To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? Says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing. (Isaiah 40:25-26)
A motto of the United States is e Pluribus Unum – out of many, one. In many cases, plurality is a desirable thing. According to God’s own Word, every nation tribe, people, and language will be represented in heaven. It is important, however, not to confuse the reach of God’s saving grace to all nations with a misconception that all roads lead to God. By God’s very nature and the distinct values of Christianity, vs. Isalm, Hinduism, Buddism, or Pantheism.
“Traditional tolerance (Social Pluralism) is now referred to as negative tolerance. This is defined as ‘respecting others' beliefs and practices without sharing them,’ or ‘to bear or put up with something not especially liked.’ “The new tolerance (Religious Pluralism) is called positive tolerance, which says this: every single individual’s beliefs, values, lifestyle, and truth claims are equal.” (Josh McDowell)
The question then is, “Do all roads lead to God?” Someone once said to me, “It doesn’t matter who we’re praying to, as long as we are praying, they all go to the same place.” The idea behind pluralism is that there is no one right way. Just be good. Can I worship a tree and find God just as much as coming to church? Is Jesus only one way for us to know God while Muhammed another way? I can tell you, most assuredly, that the answer is no. But such claims in a post-modern culture are treated as hostile by our culture, especially when it makes such claims by Christians.
This, however, is called by Ravi as a “Western Fashion Statement.” That all views are equal, as long as your view doesn’t make a claim of exclusivity. Western Civilization embraces pluralism while assaulting Christianity. Jesus didn’t come and make pluralistic assertions. In fact, just the opposite. How tragic it would be for God to send his own son to a sinners cross, but only for those who found this way to be most pleasing? Jesus claimed exclusivity because in being fully Divine, he did what no man or religion could do.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
I. Christianity is Unique to All other Claims
This is not only a claim of absolute exclusivity, but it is also the most significant message of hope and blessing from God that he could make. How can I make such an assertion? Isn’t this a message of hate to others who chose to follow Islam or even those who decided not to follow and religious construct at all? Remember that man is searching for answers to four essential questions:
Origin—Where did I come from?
Meaning—Why am I here?
Morality—How should I live?
Destiny—Where am I headed?
Only Christianity answers these questions. If we strip the exclusive claims of Jesus from his words, then we also strip the answers to these questions. Where Christ places periods after the question, we replace them with question marks and leave us back to a place without hope.
Islam is not only different than Christianity but in some key respects directly opposite to it. In Islam, if you love and obey Allah, he may love you back. In Christianity, Jesus explicitly objects to only loving those who love you first: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32). In Christianity, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). (Vince Vitale).
No other place in religious constructs do we find the relationship with God as that of a Heavenly Father. I think this is why Satan works so relentlessly on damaging the father/child relationship. Children, especially boys, learn from their Fathers how to love and treat the woman they will marry, how to raise their children, how to handle failure and success, their work ethic, and, most importantly, their relationship with their Heaven.
• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes
• 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes
• 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes
• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes
• 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes
• 70% of youths in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes
• 85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes
The Quran says that Allah despises the prodigals, Jesus came to die for the prodigals. Only a God who is also a loving parent would come to suffer alongside His children, would be willing to die for His children, and would battle death itself if it meant seeing His children again. Islam can’t understand Jesus’ suffering and death because it doesn’t understand God’s love. Nor does pantheism, Buddhism or any other religious following.
II. The Mountain Theory
The objections of many, especially about Christianity, is that it is not possible for a man to know "the way" to God. In the "Mountain Theory," God is pictured at the top of the mountain, and man is at the base. Through religion, one can carve his way up the mountain, some take the direct route, others take wind their way up, but all eventually reach the top in their way. Is that analogy true of God? One mountain top, many paths. After all, aren’t there many good religions out there, and aren’t there good intentioned people who are a part of those religions or who were brought up in those religions?
• Is there any difference between us and, say, Islam, or Buddhism, or Judaism. Ravi points out that on the surface, there are many similarities, but fundamentally all religions are vastly different. Man people who claim that all religions are valid and true have not looked closely at the core of these religions. Because when one looks closer, we find that often, these different religions contradict Christianity in many important ways.
• For example, Buddhism teaches that the ultimate goal is Nirvana, where all pain and suffering exist no more. And the way to reach this Nirvana is by following the 8-Fold Path to Enlightenment, and then you reach that place of total nothingness.
• In Hinduism, the ultimate goal also is Nirvana, but Nirvana is different. Instead of being snuffed out like a candle, Nirvana for a Hindu is being reunited with Brahm. Nirvana is through reincarnation. Depending on how you live, your life determines whether you move up or down.
• In Islam, heaven is a paradise of wine, women, and song. Heaven is a place to satisfy your lusts. In order to win Allah's approval, a Muslim must follow the Five Pillars of Islam.
• Judaism denies that Jesus Christ is Lord. That it is through the following of the Law that one obtains eternal life.
III. Which Mountain Do You Climb?
Do you see the fundamental difference? Each one of these religions places the burden on man to do particular works to "climb the mountain" to God. Except such a mountain is unknowable, impossible, and doesn't exist. Our sinfulness demands God's righteousness for God is a Holy. So how do you or can you know the accurate measure of devotion before God
All other religions are not the same. There is no assurance of hope. No definition, really of what heaven is or who God is, much less how if there can be union with God.
When Noah is near me, all he wants is to held by me and embraced by me. All he wants is to be is in his father’s arms. And so he lifts his hands to reach for his father’s neck desperately. But he’s never quite able to reach up high enough. That is a picture of the desperation many have in trying to reach up to God, but never quite reaching high enough. Other religions are a system of rules and commandments that will perhaps bring a person closer to God, but never close enough. But as a Father, instead of just looking down at his child, I reach down to Noah with compassion and strength and draw him close to me. That is what makes Christianity different than all other religions. God came down to us in the form of Jesus Christ and made way for us to be lifted into the arms of God. The mountain is not ours to climb; it is Christ's who came down to us.
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Application
In Christianity, we have a God who is both love and truth. In fact, John says in his opening Chapter that as they witnessed the coming and ministry of Christ, they saw him in the fullness of God's Grace and Truth. Jesus was the embodiment of this perfectly. What has happened in our culture is we no longer know how to disagree. We flee from the truth, ?or we fight for truth, but we no longer how to pursue truth in a meaningful way. The Bereans were commended in the Bible for pursuing the truth.
**VIDEO JASG4 10:23-12:03***
Jesus disagreed with us. His very coming was an act of disagreement with us, an act of saying that our lives had opposed so severely with what He intended for us that we required saving.
Jesus on the Cross is simultaneously the greatest act of God's disagreement with us and the greatest act of God's love for us. Every other worldview chooses between love and truth. Jesus refused to because in Him and only in Him, love and truth are the same.
If "every view is valid," according to the pluralist, then does that not also hold to Jesus' claim to exclusivism? To the pluralist, no.
Perhaps the most vital evidence for the Christian faith lies in the resurrection. The Bible says that God has given “proof” to “everyone” by “raising [Jesus] from the dead” (Acts 17:31). That is a big claim, and, what’s more, it is a highly falsifiable claim. Buddha said to look to the wisdom of my teaching. Muhammad said to look to the beauty and eloquence of the Qur’an. But Jesus provided an objective standard for His authority: “After three days I will rise again” (Matthew 27:63).
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, (Revelation 7:9)
Take it to the Cross
