BONO, UNIVERSALISM, AND THE EMERGING CHURCH?

Bono, Universalism, and the Emerging Church?

Commentary Opinion by Brannon S. Howse

Perhaps you are not very familiar with Bono, the lead singer of the rock group U2, but you need to become familiar with him now! Bono was recently named as one of TIME Magazine's persons of the year and appeared on its cover. Weeks later, Bono was a keynote speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast along with the President of the United States and other national leaders. A week later, Bono and his band received a Grammy for album of the year and song of the year.

Bono has been to the Oval Office, traveled to third-world countries with then Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil and conferred with many of the world's political and religious leaders. During the early part of 2005, credible publications wrote about whether or not Bono had a chance at being appointed President of the World Bank. While that did not occur, Bono continues to gain lots of press attention as he gives interviews for his campaign to have rich countries forgive the debit of third-world countries and calls for the nations of the world to fund a more aggressive campaign to deal with the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

I lay out this history so you will realize we are talking about a man that is well-spoken, media-savvy, and respected by many for his humanitarian efforts. This is not just another rocker.

Now, put all this as the backdrop for what you are about to learn. On Relevant Magazine's website, Tara Leigh Cobble gives an interesting report of what she says she witnessed at a Bono concert:
 

About five songs into their set, Bono stopped the show and strapped on a headband with writing on it. I stared up at the JumboTron to see that the handwritten lettering said: COEXIST.

Coexisting sounds like a great idea. I fully support the peaceful philanthropy that Bono has encouraged, and this seemed like another way that he was trying to spread the message.

Except, it started to feel like more than a political message. The "C" in "coexist" was the Islamic crescent moon, the "X" was the Star of David, and the "T" was the cross of Christ. Bono pointed at the symbols on his headband-first to the cross, then to the star, then to the crescent moon-and he began to repeat:

"Jesus, Jew, Mohammed-all true. Jesus, Jew, Mohammed-all true."

He repeated the words like a mantra, and some people even began to repeat it with him. I suddenly wanted to crawl out of my skin.

While some at the concert dispute exactly what Bono said, media outlets have reported Bono wearing the Coexist logo.

http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/379359.html

The Coexist logo is certainly about promoting the worldview of pluralism and universalism. Pluralism is the belief that all religions are equal, and universalism is the belief that all religions are true and everyone will be saved because all roads lead to God.

The worldwide acceptance of pluralism and universalism will eventually lead to a one-world religion as discussed in the Bible. However, it appears that not everyone is opposed to the Coexist message.  Who am I talking about? Well, it happens to be the Emerging Church. In the words of Gomer Pile I say, "Surprise! Surprise!"

According to numerous websites and authors, Doug Paggtt is a leader of the Emerging Church. Here is what Doug has written on his website:

Bono - my man.

If you are a reader of my blog you may be aware that I am not a Bono fan, at least not in the way that one needs to be to call themselves a fan. Not only would I not pay to go to a concert but every time I hear the name U2 I can't help but mouth the phrase "over-rated".  I think Rattle and Hum was really good and Joshua Tree was a classic, but other than that, well. And I have pushed for Paul to use his real name and not persona when calling people to causes of humanity. But, today I am a fan. Through an email I read an article on the Relevant website of one person's experience at a concert. I can't find the article on the website, but I read it in the email. It is called "How to Dismantle an Idolized Bono". She was disturbed by Bono's call to Coexist (which is as much a marketing effort of a line of products as anything else, it seems to me). But the article's author raises concerns about Bono not being what she thought because of his call for "oneness" and his use of the Coexist logo which included the Crescent Moon, Star of David, and Cross. The article makes statements that made me groan aloud, and yell in frustration a couple of times. It drove me to Bono's side, to come to his defense, to join the Coexist crowd. So, here's to you my man Bono.

On August 10^th-12^th, Pastor Bill Hybels, and his Willow Creek Association, will be sponsoring their Leadership Summit 2006. Bono will be featured at the conference in a videotaped interview with Bill Hybels.

Is this the point we are to set aside our Bibles, our doctrine and convictions and join hands and sing the song, We are the World? After all, one singer reportedly said the song was not so much to feed the starving people of Ethiopia, but "it was to create a sense of globalism and unity and oneness in the children."

Since "oneness" seems to be the goal of the Emerging Church, I am confident that this should be their movement's theme song. Perhaps all the EC leaders could get together and film their own music video of them singing this song and wearing the Coexist T-shirt?

I know that sound fundamental Christian doctrines are not really on the radar screen of the Emerging Church or their leaders, but let me remind them of what Jesus Christ said in John 14:6 that flies in the face of pluralism and universalism:

I am the way, truth and life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Act 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

It does not get any more exclusive than that my friends.

The Coexist logo can be seen at this website: http://coexistonline.com/

Willow Creek's Website discusses Hybels' interview with Bono:

http://www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/

Tara Leigh Cobble's article can be found at this link:  

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/pc_article.php?id=7089

Here is the website link to Dough Pagitt's blog where he discusses this issue:
http://pagitt.typepad.com/pagittblog/2005/12/index.html

By Brannon Howse Email: Brannon@worldviewweekend.com Click here for bio and archived articles

This begs the questions... Posted On: 06/09/08 04:15:10 PM Age 29, MD Why then did he repeat the "mantra" and basically say that all three of the religions are true? And where did you get your information? The Emergent Church Posted On: 05/16/08 09:25:02 PM Age 40, AZ Let me see if I understand what you're saying: the Millennium ended in 1483, and the release of Satan coincided with the birth of Luther? The logical conclusion of you're argument then is that ANYONE who holds to the authority of Scripture is being deceived, and is therefore apostate. Excuse me, but when exactly did God place you on the throne instead of him? What's love got to do with it? Posted On: 05/14/08 08:27:43 AM Age 47, MO Mark: My appologies to Tina Turner, but you want to FEEL the love? Is that what Jesus was feeling while he was being beat to a bloody pulp? Is the love what he was exclaiming when He said: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", Is the feeling of love what drove God to destroy S&G?, Was God feeling the love when He called Peter a Satan? Mark, I fear your theology is not based upon the gospel truth but upon a feeling of what you think God is. God is not love as you understand love to be. God is love as HIS holiness and HIS rightousness dictates. John JESUS PREACHED THE LAW TO THE RICH AND MERCY TO THE POOR Posted On: 05/09/08 10:27:51 AM Age 64, OH You say, Jesus did not preach the law. Have you ever read the sermon on the mount. Here is a little part of that sermon: Luke 6: 24"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.-- Lou Maybe you could use a lesson in Love Posted On: 05/08/08 04:25:10 PM Age 31, IA Disagreeing and pointing out where one is mistaken is not hate. The Emergent Church Posted On: 05/08/08 02:15:20 PM Age 46, AL The Emergent Church is just the next logical step in the evolution of Sola Scriptura. Martin Luther opened the door for Satan, now look at what we have now and there is not a bloody thing anyone on this earth can do about it. As scripture says: Satan is the God of this world. ________ 2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. _________ Did you know that the Roman Empire fell in 476 and then there was 7 years of tribulation after the fall and then Jesus ruled with an Iron Rod thru his Church for 1000 years and then at the end of 1000 years in 1483 Martin Luther was born. Satan was let loose for a time? ________ We are all just waiting for the Glorious Appearance now. Re: Bono, Universalism, and the Emerging Church? Posted On: 05/08/08 09:34:44 AM Age 44, NH What Brannon is reporting is clear. Brannon is not saying that he wants to go to war, or that people do not have a right to believe in what they want. Brannon is simply pointing out that Christians must not give in to the unitarian "all roads lead to heaven" nonsense. Jesus Christ was clear in his teaching that He is the way, the truth and the life! Emergent liberals are simply warmed over 18th century liberals. Bono may do good work, and that is fine but he is a globalist, and to say that we coexist in a "we are the world" utopia is not going to happen. The bible is clear that Jesus did not come to bring world peace under all religion. He has come with the sword of His Word and will sepperate the believer from the unbeliever. Christians must always treat all people with love however we must NEVER COMPROMISE the foundational truths of the Word of God for the sake of "unity". Re: Bono, Universalism, and the Emerging Church? Posted On: 03/13/07 01:42:07 PM Age 43, IN Everyone is entitled to speak what they believe to be truth. In the end, there is only one truth and those who claim to speak it will be called forth and judged for their acts on earth. If in error, I would not want to be in their shoes. I don't fully understand why the author gets so worked up about something as stupid as a COEXIST headband and some guy playing to his audience as an entertainer and not an evangelist. I don't think anyone would confuse Bono with Billy Graham. If we're going to have any reasonable chance at reaching Muslims for Christ, then we're going to have to co-exist with them. I'd have thought fundamentalist Christians would have learned a lesson about that from The Crusades. Certainly going over there and trying to wipe them out isn't going to work. A more tactful approach is needed, the same approach Christ used with the woman at the well, the tax collector, and other wayward souls He encountered during His ministry. If you believe guys like Bill Hybels have decided to drop the Bible in favor of pop culture, then you really haven't spent much time with them. Otherwise you would realize that everything they do is rooted in Biblical truth and presented in a manner that people can grasp and understand. Is that not what Christ did through His use of parables? He didn't weigh people down with a lot of quotes from Mosaic Law. Instead, Christ used stories and examples that His listeners could relate to easily and make the connection between His teachings and their lives. That is what it means to be culturally relevant. This whole notion of "the Emerging Church" is nothing more than a slick scare tactic created by those who seem to delight in mixing elements of OT Law (legalisms) with Christ's Gospel of Grace. Created by those who love to impose rules that are nowhere to be found in New Testament Scripture. If you need rules, fine. But don't judge those believers who choose not to follow your rules. Created by those who wouldn't recognize grace if it hit them in the face. Paul took Peter to task over his mixing of grace and law. This public website needs to taken to task over it as well. Re: Bono, Universalism, and the Emerging Church? Posted On: 08/08/06 12:56:07 PM Age 24, IL Bono is a believer in Jesus Christ and that He was God. His comments have to do with peace and oneness in the sense that all religions and ideas, especially these three religions, can in fact coexist, for they stem from a similar central idea...even if they didn't, we can all as people coexist. Bono doesn't feel he has to declare what he personally beleives is right in order to accept that others have different ideas and that we can all be peaceful about that difference if we choose to be. The only danger I see comes from people like this columnist who feel peace and oneness is means thinking all roads lead to God. It is the inability to live with eachothers' differences that leads to the violence Bono is protesting. I've learned more about God and Christ from listening to U2 than I have listening to most pastors these days. Re: Re: Re: Re: Bono, Universalism, and the Emerging Church? Posted On: 03/28/06 05:22:26 PM Age 57, IL I heartily agree. When will Christians quit letting the world define "love" and "judgment"? In Matthew 7, most so-called Christians go no futher than verse 1: "Do not judge..." Read on. "You hypocrite, FIRST take the plank out of your own eye, and THEN you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." [Matthew 7:5] The Lord is telling us HOW to judge--not self-righteously, but after making sure we are not guilty of the same sin. If He were giving us a blanket command not to judge in any circumstance, than why tell us NOT to give "dogs" what is sacred or throw our pearls to "pigs." [vs. 6] Dogs and pigs were the most unclean of the animals to a Jew--certainly the Lord was making a judgment in classifying certain people as "dogs" and "pigs" in giving that instruction--and He still "loved" everyone.