Is Jesus the Only Way? I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 M & M’s and your favorite song. Is putting faith in Jesus more like estimating the number of M & Ms or more like choosing your favorite song?

Favorite Song Theology Leads to pluralism The view that many, if not all religions are “true” in some sense. Every religion is a way to get in touch with spiritual reality.

The Attraction of Pluralism Modest, tolerant, inclusive Acknowledges human limitations Acknowledges the vastness and mystery of God The Bible agrees that God is beyond comprehension: Job 11:7, “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?”

Is God Completely Unknowable? The statement “God is completely unknowable” is self-defeating. To know there is a human limit to knowledge about God is to know something about God. If God is completely unknowable, then religions that claim to know God are wrong. Not everybody can be right!

The Arrogance of Pluralism Asserts that every religion which claims some truth about God is wrong. Pluralism either patronizes or denies all claims to religious truth. Passive pluralism simply agrees with everyone, even when it’s contradictory. Aggressive pluralism refuses to tolerate religious truth claims.

It’s All about Jesus Christians make very specific claims about who Jesus is and what He did. Christianity’s claims are incompatible with religions that deny those claims: Judaism Islam Hinduism Buddhism Any claim to truth necessarily excludes its contradictions.

What about Other Religions? Christians do not have to say they are completely false—see Acts 17:22-23 Some shared beliefs: God Moral responsibility Afterlife Even sometimes the Bible God can reveal Himself in other ways, but Christ is the final, decisive revelation.

Our Attitude toward Other Religions Love and respect No room for arrogance or intolerance Respectful dialogue Yet maintaining and preserving differences “All religions say the same thing” is a failure to respect real difference

Christianity ≠ Western Culture Christianity did not begin in the West. The geographical center of Christianity is no longer in the west. There are aspects of western culture like individualism and greed which are opposed to genuine Christianity. Christianity judges culture, not the other way round.

What about Those Who Have Never Heard? A teenager in your village is upset. She tells you that her father has said that her grandparents on her mother’s side will go to hell – they hold to native spiritual beliefs and practices and do not believe in Jesus. Weeping, she says that she cannot understand why God would condemn such good people. What do you say to this girl?

Our Pluralist World Context of early Church Historical western ignorance of other religions Post-modern concern to avoid arrogance

The problems Arrogance Huge numbers of the unevangelized Personal acquaintance God’s justice and goodness How do we communicate the Gospel?

Is Jesus the Only Way? Yes, but… Does one need explicit faith in Jesus in order to be saved? In other words, what about those who have never heard?

Spirit/Experience  Word “What does Scripture say?” Not a matter of taking Scripture lightly versus taking it seriously. Two different questions: How is our salvation accomplished? How do we receive salvation?

Does God Welcome Some without Explicit Faith in Jesus? Infants? The mentally handicapped? Others Temporally disadvantaged? Geographically disadvantaged? Culturally disadvantaged?

One Savior – Jesus Christ Pluralism Exclusivism Universalism

Biblical Background - Exclusivist Exodus 20:1-3 Psalm 96:5 John 14:6 Acts 4:12 Revelation 21:8

Biblical Background - Universalist Proverbs 8:17 Jeremiah 29:13 John 4:22 Acts 17:23 Romans 14:11 I Corinthians 15:22

Fate of the Unevangelized Exclusivist Universalist Divine Perseverance Post-mortem Evangelism Universal Opportunity Before Death Restrictivism Inclusivism Universalism John 14:6 Acts 4:12 Augustine Calvin Sproul Daniel 2 Acts 8 Aquinas Arminius Geisler John 12:32 Acts 10:43 Justin Wesley C.S. Lewis John 3:18 I Peter 4:6 Clement MacDonald Bloesch Rom. 5:18 I John 2:2 Origen Berkhouwer Barclay

What Will our Attitudes Be? The need for evangelism Support for mission Transformation of human lives now Expressing hope that is exclusively in Jesus Patience and love toward Christians who hold differing theological perspectives

Look to Our Own Walk with Jesus A committed relationship with Christ makes us less worried about alternatives A committed relationship with Christ makes us confident in dialogue with others We have heard—Hebrews 2:3, “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?”