Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism is a term we hear a lot today. In any academic field from high school to graduate school, it is a required course. Multiculturalism has spread across the world like wildfire. Most large companies require multicultural training. The idea behind this concept is that we should respect and accept all cultures because it makes us better. That sounds reasonable. Prejudice against any people is condemned in scripture because God looks at all people in the same way.

However, multiculturalism goes further than embracing the value of all human beings and denouncing racial prejudice. It encompasses the idea that all religions are equally good. We should, therefore, welcome all religions and give them an equal place in our belief system. Our constitution indeed establishes freedom for a plurality of religions. However, it is essential to know that multiculturalism judges anyone as bigoted and intolerant that does not entirely accept this concept.

It is here that we must part ways with multiculturalism when we are told that we cannot judge another religion. We cannot say Christianity is the true religion, and that there are false religions. To say that is to demonstrate societal prejudice. Multiculturalism spawns reverse bigotry and hatred toward those it deems to be the perpetrators of racism, thus “White Guilt.” The Biblical approach to solve the racial divide of the world is summed up by Micah, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

The prophet Elijah confronted multiculturalism when he challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He called all Israel and the prophets of Baal to a contest to decide who is the one true God. Elijah laid out the rules—offer a sacrifice but put no fire to it and the God that answers by fire will be proven to be the true God (1 Kings 18:20-29). This story is about whether there is really a true and living God who reigns above all other gods.

The account of the prophet Elijah on Mt Carmel challenging King Ahab and the prophets of Baal is relevant because it was a contest of religions. Ahab and his queen, Jezebel, welcomed other gods and tried to silence the voice of the prophets of the God of the Bible. Have you noticed how tolerant and inclusive societies welcome religions of all kinds? At the same time, these same societies do their best to silence the voices of Christians. There is a clear parallel to our time and the hostility we are seeing toward the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We see tolerance toward Islam and other religions while seeing hatred and intolerance toward Christianity. Bakers, florists, photographers, printers, and all kinds of business people are being sued and prosecuted by the state for their religious beliefs. In contrast, people of the Islamic faith who hold similar beliefs are tolerated and even celebrated. One might object that Christianity is rejected because of its exclusive view of One God, but Islam has the same view.

Mount Carmel was the Lord’s demonstration of the emptiness and futility of the Baal religion. Baal was not real because he had no voice. That matters because the Lord is real. The persistent problem with religion is that it replaces the reality of trusting God. All religions might seem harmless, but they are not. Paul told the Colossians, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Col 2:8). Paul emphatically said that reality is found in Jesus Christ. Religion is a set of beliefs, but Jesus is a living person that transforms your life.

The Problem at its Core

Imagine the following scene: Bart is driving down the road in his car when he notices the warning light on the dashboard reading overheated. It is red and flashing. Bart is worried about his car, so he pulls over to the shoulder so he can think about what to do. He knows he cannot drive the car with that red flashing light because he might damage the vehicle. Then he remembers that he has some masking tape in the glove compartment. Bart tears off a piece of the tape and neatly places it over the warning light (sometimes called idiot lights). He immediately feels better and resumes driving, knowing that he solved the problem. Do you think he solved the problem? No, of course not. He only masked the problem. The actual core problem remains. This illustration makes us laugh because we know no one would be this ridiculous. However, in real life, people do this all the time.

A marriage is on the rocks, so the husband spends $5,000 to bring home a new ring to his wife and thinks he has solved the problem. A woman has an addiction to spending money. Her husband is worried that she is mismanaging their money. She shows him some of their debts but keeps the biggest debts secret. A woman confronts her husband for his refusal to talk about their problems. He gets angry, so she gets quiet, and he feels the issue is resolved. It all boils down to a refusal to deal with the core problem. It is a denial of any responsibility and a deflection of the blame to someone else. When things go wrong, we feel compelled to deflect the blame toward someone else and not ourselves.   

This was the case with King Ahab when God sent a drought of 3 ½ years to his kingdom. He blamed the prophet Elijah who had announced the drought. Elijah came out of isolation at God’s instruction and appeared to Ahab. Upon seeing the prophet, he said, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17). Elijah’s response was quick, “I have not made trouble for Israel,” …  “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.”

The purpose of the drought was not to make the people suffer for God’s pleasure but demonstrate to them the emptiness and uselessness of Baal worship, the supposed god of the rain, in whom Ahab and his people had embraced. The king and his queen had led the people of Israel away from God’s commands. Ahab represents all sinners in the way he blames someone else and God for his troubles. Ahab never thought about repenting and turning away from his rebellious ways.

Compare Ahab and Job. Job also suffered, but instead of blaming God, he trusted God. He clung to God,

“My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread…” (Job 23:11-12).

Job sees God’s footprints, and he steps into them. He does not turn to the left or the right but follows in the path of the Lord. He does not reject God’s commands but embraces them. In fact, he loves God’s word more than his daily bread. He does not see himself with arrogance; instead, he sees God as sovereign over all, and no one can oppose him. When Job thinks of God and his plans, he stands in awe—awe of God!