The Spiritual Rights Movement: A Call To Conversion

"Spirituality should not be measured by who is excluded but rather by who is included". Michael Williams, September 11, 2001

As I followed and listened over that week back in September 2001 when terrorists crashed airliners into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, the beginning results of this horrific tragedy started being absorbed. The focus of it all seemed to redefine itself on a moment by moment basis. One of my observations was that we all seem to want to rethink what we truly believe.

A few days later, Pat Robertson on his 700 Club show was faced with the harsh reality that the world has indeed changed without his approval. Robertson denied the statements he and Jerry Falwell made on his show, which were heard and recorded for all to examine. This, after a massive wave of his own followers began to abandon ship. Even they did not want to be associated with his finger pointing and the truly harsh and out of focus belief system he adheres to.

Once again, as with the Franklin Graham comments made regarding the ultimate destiny of most of the victims, our great hope is that these type of comments on spiritual matters coming from the religious right will make many rethink their own positions. The fundamentalists' unwillingness to stand behind the statements they have made shows their lack of credibility and conviction.

Mr. Robertson demonstrated this by denying he supported and contributed to the statements made by his invited guest, Mr. Falwell. As Falwell lashed out at the heart of America with comments that border on treason at such a difficult time in our history, Robertson was recorded as agreeing with him.

We're in need of a heart-felt searching of our souls and to call for a sweeping conversion of our thinking. This could possibly set the stage for a stabilization and recovery unlike anything seen in history here to fore.

A conversion? Yes, a conversion and a complete moratorium on what one friend coined as "spiritual superiority."  My personal belief finds its foundation in God's giving of His own Son for the redemption of the world. However, the conversion I am calling for is not for everyone to become a Christian so the world can heal. No, this is not a conversion to any religion. Instead the emphasis we're placing is on a conversion of the soul like the one Paul experienced on the road to Damascus.

Saul of Tarsus was a true terrorist. He believed in his spiritual superiority over all other faiths to the point of justifying the killing of others. Now, I do know that one has to believe that he is "right" in his persuasions to even declare what he believes to be truth. Yet I am convinced that what and who we put our faith and trust in does not have to be accompanied by a spiritual racism which leads us to believe we are superior to anyone of another belief.

Yes, Saul believed himself to be spiritually superior to all other beliefs. That thought released in him the freedom to deny even the tenants of his own Judaism that strictly forbid murder. Yet, Paul eventually admitted he had committed murder. He didn't try to deny his "sin" so he could save his own skin, like Mr. Robertson so eloquently tried to do on his television program. Paul owned up to it. Paul was a man and knew his righteousness was in Christ.

Paul's conversion went much deeper than what the modern day evangelical movement accepts. Christianity almost exclusively looks at what Paul converted to. However, if you read the details of his conversion experience in Philippians chapter 3, you will see the greater emphasis was placed on what he was converting FROM.

I accept that not all will convert to my persuasion that Jesus is the Christ and Lord of all. However, we can all convert "from" what Paul converted from. Paul seemed to think that what he was converting from was as important as what he was converting to! Had Paul simply converted to a belief in Christ, he would have still been a murderer of those who disagreed! Yes, something even more fundamental changed in Paul's mind as to what he DID believe in. What he DID NOT believe in anymore seemed to have a more profound affect on his life than what he did believe in.
 
Read it for yourself.

Paul joyously declared his conversion from his own righteousness by his own deeds. In fact, he professed a conversion from trusting in what he himself believed! In Galatians chapter 2 Paul states that he had been redeemed by the faith OF the Son of God, that his own faith had nothing to do with it.
 
So, here is my plea, a conversion for all faiths and beliefs. Not desiring at this time to try and convert them to my belief in Jesus, I yearn for a conversion away from believing any of us are superior to another.

Much like the civil rights movement of the 60s was a call to abandon the idea of racial superiority. No, they did not deny or not be proud of one' own race or background. But a rejection of past error and a refusal to carry racial hatred in our hearts was the order of the day. In addition withdrawing support of any group that continued to carry on the cruel demoralizing views of racial superiority.

For most of us, even though a bastion of racial bigotry still lives in small segments of our society, it is no longer the rule of the day or defended by our government. Thank God.

This is not a civil rights movement that is now growing on in our country and around the world. It is a spiritual rights movement. Which by definition can never include views of spiritual superiority or spiritual racism.

This is my call.  As a believer in Christ Jesus, I call for a moratorium on spiritual superiority and spiritual racism. And to all other faiths, we do not call for a conversion to be a Christian. We desire a conversion away from believing any faith makes one preferred in the sight of Almighty God than any other human being on earth.

As this spiritual elitism is dealt with, we may truly vanquish terrorism from this planet.

Michael Williams