What Does It Truly Mean to “Coexist” with Others?

Numerous World Religions Coming Together on a Vinyl Sticker

The vinyl sticker features the symbols of various world religions and practices arranged in such a way that they come together to spell the word coexist.

The “C” is made from the crescent moon, representing Islam. The “O” is made from the peace sign, originally created by a British graphic designer in 1958 for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

The “E” is formed from the Hindu Om symbol. The Star of David serves as the “X,” and a pentacle, a Wiccan symbol, dots the “I” in the word. The Yin-yang symbol is used as the “S,” and finally, the Christian cross makes for the perfect “T” to finish the word.

The Idea of Coexistence

Though the message behind the creation of the “coexist” symbol is a positive one—centering on encouraging those who see it to coexist or live cohesively with others around them—it falls short of God’s design for us and our relationships and interactions with other people.

It’s not nearly enough to simply coexist with others. 

Existing is not living. It’s not experiencing. It’s not interacting with others. In fact, existing requires little to no effort from a human being. Existing is simply the act of being alive. Co-existing, therefore, is just the act of being alive in the same place at the same time as another human being.

The act of existing or coexisting doesn’t involve weaving together the fabrics of people of different beliefs and cultures. Simply coexisting doesn’t create opportunities for us to practice kindness and compassion. It barely creates a scenario in which we practice tolerance.

And tolerance is not loving one another.

In John 10:10, Jesus explained why He came to earth, comparing His reasons to those of the Enemy.

“The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that they may have life—and life abundantly.”

Jesus made it clear that God’s plan is for His children to live life fully—not to merely exist.

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Some Things Cannot Coexist

The gears in my busy mind kept turning, and after coming to the realization that mere existence has never been God’s plan, I became keenly aware of the many things in this world that simply cannot coexist—no matter how hard we might try—though today’s society has proudly created a thought culture and lifestyle of pretending that everything can live cohesively.

In our world, talk of love, tolerance, and understanding often overtakes the conversation. Oftentimes, however, that talk is nothing more than lip service—a way of attempting to make ourselves feel better or a way to try to mask the lack of love and compassion we secretly harbor.

A narrative centered on the love and acceptance of others simply cannot coexist with an attitude of hate and a cold heart toward others.

Love and hate cannot coexist in the heart of the same person. A heart so full of hate that it’s nearly bursting cannot host love, though society and mainstream media might have us believe otherwise. We can bear distaste in word and deed toward people we have categorized as wrong, immoral, or unimportant because of a difference in our beliefs, our culture, or the color of our skin, and on the same day, we speak to those we’ve categorized as worthy, moral, and in the right about God’s love.

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God Is Love

But in the fourth chapter of 1 John, we are given a directive above love—and an explanation of where it can and cannot exist.

The apostle writes, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God, but whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

God created the universe and every living thing within it—including you and me, our friends, and our families. He also created those with whom we disagree, those who ascribe to different lifestyles, beliefs, and practices.

And these verses convey God’s message clearly—that it is His plan for us to love each other because He is the author of love.

He also makes it clear in His Word that those who love others are in line with His plan, and those who do not love others simply do not know God, as He is love.

Practicing Putting Others First

Not only does God expect us to live at peace with others, but He also calls on us to think of others first.

In the book of Philippians, Paul instructs believers to refrain from being selfish and not to be motivated by a spirit of selfishness. Instead, we are to be humble and value others—even to the point of putting their needs ahead of our own.

In the second chapter of Philippians, the apostle Paul writes to the congregation at the church at Philippi with a warning and a directive, saying, “Don’t do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Instead, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Selfishness is an unflattering garment, no matter who wears it, and that’s because it goes against God’s intentional design for the way we are to treat others.

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God’s Design for Us to Live with Others Is Clear

There’s something else that is clearly on God’s heart when it comes to how we coexist—or live—with others. 

The New Testament book of Romans explains in detail how we are to treat others and how we are to relate to others, regardless of who they are.

In Romans 12:18, the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome, urging believers to examine how they relate to and respond to others, especially to those who don’t practice kindness and goodness toward others.

Paul writes, “As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone,” but in verses before and after this one, believers get a very clear understanding of God’s design and plan for us when it comes to interacting with others.

In verse 20, we are given instructions about how to treat our enemies: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” (Romans 12:20)

The chapter also teaches believers that we are not to attempt to repay or overcome evil with evil. Rather, God’s design calls on us to overcome evil with goodness and love. (Romans 12:21)

Romans 12 also tells us that we are to “practice hospitality” toward others. Instead of cursing those who persecute us, we are to pray for them and bless them. In Romans 12:16, believers are also instructed to “live in harmony with one another” and not to be proud or unwilling to talk with, befriend, or associate with those who are less fortunate.

The Need Is Dire, and the Time Is Now

Our world is in desperate need of believers who are unafraid to follow God’s plan for showing love to others, regardless of a difference in beliefs, skin color, culture, or socioeconomic position.

In fact, there’s likely never been such a great need for love to be shown and shared across the globe.

Believers are called upon to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It’s God’s desire for us to willingly allow ourselves to be used to show the world His love and the free gift of salvation that He offers as we place our faith and trust in Jesus as our Savior—salvation that will set them free to fully live as He has planned for us—rather than just existing.

Is there someone in our lives today who needs a kind word to hear the good news about salvation in Christ? And if we don’t share those things, who will?

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