Posted on 04/25/2006 8:04:00 AM PDT by churchillbuff
From time to time, some people will suggest that all the world’s religions are of equal value and accomplish the same end. “All roads lead to God,” these folks say. “Whatever name you call him (or her), it’s still the same God,” others proclaim.
I am not among these people. I do not believe that all religions are of equal value, though there is value in most forms of religion, and I do not believe they accomplish the same end. Neither do I believe that, whatever name is used, all names for God refer to the same God.
As an historic, orthodox Christian, I believe that Jesus Christ was telling the truth when he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).
This, of course, is a scandalous statement. Either Jesus was deluded and should be denounced as a madman or he was speaking the truth.
If he was deluded, then Christianity is a farce and 1.5 billion people are ensnared in false hope.
If he spoke the truth, however, then all religions are not of equal value.
Religious pluralism says that “there are many, many ways to God and all of these ways are good.”
But Jesus claimed that he was the way. Not just that his teachings were the way but that he himself was the way to the Father. Not only that, he claimed that, outside of him, there was no other way.
Further, he claimed not only that he taught truth but that he was the truth.
Certainly, all religious faiths contain truth, but Jesus claimed that all truth regarding spiritual matters was found in his own person. If he is the repository of truth and if truth cannot be found outside him, then other religions contain error. And, if one is seeking God, then error can lead one away from, rather than toward, God.
Jesus also declared that he was the life. Much of religion is a search for fullness of life on the earth and a quest for any life that may exist beyond this temporal plane.
In addressing this first consideration, Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 KJV). The reason he came at all was to bring a quality of life never before known or experienced. He also came to insure eternal life for those who would believe and put their trust in him.
As John 3:16-17 states: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (NKJV).
But the claim to exclusivity is found in his words, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” That means that the way, the only way, to God is in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
That is offensive and repugnant to some, but it is still what he claimed. If there is a “Plan B,” it is not found in the scriptures.
Christianity makes for itself the claim that the only true path to finding one’s destiny, one’s ultimate plan, in fact the only path to God the Father, is found in Christ.
“So,” someone will ask, “are you saying that Christianity is the only true faith and that all others are wrong?”
That is, in fact, the claim of historic, orthodox Christianity. Christians believe that all that God began in the Book of Genesis and continued in the books of the Old Testament was brought to consummation in the person of Jesus Christ.
Scandalous? Yes. Absurd? So it may seem. Outrageous? Many think so.
A number of years ago, I was looking for a small town in Colorado and became lost. I stopped and asked directions of a man who owned a filling station. The directions he gave described a curvy and treacherous trek over some mountains. I asked if there was a shorter or safer way to get there. “Nope,” he said, “there’s only one way to get there from here.”
The New Living Translation puts it this way: “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).
It’s the only way to get there from here.
I have a sincere question, if there is a person that lived in India or somewhere and never heard the gospel of Jesus say years ago, what about that person, what kind of God would put that person in hell because that person simply lived in a remote area. thanks for your answer
**All religions are not equal**
Amen to that!
My own personal belief is that Jesus is the Way, but he has saved even people who don't know about Him. There's a verse - don't know the cite off-hand - where he tells the disciples that he has "other flocks." People who are drawn to the good are by definition drawn to Jesus - the ultimate Good - whether they've actually heard of Him or not. At the same time, Christians have a responsibility to introduce others to Jesus because He wants to enter into relationship with all people.
To that end, I seem to remember many stories of Christian missionaries finding groups of people already essentially believing in Jesus and God in very remote places (down to details that couldn't be just coincidence). The people could never have heard the Truth directly, but somehow they knew. I believe that "somehow" is direct from God.
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.
I can only say what my religion teaches: Those who never had a chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ in this life shall be given a chance in the hereafter to acknowledge the Savior and accept His saving sacrifice on their behalf. Those who have the chance in this life to know the Savior, and reject it, will not have that chance. We have an obligation to take the gospel to all the world but the Lord does not punish those who never have the chance to know it in this life.
**The people could never have heard the Truth directly, but somehow they knew. I believe that "somehow" is direct from God.**
Exactly! From person to person the truth was spread. It may have started with an evangelist like St. Mark, -- It is what we, as Catholics, call Holy Triadition.
**Those who never had a chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ in this life shall be given a chance in the hereafter to acknowledge the Savior and accept His saving sacrifice on their behalf. **
How could this happen when a particular (individual) judgment happens at the moment of death and the general judgment at the end of times (when Christ separates the sheep from the goats.) Won't it be too late when we die?
You could just as easily ask what kind of God could put that person in India. But your question implies that you get to say who is God and how he should act. If you are God, then he is not.
Ravi Zacharias. 
His life changed the world.
If he was deluded, then Christianity is a farce and 1.5 billion people are ensnared in false hope.
Why does it always have to be only these two options? Sincere religious people have been wrong about doctine for thousands of years. The presidents, popes, religious, non-religious are all wrong about something. Doesn't make them madmen. Jesus could be wrong about what he claimed and that doesn't necessarily make him a madman.
Great show; I really enjoyed it.
If you sincerely believe yourself to be God and you are not, you are insane, aka - not in touch with reality.
63The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ,[e] the Son of God."
64"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
If one states they are the Son of God (the Christ), you tell me if you would believe they were simply mistaken. I don't believe that would be a viable option here. He wasn't discussing doctrine. He made a statement of fact. The only two that make sense is that He was crazy, or He was telling the truth. I believe He wasn't crazy.
susie
What
Either Jesus was deluded and should be denounced as a madman or he was speaking the truth.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.