Richfield has a diverse wealth of religious communities, organizations, and faith traditions. There are various Christian churches, such as the United Church of Christ, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Foursquare Gospel, and Baptist churches in Richfield. In addition, there are also a variety of non-Christian religions such as Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain.
Seeing all these religious groups prompted the formation the Richfield Interfaith Coalition (RIC) in 2015. The Richfield Interfaith Coalition states their principles and goals on their web page (RichfieldInterfaithCoalition.org) as:
"We established some basic principles for RIC. We mutually respect each other's faith and culture. No one is trying to proselytize anyone. We gather with an open mind to grow in understanding and collaboration. We agreed to meet in our different places of worship each month.
"Goals? I think that meeting the different religious leaders, sharing a meal peacefully and getting to know one another is itself a big step forward. As we progress, we will work together on projects that serve the broader community."
The Richfield Interfaith Coalition statement seems, at first glance, quite tolerant of diverse beliefs. However, a closer analysis reveals that it is actually not quite as tolerant as it might first appear. In fact, it is only tolerant so long as you agree with their principle, "We mutually respect each other's faith and culture. No one is trying to proselytize anyone."
But what if you do not agree with the Richfield Interfaith Coalition statement? What if you believe, instead, that other religions and belief systems are false and condemning their followers to hell? What if you believe that true salvation comes only through the Word of God? What if you believe that the Bible means what it says in the following passages?
Furthermore, what if you truly believe that one of the most important commands that Jesus Christ gave to His followers is to go into all the world and preach the gospel? Before ascending into heaven, following His resurrection, Jesus gave us the command, also known as the Great Commission, to evangelize the entire world with the gospel message:
Therefore, according to the Bible, we are called to preach the gospel and make converts of all those who have not put their faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of what religion they may or may not already have. We are not called to "grow in understanding and collaboration" and to agree not to proselytize. Instead, we are called to confront false doctrine and false religion with the truth of God's Word. In short, the Great Commission is Jesus' express command to us, His followers, to confront false beliefs and to proselytize. Consequently, to agree with the Richfield Interfaith Coalition's principles and goals is to deny the Great Commission. It is to deny our own core beliefs and violate our principles and goals as Bible believing Christians. It is to deny that we believe what Jesus meant when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)" It is to say, or at least act, as if we do not really believe that Jesus meant what He said.
Yes, what we believe is intolerant of other faiths and religions, but that does not mean that we have animosity or antipathy toward those who follow other faiths and religions. Quite the contrary, we are concerned with their eternal destiny and want to deliver them from the consequences of their false religions by encouraging them to put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour instead. We are intolerant of the false belief systems ensnaring them because the Bible is.
However, the Richfield Interfaith Coalition's statement is intolerant as well. It is only tolerant so long as you agree with them, but it is quite intolerant if you do not. For example, Richfield Interfaith Coalition organizer, Rev. John King, recently stated in the April 2016 Richfield Times article, "Interfaith Coalition Sponsors Interfaith Open House April 9", on page four:
"All of us are stronger and wiser when we understand and respect our diversity. I find it unfortunate that some groups are still entrenched in the notion that their way is the only way. Authentic faith builds bridges, not walls."
According to Rev. King, it is "unfortunate that some groups are still entrenched in the notion that their way is the only way." Apparently, he either disagrees with or does not believe Jesus Christ's claim in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me," and finds it unfortunate that some groups, such as Bible believing Christians, do. In fact, he goes further and even questions the validity of those who do believe the Bible by saying, "Authentic faith builds bridges, not walls."
Now, how would you describe someone who says it is "unfortunate" that some hold beliefs that he disagrees with and claims such beliefs are not "authentic"? Hmm, sounds a bit intolerant to me. So much for the Richfield Interfaith Coalition principle, "We mutually respect each other's faith and culture."
In conclusion, it is obvious that the Richfield Bible Baptist Church cannot be a part of the Richfield Interfaith Coalition because the Coalition, according to its own published statements, does not tolerate our beliefs. The only way we could affiliate with the Richfield Interfaith Coalition would be to change our beliefs to something more acceptable to the Coalition. In other words, we would have to ignore, compromise, or throw out our own deeply held fundamental principles and beliefs and replace them with those the Richfield Interfaith Coalition finds tolerable. And, for us, as fundamental Bible believing Christians, that is quite intolerable.