Oprah Winfrey has been quoted saying: “I am a Christian who believes that there are certainly many more paths to God other than Christianity.” She touts the “just be a good person and you will get to Heaven” attitude as well. But, is that true?
If your worldview does not put Jesus at the center and foundation of all you believe, then you should not call yourself a “Christian” because by definition being a Christian is an exclusive claim to be a follower of Jesus, the Christ. He did not give alternative options to eternal life. Jesus made this statement, and many others like it, and it is up to each individual to decide if what He said is true:
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6
As we saw last week, there is prevailing thought in culture today that all forms of faith will lead a person to God and Heaven, especially the view that if we do our best to be a ‘good person’ that in the end God could not possibly send us to hell. However, that is not what Christianity teaches.
Most of the major religions and beliefs systems do have some things in common: The care and welfare of its citizens, high view of morality, a desire to live life better, etc., but does that mean that they all have the same beliefs on the most important questions of life? For the sake of discussion we will categorize the major belief systems (generalized) and how they would answer five of the most important questions humans ask about life:
1. Who is God?
Biblical Christianity: Creator of everything; Monotheistic in being, Triune Nature (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
Judaism: Creator of everything; Monotheistic in being; God of Abraham
Islam: Allah (different characteristics than the God of the Bible); Monotheistic in being
Eastern Religions and New Age: All matter and space is god; humans are gods; pantheistic/polytheistic in nature
Secular Naturalism/Atheism: No god exists; only matter exists
2. Where did I come from?
Biblical Christianity: Humans were created in the Image of God
Judaism: Humans were created in the Image of God
Islam: Created by Allah, NOT in the image of Allah
Eastern Religions and New Age: We are part of the universe – either created by it or exist and evolve from it
Secular Naturalism/Atheism: Life is a product of random undirected evolutionary mechanisms
3. What’s wrong with the world?
Biblical Christianity: Evil and suffering is due to the Fall; Original sin = Human responsibility; Satan’s control
Judaism: Evil and suffering due to the Fall; Original sin = Human responsibility; Satan’s control
Islam: NO original sin; evil is a deception; the self
Eastern Religions and New Age: Human desires and ignorance are the problem and we must attain a higher status; or humans are not the problem, the world we live in is an illusion; suffering is from bad karma
Secular Naturalism/Atheism: Evil and suffering has come from elites in power and more recently from Western civilization; religious oppression; humans are not responsible for evil actions because of genetics, diseases, environmental conditions and/or culture
4. What is the hope for a better/eternal life?
Biblical Christianity: Eternal life is in Heaven with God; Salvation comes through Jesus’ death & resurrection; Jesus will return at the end of age to end Satan’s reign
Judaism: Eternal life is in Heaven with God; following of the Law/Torah will bring salvation, and by doing good in this world
Islam: Salvation and eternity in paradise is by the arbitrary will of Allah; do more good than bad; martyrdom for the faith
Eastern Religions and New Age: Mystical experiences will bring us to a higher realm; eliminate desires and attain nirvana or brahman; reincarnation; utopianism
Secular Naturalism/Atheism: Secular ideology and Humanistic education will bring utopia; improved education and laws will bring happiness as this life is all that there is
5. What is my purpose?
Biblical Christianity: Do God’s will as taught by Jesus; Spread the Gospel so others will be saved; place God and others before my myself
Judaism: Follow the Mosaic Law; live a sacrificial life; look for Messiah to come
Islam: Submission to Allah; follow the teachings of Mohammad and the holy books; weigh the scales of good and bad; martyrdom (the ultimate sacrifice)
Eastern religions and New Age: Accept karma; become enlightened; deny self to attain a higher status
Secular Naturalism/Atheism: Self-fulfillment; be successful in the eyes of the culture; be a good person
Listen to Ravi Zacharias explain “Why Christianity is right”
The point here is that different religions and Worldviews do not agree on the most fundamental, foundational and salvational questions about God and life.
1. The world’s religions are fundamentally different (as seen in the answers to the five questions above) and these differences are logically irreconcilable on vital questions such as:
• What is my origin?
• Who is God?
• Who is Jesus?
• What is sin?
• What is my purpose?
• What constitutes salvation?
• Where do we go after we die?
2. The world’s religions are foundationally different:
• Each has a different historical beginning
• Each has a different, or many different holy books
• Each one looks to a founder or leader who taught very different concepts about this life and the afterlife, none of whom claimed to be the Son of God, except one
• Each leader or founder’s essential views are in opposition and contradictory at best
3. The world’s religions are salvationally different, teaching very different pathways about very different eternal destinations:
• Heaven/hell (Christianity and Judaism)
• Paradise/eternal damnation (Islam)
• Brahman (Hinduism)
• Nirvana (Buddhism)
• The Bridge (Zoroastrianism)
• Jiva/Ajiva (Jainism)
• Utopian afterlife (New Ageism)
• Nothingness (Secular Naturalism/Atheism)
Attempts to reduce all religions to a common meaning are futile based on their core beliefs.
A Professor of Christian Apologetics, and former Muslim, once said that he did not switch teams when he became a Christian, He came to know the one true and living God and not a false dead god that is taught in Islam. Now he doesn’t have to strap a bomb to himself in order to be assured of paradise.
The difference is clear:
Only Christianity offers…
1. Intimacy: I am a child of God, I can have a relationship with Jesus
2. A Savior: Jesus died for me and my sins
3. Grace: Forgiveness with a gift, not just mercy
4. Acceptance: We can come just as we are, we don’t have to do anything first
5. A God who loves us and would die for us: Not a god that we have to die for
Paul models the essentials of the faith, and what a Christian believes that makes us different from all the others, in his letter to the Romans:
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; …For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:1-6; 16
Reflection
- How would you respond to Oprah Winfrey’s statement above?
- What key points can you remember that makes Christianity unique amongst the other beliefs?
- Prayer focus: What God has done for us uniquely through His Son, Jesus.
Bible Study
Each week we will do a study in the book of Romans to practice our Bible study skills. This week read (or re-read) Romans chapter 15, then answer the following questions:
- How can we model Christ? (15:1-9)
- How does Paul bring together the idea that Jews and Gentiles are one under the LORD and have the same hope? (15:10-13)
- What does Paul specifically say to the Jews (his brethren) about ministering to others (the Gentiles) as he does? (15:14-21)
- At this writing Paul had covered the places the LORD wanted him to go, and now he can head to Rome to see these Christians in person. (15:22-33) Where is Paul going first before he heads to Rome and why?
- Paul does not end up in Rome the way he thought he might on his own. Read Acts 21 through 28 for the full story on how Paul finally ended up in Rome—summarize the story here:
Join us next week as we continue our “Case for Christianity”
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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.
Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
I love how clear, concise, and logical your arguments are! I’ve been an apologetics junkie for awhile now, and I love your site! Thank you for what you do!
Thank you for being an apologetics junkie like me!