In Panama City last June, I had a conversation with a young woman from the States who was Christian and inquired about the particular ministry that my team was focusing on. I explained to her that our ministry host was from India and one of our primary goals was to share Jesus with the surprisingly large Indian Hindu population in Panama City. Despite being a believer in Jesus, she seemed frustrated by my team’s objective to share Christ with Hindus. She started talking about the importance of relativism and of supporting whatever spiritual path an individual chooses. I strongly agree that we shouldn’t judge any person’s religion or anyone for that matter in any respect, but the conversation made me reflect on the following question: which is more important: tolerance or compassion? Tolerance says to encourage everyone to do whatever they feel like doing and to not oppose their beliefs. Compassion, on the other hand, recognizes that someone might be going down a path that involves a tremendous amount of suffering and consequently chooses to intervene and assist that person. As expressed in previous blogs, I am well acquainted with the Hindu and Buddhist belief systems and the expectations that most adherents to those particular religions have. Both Buddhists and Hindus generally have little hope that they’ll be able to attain freedom after this life. They are generally resigned to the fact that they’ll have to undergo numerous lifetimes to attain liberation from all suffering. As a tolerant Christian, I could simply let them believe what they believe and remain on their prolonged journey of multiple lifetimes. However, I don’t believe that is the most compassionate and caring decision. Jesus isn’t always about preserving “good vibes.” As Christ states, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36) Although it has the potential to create some slight conflict (it usually doesn’t by the way), I find it important to at least let someone who is caught in a spiritual belief system of bondage know that there is a way out. I am tolerant in the sense of not negating another’s beliefs, but the compassion I feel for them inspires me to share my own as I know God is Merciful and is providing a way out of the karmic entanglement that many Buddhists, Hindus, and New Age practitioners face. This way out is an expression of Compassion and His Name is Jesus. It’s not about preserving good vibes but rather preserving souls. One love! Jah Christafari!
