Week 12 Review

From Last Week… When dealing with the problem of evil, pain, and suffering in the world, do you believe that the objections from most people are emotional or intellectual? Why?

From Last Week… When talking about the objection against the existence of God due to evil, pain, and suffering, why is it important to remember who bears the burden of proof?

From Last Week… If you began discussing the problem of evil, pain, and suffering with someone and you determined that their problem with God was emotional, not intellectual, what would you do?

Religious Pluralism Is Jesus the Only Way?

A Summary of Our Case Existence of God Reliability of the Bible Philosophical, scientific Reliability of the Bible Scientific, historical Jesus as Christ Historical, Biblical

However… “Only” We will use some previous ideas Jesus as the “only” way to salvation Many people get stuck here Religious diversity, emotion We will use some previous ideas Moral arguments, Hume’s arguments

Religious Pluralism Multiple viable belief systems Geographical barriers Cultural influences Colonialism/Enlightenment era Exposure to non-“Christian” cultures North America, China, Middle East

Religious Pluralism… Discourages evangelism Offensive, insensitive to convert others Promotes false doctrine/teaching Brings Christianity down to all other religions Disregards the pursuit of Truth Conflicting belief systems can’t be true

What does the Bible say? Jesus is unique Chosen by God John 3:13, I Tim 2:5, Phil 2:9 Chosen by God 1 Pet 2:14, John 17:3 Jesus is the only way John 14:6, Acts 4:12

Common Objections Arguments for Pluralism Implications of “Jesus only” Ad hominem, genetic fallacies Implications of “Jesus only” Problem of Hell/exclusive salvation Those that don’t have the Bible Question of “why?”

Arguments for Pluralism Ad hominem fallacy Arrogant/elitist to say Jesus only Fallacy—attacking the person, not the argument Genetic fallacy “You were raised in America” Fallacy—again does not address the argument

Problem of Hell Salvation through Jesus alone  everyone else is lost Implies Hell for nonbelievers God desires all to be saved (II Pet 3:9, 1 Tim 2:4)—who sends? We “control our destiny”

Problem of Ignorance Those who have never heard of Jesus/the Gospel lost? Sin vs. Ignorance Ignorance cannot save (Romans 2:12) Neither can sincerity (2 Sam. 6) Ultimately, God will be just

“Why?” Why didn’t God make a world where everyone obeyed him? (free will) Why would God even create the world if some would be lost? Why wouldn’t God bring the Gospel to people directly?