Unfortunately it seems that the holidays and family functions are often a mixture of joy and pain. This Thanksgiving was no different.
For the past few months, my parents and I have been coexisting in the same environment and interacting now and then. The reality is that there are a few unspoken tensions, some of which have been resolved, and some which have not. In writing all of this, I know that I too am with fault and have likely been particularly sensitive, which doesn't help my emotion behind all of this.
So, during our rushed Thanksgiving dinner, I mentioned the Lexicon I was making for my World Religion class, a glossary of the important terms from each major religious tradition. It's been a great class for growing in understanding and learning much about others. It hasn't changed what I believe, but it has changed how I relate to others and how I think of others in various religious traditions. I've read novels, listened to songs and stories, read some of their sacred texts, and discussed in detail the questions being asked by each. I've learned a lot and also realized that I have much to learn.
My mom is highly involved in an interfaith council and both of my parents view themselves as highly open, liberal Christians. Like myself, they highly value other cultures and learning, but they also would argue that all roads lead to god. I would not. While I enjoy learning and better understanding and while I love learning and better appreciating other religious and cultural traditions, I think that there is one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ. I know this sounds exclusive and narrow, on one hand it is and on another it is not. I believe it is a path open to all who will believe and bow a knee to Christ. I also know that not all people will do this and that many follow other paths that are to either reach God or some universal all through sacrifice, good deeds, and ritual. While there are very good people who follow other religious traditions, I would argue that they don't reach to God. I can't reach God either unless I go through Christ and that is no work of my own.
And, yes, I do think it is right to be in discussion with others, to seek to understand. And yet a follower of Christ cannot deny that they desire all to come to know Him. If they did, they would be unloving. Yet this is the point at which most people take offense. And yet Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Mormons, and others would do the same. But that wouldn't be seen as narrow and offensive, it would be seen as being open-minded and culturally open. This is why I am frustrated. My dad wants me to acknowledge the Bible to be on par with other sacred texts and Christ to be ONE of the ways to God. My mom wants to merely talk about differences but to merely explore others' beliefs and yet not hold firmly to Christianity's core beliefs. That is not open, unbiased discussion. Not at all. Yet that is what I am told to do, leave my beliefs at the door, and embrace all. On one hand, I wholeheartedly agree and, on the other hand, I cannot. I do want to embrace all and I do want to learn and listen and understand. I don't want to bulldoze others over, I want to love and serve and pray and share my beliefs as they do. I will pray that they would come to Christ, but if they don't I won't shun or act unrightly toward them. That is why this bothers me. Have I acted unrightly toward people in the past of other beliefs? Am I unloving and one who bulldozes over others? No, I don't think I generally am. At times I may and, hopefully, I then generally ask for forgiveness. I am clearly emotional and upset and hurt. I want my example and attitude to be that of Christ in Philippians. Oh, I pray that it would be more and more like that. And I do pray that people would be changed by seeing Christ in me. Oh how I pray that would be true. I pray that people would not stumble as a result of my testimony, verbal or in action, but instead be confronted with the truth and love of Christ alone.
Both Thanksgiving and today, I realize that this is likely HIGHLY emotional for me and likely not so emotional for them. Their faith is not an essential part of everything they do. It is connected, but it isn't one of the first things they would say that characterizes their life. For me, it is. If I am not a good representation of Christ, that is tragic. Yes, God will and can change me, but it is the reputation and reflection of my God and Savior and King, that is marred by my sin, a reputation and a reflection that I long to be crystal clear to those on-looking. He is my all. He is my life. He is my Lord. I want all I do and say and am to glorify Him and reflect Him. That is why this is so personal. It's not really about me being right or wrong; it's about Him.
Having said all this, I do love and think the world of my parents. I'm grateful to have time with them, I just wish it weren't a mix of joy and pain.
"Vuestro Dios dice: 'Consolad, consolad a mi pueblo; hablad con cariño a Jerusalén y decidle que su esclavitud ha terminado, que ya ha pagado por sus faltas, que ya ha recibido de mi mano el doble del castigo por todos sus pecados.' 
