2nd May, 2022.

BEWARE OF ANTI BIBLE PHILOSOPHIES Pt.3

Col2:8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

A popular American preacher was on air years back. He is the pastor of a mega church in the United States of America. He was asked if Jesus is the only way. He replied by saying "I don't know if Jesus is the only way". Now, one would expect a Pastor of thousands to take a stand about Jesus publicly but he took a dangerous position that isn't expected of a new convert. The view he expressed indirectly is that "Jesus could be or not". That response sounded like that of one who is in support of religious pluralism ideology. What is religious pluralism? Steve Cowan says, "This is the view that all (religious) roads lead to God; that each religion is equally valid; that no one religion can or should claim to be the only legitimate way to God. John Hick, a pluralist, says, “There is not merely one way but a plurality of ways of salvation . . . taking place in different ways within the contexts of all the great religious traditions.” Now this is a dangerous position or ideology. Some believers also take this position too.

Can we look at scriptures to see what God has to say about this? In John 14:6(AMP), Jesus Himself said, "Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me". JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY. Some critics call this assertion "Christian Particularism" while some call it "Religious Exclusivism". Whatever name they tag the bolded assertion, I know deep within my heart that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Anyone who doesn't accept Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour will not enter heaven: "He who has the Son [by accepting Him as Lord and Savior] has the life [that is eternal]; he who does not have the Son of God [by personal faith] does not have the life"( 1John5:12). Every religion claims to worship God but Christ is the missing link. Whoever want to see God, communicate or fellowship with God must go through Jesus Christ and no one else. Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, and other religious leaders walked the surface of the earth but none of them was bold enough to lay claim to being the way to God only Jesus did.

In Acts 4:12, Peter said, “there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Now I feel like screaming "JESUS". No other name or personality is loaded and capable of bringing a man to the father. If you want to see God, look at Jesus. About Him the Bible says, "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation"( Col 1:15). If we understand Christ this way, we'll be eager to evangelize and reach the world for Him because He is the only way to God. Religious pluralism undermines the need for evangelism and missions. Holding on to the pluralist ideology makes one see evangelism as "fanaticism" or bigotry. Maybe you're not enthusiastic about Missions because you think every unsaved person will still make it to heaven anyway if they hold on to the tenets of their religion. That's not true. Even if they are committed to good works without putting their faith in Christ, they're going to hell. An unbeliever is someone to be pitied regardless of how nice they are. Don't get caught in the ideology of religious pluralism. JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY.