Vespers, 1-31-06
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."
5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
For those of you that don’t know I’m not very decisive and sometimes I have a hard time making decisions. My lovely fiancé, Mindy, who I will be marrying in 45 days also isn’t the most decisive person. A Friday evening can be pretty tough for us. “So what do you want to do, Oh I don’t care, what do you want to do? Well I guess we could go out to eat. Yea that would be ok, where do you want to eat? Oh I don’t know, I’d be happy eating wherever, where do you want to eat? Well I’m the same way, I could eat anywhere.” Sometimes that can go on for a while. Brad and I sometimes have the same problem when we try to pick a place for lunch, though we’ve come up with a system. I will pick one or two types of food, then he will pick two or three restaurants, then I will pick the restaurant. It has worked pretty well for us so far. You know there are just a lot of choices out there. Where should we eat, what movie should we see, what game do you want to play, what book should I read. Another thing that I have noticed more and more in today’s culture is the choices we have in churches: big church, small church, charismatic church, big production, small production, traditional, contemporary, you name it. We also have a lot of choices when it comes to picking a religion. There are all kinds of religions and beliefs out there and if you can’t find it then you can just as easily start your own.
In an interview with 60 minutes Madonna said, “I go to synagogue, I study Hindiusm…all paths lead to God.”
Actress Halle Berry said, “I believe in God. I just don’t know if that God is Jehovah, Buddha or Allah.
Actress Meg Ryan said, “Eastern thought, Western mysticism. I really dig the whole Hindu pantheon. And I just pull from all kinds of different things.”
Following the attacks on September 11th, New York Mayor, Rudy Guilliani spoke before the United Nations. And in his speech he mentioned that on a typical weekend he will visit an Islamic mosque on Friday and a Christian Church on Sunday. Then he commented that both groups worship the same God, but in different ways.
- Is he right? Do we worship the same God in different ways? Is Jesus really the only way to heaven? Or is there more than one way?
These are all questions and issues that have no doubt been debated and considered for 100s of years, but in reality it has mostly been confined to the last 50 years. From the time of Constantine diversity was discouraged. The colossal achievements of Western culture through the enlightenment, the formation of capitalism, the industrial revolution, and the alarming yet satisfying advances of modern science gave the west a sense of superiority that made it easy to discount or underestimate the achievements of other religions and cultures. It really wasn’t until about 1960 that we began to see a major change in our attitudes about Christianity compared to other religions.
This major change of attitude and thought began to occur for three major reasons. First was the growth of indigenous Western interest in Eastern religions, especially Buddhism, and Hinduism. Second was the resurgence of Islam, which couldn’t be ignored after the wake of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and of course the media interest following September 11th. The third major reason for change was the tremendous success of Japanese economics, followed by that of Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore all of which gave new weight to Far Eastern cultures and religions.
The fact is today we live in a different time and a different place then what this country was 50 years ago. No longer is the Buddhist or the Hindu living on the other side of the world or confined only to major cosmopolitan cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
This is quite apparent within our own community if you just take a look at some of the religious organizations that meet here at OU. We have the Atheists & Agnostics club, Institute of Religion, Bahai Student Association, Buddhist Student Association, Hillel Jewish student center, the Hindu student council, Islamic dialogue student association, and the Muslim student association.
Is the "mountain analogy" of God true. Where God is pictured at the top of the mountain, and man at the base. And religion is man’s way of carving his way up the mountain, some take the direct route, others wind their way up, but all eventually reach the top in their own 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. What about them? Is Christianity the only religion that is true?
This is a really tough question and also a pretty divisive topic. I am guessing that not everyone in here believes the same thing and there are probably some that really aren’t sure what to believe. I want to share a few thoughts with you on this issue of is Jesus the only way? There is no way I can address all of the questions that you have on this material, but I will try to at least get us started. I hope you will leave tonight talking with those around you and discussing some of these issues. If I raise more questions with you I hope you will talk with me about them.
Leading up to this scripture we just read, Jesus has been warning his disciples that he wouldn’t be with them much longer. In chapter 13:33 Jesus says, “Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ After Jesus says this, Peter begins to question him just like Thomas does in the passage we read. He tells Jesus he wants to follow him wherever he goes and Jesus tells him that he can’t follow him now, but that he will follow afterward.
The disciples were scared and confused. They wanted to know where their Savior was going. Jesus senses their fear and he tries to comfort them with his words at the beginning of chapter 14: Don’t let your hearts be troubled! I am going to prepare a place for you! But again they want to know where he is going and Thomas says, “How can we know the way?” Thomas and the others were looking more for an answer with a geographical reference, such as I’m heading North or I am going to Guymon. Instead Jesus’ response of I am the way isn’t referring to a geographical term, but instead a description of the revelatory work of Jesus. To “know the way” is thus synonymous with knowing Jesus himself. Jesus makes it pretty clear in this passage: He says I am the one and only way to God. So then what do we make of all these other religions?
As followers of Jesus Christ, what should our attitude be toward non-Christian religions and toward those who embrace them? Among those who are seeking to respond to this question, three distinct answers can be heard today. Some are saying that we must acknowledge that all religions are equally valid as ways to approach God. Though there may be superficial differences among the world’s religions, at heart they are fundamentally the same. Often the analogy is used of people taking different paths up the same mountain, but all arriving at the same summit. This is the viewpoint known as religious pluralism.
Others, more anxious to preserve some sense of uniqueness for the Christian faith, yet equally desiring to project an attitude of tolerance and acceptance, are committed to the viewpoint known as Christian inclusivism. In their opinion, though people of another religious conviction may be ignorant of Christ--or possibly even have rejected Him--their positive response to what they know about God, or even due to their efforts to follow their conscience, they are unknowingly included in the number of those who are recipients of Christ’s salvation. The analogy is sometimes used of a person who receives a gift, but is unaware of who the ultimate giver of the gift may be.
A third viewpoint is known as Christian exclusivism. This is the viewpoint traditionally held by the majority of those who accept the Bible as their authority in spiritual matters. It is the view that though there are indeed truths and values in many other religions, there is only one saving truth, namely the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we wrestle with this idea of what happens to people of other faiths there is one major flaw that we need to avoid. I believe the debate about this question has been flawed because it always revolves around “Who can be saved?” When you pose the question can a good Muslim be saved, you’re not asking can the Muslim live a good and useful life and make a difference in society, you are essentially asking “Where does the Muslim go when he dies?”
There are three reasons I believe we should never start with this question. First off, I think this is a flawed question because by concentrating on the fate of an individual after death, we fail to recognize the person as an active member of society and the world around us. The second problem I have with the question of “Where does the good non-Christian go after death” is that it puts the focus on the individual and not on God and his glory. We should instead be asking the question, “How can God be glorified? How can God’s amazing grace be made known and celebrated?” Finally and most importantly, this is the wrong question to ask because only God has the right to give an answer. Not a single person in here has the right to determine where someone is going to spend eternity and not a single one of us knows the answer to that question. I know a question that many of you like to ask and that many of you struggle with is what happens to the person who never knew about Christ? What happens to the Muslim that lived a great life? We can’t answer that question with absolute truth, so we need to approach it differently.
As we change our mindset from who is saved and who isn’t there are a few other things I think we need to consider. First, I think we need to look for and even welcome signs of God’s grace at work in the lives of those around us, Christian or not. We worship a God whose love and grace reaches all over. I’m not saying that everyone will be saved, but I am saying that as Christians I think it’s imperative that we believe God loves EVERY individual and Christ’s light can reach every corner of the world in spite of all that seeks to shut it out. Second, I think as Christians we must be willing and even eager to cooperate and interact with people of all faiths. We should be able to come together with people of other faiths seeking peace and seeking to work together in tragic situations like the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. Above and beyond that we should simply be able to befriend someone of another faith and develop personal relationships with them. As we begin to do that the third thing I believe we must do is tell the story.
So far the position that I have taken is inclusivist and not exclusivist in the sense that I don’t think we should limit the saving grace of God to anyone and we should never deny the possibility of salvation for others. My position is pluralist in the sense that we should acknowledge that God works in the lives of everyone and loves people of all faiths. However, I am against the idea of inclusivism and pluralism because I don’t believe other religions are a vehicle of salvation and because I believe in the uniqueness and decisiveness of what God has done in Jesus Christ. I think as Christians this belief must be at the core of our theology.
I believe it is absolutely essential to our Christian faith to embrace Jesus Christ as the means for salvation. The apostles of Christ were not at all evasive in regard to salvation through Christ alone. In Acts 4:12 Peter says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” In 1 Corinthians 3:11 Paul says, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” The Apostle John said in 1 John 5:11, “This life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that saving faith must be focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10;13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” John 6:40, “My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life.” Galatians 3:26, “You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.”
The apostles as well as the writers of the New Testament never moved away from the idea that saving faith can be found only in Christ. So what does that mean for us? As I said earlier without expanding on it at the time, we must tell the story! It was Jesus who said make disciples of all nations. It was Jesus who said, “Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” If taking the gospel to every creature was a concern of Christ’s 2000 years ago, why should it be any different now?
Why should it be any different now, especially when we consider that all of the Christians in the world only make up approximately 33% of the world’s population? Why should it be any different when there are millions of people in our own country that don’t believe? If you took the unchurched population in the United States and made them their own country they would be the 5th largest country in the entire world! That’s a lot of people, not just in the world, not even just in our country, but in our state and in our community and on our campus that have not heard the story of Jesus Christ.
We must tell the story to others. I don’t believe that thinking Christ is the only way to salvation makes us arrogant or close-minded. I do believe belittling someone for their religion and refusing to get to know someone of another faith is arrogant and close-minded. As Christians we must share the gospel story with others, not because we lack respect for others, but because we are excited about what Christ is doing in our lives and what he can do in the lives of others. We must tell the story to others not because we are better then them, in fact we will probably share the story with others that are in fact more reverent, Godly, and worthy of respect then we are. We should tell the story simply because we have been chosen and called by God. We should seek to tell the story and to conduct our lives in such a way that embodies the truth of the story. The good news is that it’s not our job to try and see that others are persuaded to profess their faith in Christ, that is in God’s hands. It is our job to simply make the story known.
There is no doubt that we are living in a culture and a world that is challenged by a plurality and diversity of people’s religions, spirituality, sexuality, morals, and ethics. However the more and more I read on the emergence of post-modern generations, the more optimistic I have become. Most people, regardless of their faith aren’t opposed to truth and biblical morals. When people sense that you aren’t just dogmatically opinionated due to blind faith and that you aren’t just attacking other people’s beliefs, they are remarkably open to intelligent and loving discussion about choice and truth.
Effectively conveying Jesus’ teaching in a post-modern world is no easy task. But when Jesus and his teachings are offered as solid truth and hope in the midst of a confusing and shifting world, I believe people will respond in a positive manner. Paul tells us in Romans 1:16, I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. The ball is in our court. We know the story and we know about Christ’s steadfast love for us, what will we do with it? It is through the power of God that someone will come to have a personal relationship, but how will we help them along the way?
