The False Gospel of Many Paths
With enough turns, any road in the continental United States leads to Chicago. However, not all spiritual roads lead to heaven regardless of the number of turns. Repentance and believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior is the only path to heaven (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).
It’s Jesus’ idea. But when we repeat it, it strikes many people as inclusive, arrogant, and narrow-minded. Sharing the gospel always offends some (Galatians 5:11). Every generation has its reasons for being offended.
Increasingly, people in our culture value accepting and not discriminating against anyone. In the religious realm, they believe no religion has a corner on the truth market. They think Christ is just one religious leader among many.
Christianity offends this cultural value of inclusiveness. The one way to God message doesn’t go over well in a world that gives other belief systems equal billing. Surprisingly, some professing Christians believe in many paths to God.
Not trusting Jesus’ proclamation that He is the only way to God tears the engine and transmission out of Christianity. If repentance and faith can’t take us where Jesus claimed they could, they’re worthless.
Christianity becomes an empty can with a picture of Jesus on it but without nourishing contents. If what Jesus said isn’t true, we might as well throw the can in the recycling bin and move on.
Those who believe Christianity and other religions are the same don’t understand Christianity or other religions or at least don’t take their teachings seriously. It’s like saying Windsor Castle and a pup tent are the same because they both provide shelter.
Religions have very different content. For example, there can’t at the same time be one God, many gods, and no God. Christianity teaches that Jesus died for our sins. Islam teaches that He didn’t. They can’t both be true.
Professing Christians who embrace the false gospel of many paths stab their own historically anchored faith in the heart. Perhaps, they do so because they don’t know what the Bible teaches.
For example, when the Ephesians were separate from Christ, Paul wrote that they were without hope and God in the world (Ephesians 2:12). Without Christ meant being without God in the world.
Righteousness comes through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice (Romans 5:6–10,17). Good works (the go-to of most religions) can’t provide it (Romans 3:20, Ephesians 2:9).
Jesus is the only way to God, but we must share the message with humility. Our gospel is offensive. Let’s not add to it with our offensive attitudes.
The way of the cross is God’s idea. We’re His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Ironically, most people consider Jesus to be a good person, and we, His followers, who repeat what He said, to be otherwise! 1
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1. Christianity and Religious Pluralism - Are There Multiple Ways to Heaven? (probe.org)
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