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COEXIST is Not for Me!

Patrick Denker (CC)
Patrick Denker (CC)

You’ve probably seen it on bumper stickers or maybe even on a sign recently held around town at a protest rally. But really, it’s not for me, I’m not allowed. That’s right. There are people who want us to COEXIST. They want everyone to get along, but only on their terms. They want everyone to accept each other’s differences, but only within their guidelines. And, apparently, I don’t fit.

I’m not speaking simply from observation, but from personal experience. According to the COEXIST Foundation, they are a non-profit organization creating understanding across divides. Does “understanding” mean forced acceptance? According to most who say they believe in the COEXIST movement this seems to be the case.

For me coexist means that you are allowed to worship your god and I am allowed to worship my God. Neither has to hide in a closet or behind closed doors. It means that you may not understand my beliefs but you allow me to believe them and practice them as my faith requires me to.

COEXISTers will picket and protest and ask that certain religious groups (Christians) refrain from calling abortion murder. Why? It’s what the Bible teaches us. Shouldn’t we be allowed to speak what God teaches? Wouldn’t that be COEXISTing?

COEXISTers will picket and protest and ask that certain religious groups (Christians) refrain from calling the gay or lesbian lifestyle sin even though that’s what the Bible teaches us.

COEXISTers will picket and protest and ask that certain religious groups (Christians) refrain from teaching our kids to abstain from sex before marriage even though it’s what the Bible teaches us.

So, basically, the COEXISTers want us to COEXIST with them but without our “Owner’s Manual”.

As Christians, the Bible is our “Owner’s Manual” with instructions on how we are to live our lives.

The COEXIST Foundation website asks…

“What is it that makes Coexist distinctive among others working to promote better understanding between faiths?”

The problem with this question is that it sounds good, but it doesn’t reflect what’s happening. There were major “rifts” between the COEXIST people and the mainstream Christian and Mormon churches over California’s Prop 8. However, if the goal is to understand then why would they not simply accept that these two groups understood the Bible to say that the sacrament of marriage is between a man and a woman as stated by God?

When the COEXIST people verbally ridicule others for what they believe doesn’t that go against their basic tenants? Are they really trying to understand, I think NOT!

The website goes on to state, “while we recognize and celebrate the many connections between the Abrahamic faiths, we also acknowledge their differences and distinctiveness. We believe we learn more about ourselves and our own traditions by looking respectfully at others’. So Coexist is not just about good relations: it is also about exploring our own convictions and beliefs.”

WOW! Another great statement. But it doesn’t match. Their actions show they are not willing to allow us to live out what we believe. Many who ascribe to the COEXIST philosophy have written nasty things about those of us who live by and adhere to our Biblical principles. If I speak out (not in hate, always in love) about things against God’s word that they may not agree with, they will call me a hater.

Take gay marriage for example. The mainstream Episcopalian church believes in same sex marriage. Mainstream Christian churches believe that God has called us to marry, have children, and repopulate the earth. It’s hard to do this from a same sex position. Yet instead of tolerating that viewpoint, they call us ignorant haters. This does not sound like a group that wants to coexist.

My biggest issue with many on the COEXIST side is that they are quick to let those of us who want to hold strong to our Christian beliefs just how wrong we are. They actively seek us out to picket and write opinion pieces about how they are for equality for all.

But that isn’t really the truth either. Have they ever fought for the Christian kids to have a right to include the name of Jesus in a campus speech? Have they ever fought for the Christian kids to be able to promote their faith on campus through clubs and activities? Do they fight for the any kids to support the rights of the unborn on campus? The answer is “no” to all of the above. But wouldn’t that be “equality for all”?

From what I’ve observed, COEXIST is exclusively for them, but it’s NO-EXIST for us.

If you want equality it goes both ways and applies to everyone.

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Joe Messina

Joe is a no-nonsense, conservative realist. He is not interested in “what if?” or “we could have!” He is interested in hearing both sides and has no problem taking on taboo issues with real questions looking for real answers. Racism, religion, and politics are all open season for topics, and he’s happy to offer up his opinion in the process! Joe is an engaging speaker mixing a healthy dose of sarcasm with the cold, hard facts, interacting with the audience, taking questions, and often playing “devil’s advocate”… just to make you to think! Actively engaged in community, church, and politics for well over a decade, Joe enjoys the reputation of being a man of integrity and ethics. He has had several successful businesses and held several executive positions with various Fortune 1000 companies. He is often sought after to teach classes his “black and white breakdown” of business ethics. If you like to “stir the pot” a little and you don’t want to hear any more political correctness, Joe is your guy! Just name a topic… politics, religion, racism, or most any current event. Joe can be heard daily across the airwaves and over the internet on several stations.

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2 Comments

  1. Amen Mr Messina. I refuse to coexist in this world w/ muslim jihadists. The killers of women & children. Marriage to underage girls. Their whole outlook is to kill we legal citizens. Just who in God’s name invited them to our USA. They weren’t happy w/ just killing, raping, & robbing in their own country. So no, I do not want them here & when they come to my home w/ bad intent. They will be dead.

  2. My DNA doesn’t reflect any flecks of surrender, submission or slavery, so I’ll just pass the invite to sit around the fire & sing kumbiya* ub their key.
    Humans are an odd lot & often don’t realize the full value of what they have until someone is set to hijack it…but then will rise & fight like hell to keep it. We are willing to ‘share’ but expect the would be thief to say please while waiting for the ok.

    There was a Russian philosopher in the late 1800’s that said: “The strongest weapon to defeat your enemy is to create another enemy”…it seems that’s what is being done to our beloved country…Let’s turn the tables on them & let them feed off of each other.

    Outstanding job, Joe

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