The criticism of other religions

By Carl O. Cooper

 Some say we should not criticize other religions from our pulpits

My first impression when I hear this is that it sounds like it would be the right thing to do. It is only after I think about it for a while that I begin to question what it means. In fact, what does it mean? Does it mean that we cannot discuss and expose error from the pulpit? Surely we don’t intend to take it that far. Would we be free to talk about “salvation by the sinner’s prayer”? How about “infant baptism”? What about all of the doctrines of  Calvinism, would we be free to expose these as false? Now it might be possible to discuss these things and never mention the name of a religion, but are we going to mention Martin Luther? How about Luther’s disagreement with the Catholic church and the beginning of the “reformation” movement? Would we still be free to discuss the reasons and the beginnings of the “restoration movement”? How about John Calvin’s attachment to the Presbyterian Church and Alexander Campbell’s attachment to the Baptist church. Would we be free, in fact, to even be able to teach the basic foundation doctrines of the restoration movement at all? Can we define ourselves as the one and only restored and approved church of the Bible? In other words, how far do we take this? And what about our Bible classes, can we teach about the doctrines of other religions there and refer to them as false doctrines? Or must we be silent about this for fear of perhaps offending a visitor? When I look back on my 45 years in the church and all the sermons I have listened to, for the life of me, I cannot remember any single incident where the name of some religion was presented in any way that I felt like was in any way degrading to any person because they were associated with some other religion. Now I’ve heard about it and people have told me about it. But I have never actually been in a service where I felt people were being harmfully insulted.

It seems to me, as I think about this situation, that we already do a good job of protecting people’s feelings as we discuss the doctrines and issues of religion. But there does come a time in the life of a visitor, if they come enough, when they suddenly “get it”. A sermon, a Bible class, a statement, and suddenly they realize, these people are different. They are claiming to be the only church. They are saying that denominational churches are not approved by God. In fact, they are saying all other religions are wrong. Now this day will come, it has to. This is what we are all about. We are different and we hold these doctrines up to be the basics and keys as to why we are. They are so much a part of us that we can’t exist without them. And the question is…what will this person do and how will they react to this revelation that they have suddenly received? The answer to this depends totally on the “soil”. In other words, the mind and the heart of the hearer. A great majority will reject it. This is absolutely predictable. Some will get angry and accuse the teacher. Many will not come back. Not because they have been personally insulted or offended, but they suddenly see us as restrictive and intolerant of many things that they have already accepted.

In thinking about this concern for the feelings of visitors, I think it makes perfectly good sense to be respectful of the dignity and feelings of others. Personally, I really think we do this already, but it won’t hurt anything to remind ourselves to continually be this way. On the other hand, we don’t want to make up rules and restrictions that place a “gag” order on our teachers that prevent us from being ourselves. We are who we are. And we are designed and approved by God, Himself, how can we even hint at being ashamed of our doctrines and our roots? Personally, when I bring visitors to our assembly, I talk to them in advance. I explain who we are and what we stand for and what they will see in our services. Some people are offended because we do not include them in the Lord’s Supper. Why not tell them in advance that we see ourselves as the restored church of the Bible and we consider ourselves unique and different? Why not say to them that we are not a denomination and we will not be like any other church where they have ever been? Of course you don’t always get that chance. Sometimes you just invite people to come, in passing, and you really don’t get a chance for much of a conversation. This would be a good time for a tract explaining who we are if they should happen to come.

I think we should also remember that our worship services are not for the visitors. It is OK for them to come but the services are not for them. Our worship service is our attempt to worship God as he has instructed Christians to do. If it were to be our only form of evangelizing the world, it would be a poor effort indeed. There has to be more teaching involved than they can get at a Sunday morning service. In reality, they might attend for months and never “get it”. This should be an opportunity for some kind of follow up teaching for visitors who come to the services. Personal instruction would tell them who we are and what we are all about. And it is absolutely important that they find out and know. It could never, never, never be in their best interest for us to with hold this information from them in fear of embarrassing them or us.

Carl O. Cooper