Tenuous about Truth

Tenuous about Truth

If the views of some pastors and various denominational leaders had dominated the thinking of the first Christians, Christianity would not have made it out of the First Century. So fearful of offending anyone, many have redefined Jesus and watered-down the gospel so thoroughly as to render both virtually meaningless.

It’s hard to say if it’s just laziness or ignorance or both, but some who call themselves Christians have caved under the pressure produced by the natural human desire to place man at the pinnacle of importance and demote or completely disregard God and His message in the process. Call it humanism, rationalism or relativism, but don’t call it Christianity. Perhaps it’s just fear of rejection.

An article by a mainline denominational pastor that recently appeared in our local newspaper illustrates how desperate some are to make it appear that Christianity is totally inclusive. First, he related an old joke about how some Christians tend to be so naïve as to believe that Christians will be the only ones in Heaven. Then, he stated that it is not “the Christian's job to condemn or to deny the legitimacy of the other paths our God might have provided to the people of the world.” He’s half-right; it is not our job to condemn, but we can’t tell the truth about the gospel without denying the “legitimacy of other paths.”

How many ways can Jesus’ words, “No one comes to the Father except by Me” (John 14:6) be understood? Imagine if the only way to rescue humanity were to sacrifice yourself. You might consider it. But, if that was one of 3 or 4 or 20 ways that humanity could be saved, you would do everything in your power to guide people to the other cures that were already available, wouldn’t you? Well, if Jesus is just one of the “paths,” then it makes His sacrifice completely meaningless. Doesn’t it? I don’t think I could even trust a guy who would willingly die when there were so many other options!

Why is it that we can no longer believe, much less say, that we’re right and someone else is wrong without being accused of judging or condemning the other person or group? The afore-mentioned pastor wants people to think that those of his ilk are more kind and loving; more Christ-like, by declaring that there are many right paths—Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, etc. But the most basic human logic won’t allow for that. Either all paths are wrong, or, only one is right. But it is impossible, logically, for even two to be right paths, much less all of them.

What sets each religion apart as a separate faith is its belief system. The beliefs of each oppose the beliefs of the other. So, either they are all wrong, or, one is right and the rest are wrong. But it is a logical impossibility for all of them to be right. In fact, at the risk of sounding judgmental, that’s just dumb.

So, it is not about condemning, but lovingly demonstrating the importance of the truth of what we believe. If I say, “Two plus two is four” and you say, “Two plus two is six,” then, would it be the kindest and most loving thing for me to simply agree; or say, “We’re both right”? After all, that kind of math could conceivably have dire implications for your well-being!

How much more important is it that we are unafraid to share what we know to be true about life and death and eternal matters? Thankfully, we still live in a country where we get to share that important stuff. And we’re still allowed to disagree with others without being fined or jailed for hate speech; at least for now.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you’” 
─John 12:35