A Reply to Dr. Aurelia T. Fule
by
Sylvia Dooling
I ran across Dr. Fule’s opinion on interfaith dialogue [1] on the
Witherspoon website during a particularly difficult week. When I read it, I
was disturbed, but quite frankly I didn’t have the energy to sit down and
write a response. You see, I had gone to the doctor earlier in the week for
what I expected to be a routine physical. However, it turned out to be
anything but routine. After prodding and poking, the doctor told me that he
had found a ‘mass” in my abdomen.
I don’t know about you, but as a cancer survivor, the word ‘mass” brings
all of the busyness of life to a quick standstill. My plans were put on hold
as I waited to discover what God had in store for me next.
Waiting is the hardest part, and I had to wait a full week for an ultrasound
test. In the interim, however, I had the opportunity to ‘remember” who I
am, and to whom I belong. The words of Heidelberg literally rang in my mind
: ‘I belong body and soul, in life and in death not to myself but to my
faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully
paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the
devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in
heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit
his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures
me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now
on to live for him.”
I took time to remember that God who created me has also claimed me as his
own through Jesus Christ who himself is alive, and who dwells within me
through the Holy Spirit. Fear vanished in the reality of my relationship to
God. I knew his promised ‘peace that passes all human understanding”
because I remembered that it is the Lord to whom I belong.
Last Thursday, I had the ultrasound, and the doctor interpreted the results.
Now I have time to respond to Dr. Fule.
Here’s my question: if it doesn’t matter _’whatever name they call God,
whether they worship many, or one of the many, or the one they worship God
rightly or very wrongly since there is no other,_” then why were Peter and
John so specific when they spoke before the Jewish Council? Why did they
insist that _’there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name
under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved?”_
In their ‘inter-faith” dialogue, they were absolutely clear about their
convictions, and about whom they represented.
Further, if I read Acts and the epistles correctly, it is our unique
privilege to proclaim the good news of the gospel to people who worship gods
who are not the Triune God, so that they can know him and serve him today.
It is not only abetting a lie to allow people to remain in their ignorance
thinking ‘their way” is the right way, when there is only one way to be
reconciled to God it is also cruel and uncaring.
The mission of the church is to go and to make disciples, to declare the
Gospel throughout the world, to preach it to every race and nation and
tongue trusting those who have never heard to the justice of our sovereign
God.
However, Dr. Fule counsels us not to preach, but rather to dialogue, to
engage in a kind of conversation that has no transforming effect because it
does not invite people of other faiths to know the power of Christ’s
resurrection.
There is little grace in most other religions, no personal Savior, cross, no
resurrection, and hence, no justification. Is there truth to be found in
other religions? Certainly! But *THE* truth is only to be found in Jesus
Christ. And, oh the joy of knowing him!
As to my own personal future, the ultrasound showed no ‘mass.” So for now
my work continues God willing. But I was reminded of a very important truth
last week. It is well with my soul, no matter what happens today or
tomorrow. It is well because of Jesus. And I want to share that message with
the entire world. As William Fullerton wrote in his hymn,
_’I cannot tell how silently he suffered_
_ as with his peace_
_ he graced this place of tears_
_ or how his heart_
_ upon the cross was broken_
_ the crown of pain_
_ to three and thirty years_
_ but this I know_
_ he heals the brokenhearted_
_ and stays our sin_
_ and calms our lurking fear_
_ and lifts the burden_
_ from the heavy-laden_
_ for yet the savior_
_ savior of the world is here.” _
[1] http://www.witherspoonsociety.org/interfaith_dialogue.htm