of design, that there’s only one God (you know-like there’s only one President), and that we should all recognize Him, you’re mentally unstable, bigoted,  narrow minded, hateful, ignorant and intolerant.

Well, I for one am more than proud and happy to wear all those labels, because I know what I believe, because I’m not ashamed of my God, and because I’m promised a reward for accepting such insults:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” (Matthew 5: 11-12 NIV).

I am very able and willing to treat all people equally, no matter what their beliefs. I can be polite and kind to them, and I can enjoy their company and their contribution to our world. In this sense I’m happy to “coexist”. But I’m not going to throw away what I believe and know to be true, and deny my own convictions. I’m not going to “keep my beliefs to myself”, because I would be denying others the chance of finding hope and truth, and I would be disobeying my Lord. I’m not going to cave in to the pressure to believe that all things are true and nothing is true, because Jesus said:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7: 13-14 NIV);

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14: 6).

No one is going to talk me into believing that there are ten gods, a million gods, and no god all at the same time, and no one is going to talk  me into believing that it doesn’t matter anyway.

When people insult or persecute you for being a Christian, they are persecuting Jesus himself (Acts 9: 1-5). Armageddon is a battle to attempt to stop Christ returning to earth (Revelation 19:19). The war against Jesus Christ is heating up: it’s already in full swing in some parts of the world, where some of our brothers and sisters are being attacked, locked up or murdered. It’s time for you and I, while we still live in this more insipid Western war against Jesus Christ, to decide we’re going to stand by our convictions and take the insults. A time is coming when the entire world will be tested: the feint-hearted and the fakes will fall away and join the fight against us. It’s time to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10-18). Victory is assured. All we have to do is stay faithful.

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