“COEXIST” Doesn’t Exist
To be totally upfront, I’ve never looked into the background of this bumper sticker until today. I guess I just automatically assumed the worst. I didn’t think I’d be too far off in my “judgement” and, as it turns out, I had nothing to feel bad about.
Read the following quotes I found online.
“Co-exist bumper sticker - and its meaning. Posted by Fred Steiner on March 12, 2012 - 5:03pm —
“You've seen this bumper sticker in [town mentioned]. Here's what it means:
The designer, Piotr Mlodozeniec's basic coexistence design is uncomplicated and easy to understand. The design uses three symbols that stand for Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Mlodozeniec modified the word "coexist" in the following ways:
for the letter "c," a crescent moon representing Islam is substituted
for the letter "x," the Star of David representing Judaism is substituted
for the letter "t," a cross representing Christianity is substituted
Today, there are several different versions of the coexist design. Starting with Mlodozeniec's conception, the newer designs add additional symbols:
for the letter "o," the peace symbol or pagan/
is substituted
for the letter "e," a male/female symbol or a scientific equation is substituted
for the letter "i," a pagan/Wiccan symbol is substituted
for the letter "s," a Chinese yin-yang symbol is substituted”
Here’s a note from Wikipedia
“The Coexist image (often styled as "CoeXisT" or "COEXIST") is an image created by Polish, Warsaw-based graphic designer Piotr Mlodozeniec in 2000 as an entry in an international art competition sponsored by the Museum on the Seam for Dialogue, Understanding and Coexistence. The original version was one of dozens of works displayed as large outdoor posters in Jerusalem in 2001. His original image consisted of the word COEXIST in all capital letters, with the C replaced by an oversized Muslim Crescent, the X replaced by an oversized Star of David, and the T replaced by an oversized Latin Cross.”
So at this point I have to ask … Anybody ever hear of the Tower of Babel debacle? {Our Biblical illeteracy and ignorance in this country is literally KILLING US as a nation.}
Please hear me out.
The concept of peaceful coexistence is a great idea. I want it to be a reality in the worst way. Who wants wars? Who wants mayhem and destruction? Who wants people hurting because of someone else’s intolerance or misunderstanding? Who doesn’t want a world where we all unite around the “campfire” and sing Kumbaya My Lord, Kumbaya.
But …
What Lord? Whose Lord? How many Lords? Does everybody have to have a Lord? Do we even know how to define “Lord?”
The harsh reality is that the concept of Coexist doesn’t exist, can’t exist, will never exist.
But you say: Shouldn’t we at least strive for the goal?
Answer: Yes … and … NO!
Why?
Because it’s a waste of time and not going to happen … EVER.
How long has mankind been on this planet? (Try to answer that one in the midst of the Coexist group. It would be interesting to see how that plays out.) Even if it’s “millions” of years or just a few thousand, you mean to tell me that a bumper sticker comprising of one word with several different ideologies built into it is going to bring about peaceful coexistence around the entire world?
I trow not.
Everything by the very nature of its existence has boundaries, limits, definitions, beliefs, and here’s the rub … feelings. You cannot set up a goal without guidelines. It’s just not possible. Nobody holds to a belief in a neutral vacuum. The human species is not capable of living life that way.
As a matter of fact, God never set up His creation to function that way. And yes God, the God of the Hebrew people, is THE God of creation.
Notice what His Word has to say about His design for His creation and His (exclusively His) people. What I find interesting is that it all seems just the opposite of COEXIST.
"I will fix your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.” Exodus 23:31
“"For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God.” Exodus 34:24
“When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, When He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.” Deuteronomy 32:8
“You also gave them kingdoms and peoples, And allotted them to them as a boundary. They took possession of the land of Sihon the king of Heshbon And the land of Og the king of Bashan.” Nehemiah 9:22
“And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.” Acts 17:26
Back to the Tower of Babel incident. Genesis 11: 1-9
1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. ———
In light all all these verses I kind of get the feeling that God’s not onboard with this whole COEXIST thing.
I’ve given you enough from the Bible (the ONE TRUE SOURCE OF TRUTH) to at least get you to think outside the COEXIST box.
Is that even allowed??
Let me say it again:
“COEXIST” Doesn’t Exist …
And it won’t until …
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords returns and sets up His Kingdom.
“Which in His times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” I Timothy 6:15
“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14
“And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.” Revelation 19:16
Only Yeshua, God manifested in the flesh, is capable of what man so arrogantly thinks he can achieve … no matter how much we “love” one anther.
As believers in Yeshua, we have to boldly acknowledge and boldly proclaim one all encompassing truth found if John 14:6 —
Yeshua is THE way …
Yeshua is THE truth …
Yeshua is THE Life …
And on top of that:
NO MAN cometh unto the Father, but by ME (Yeshua) …
End of discussion.
God, first and foremost, wants us to Coexist with Him through His Son Yeshua the Messiah.
One final verse. Romans 16:27
“To God ONLY wise, be glory THROUGH JESUS CHRIST for ever. Amen”
The ONLY wise God ONLY gets glory through Jesus Christ.
Beyond this … “COEXIST” Doesn’t Exist.