Let's Be Clear--No Common Ground

Rick Warren, pastor at Saddleback Community Church in California appeared at the annual convention of the Islamic society of North America over the weekend. He adressed the convention in D.C. and stated that Muslims and Christians must work together to fight stereotypes, promote peace and freedom and solve global problems. The question that needs to be asked is how can these two groups work together unless there's common ground. Christians and Muslims are very different when it comes to religion. There's no way they can work together when both religions don't have hardly anything in common.

President Barack obama was the commencement speaker at Notre Dame university on May 17, 2009. He received his honorary doctor of laws degree. He was calling for common ground in regards to the abortion issue in our country. How can one seek common ground on abortion when you have two sides that are diametrically opposed to one another on this issue? It's impossible.

In order for there to be common ground, there must be agreement. Let's be clear about this: You can't have common ground without agreement. In political terms you hear the phrases "bipartisan approach" or "bipartisan agreement" a lot in Congress. The only reason why there can be bipartisan agreement is because there's a group of both Democrats and Republicans that agree on a particular issue or piece of legislation--hence there's common ground. Amos 3:3 says "Can two walk together; except they be agreed?"

Today in many of our religious circles, you have the promotion of ecumencalism, which is for greater cooperation or toleration of different faiths in Christianity. Back in 1994, Mark Noll, who was then professor of History at Wheaton College, co-signed a document called "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" calling for cooperation and unity between the two. Religious leaders are admonishing us to set aside our differences and come together and love one another. However the Bible says in II Corinthians 6:17 says, "Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; I will receive you". That's a pretty stern warning for the Lord that true Bible believing Christians aren't to be mixing and mingling with those that preach another Gospel except the Gospel of Christ. The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 1 that if anybody preaches another Gospel than the one that they received; let him be accursed! That's serious business with God. We're to be separate from the world and those religions that preach anything but the cross of Christ.

Back in the late 70's and early 80's we had some "conservatives" in the Southern Baptist hierarchy that were trying to embrace those "moderates" that didn't hold to the same view in regards to inerrancy of scripture. You can't embrace those that don't believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God. Believing the Bible contains the Word of God isn't the same as believing the Bible is totally inerrant and infallible.

In retrospect, there's no common ground unless there's agreement on an issue. You can't have true unity if there's no agreement. It's very serious that the church recognizes there's some issues such as abortion, same sex marriage, Darwinian evolution, and the list continues in which you can't compromise on. The church can't find common ground with politicians, churches, or any organization that embraces those philosophies that are in opposition to scripture. LET'S BE CLEAR--NO COMON GROUND!