World Religions

I have often been asked the question of what to make of the different religions of the world in light of the truth of Christianity. It would seem that if we believe salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone, then we are arrogantly claiming that we are “right” and all other faiths are “wrong”. In fact, it is this issue that turns many seekers off to Christianity. If there are so many people in the world with so many different systems of belief, how can there be ONE way? How can Christianity claim to have the corner on the market when it comes to truth of salvation?

This tough question leads many to what I like to call the “mountaintop” view. This view puts the faith journey in terms of a mountain. “God” is at the top. However there are many different roads that lead to the top. Christianity might be one while Hinduism or Buddhism might be another. Really, as long as your road gets you to the top, it doesn’t really matter which one you take. You go ahead and believe whatever works for you. This is a nice thought. Tolerance is, after all, a good thing. It really would be nice if this analogy worked. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. Not in any way. In fact, I highly doubt that there is any serious follower of a mainstream faith that would concede to this model of viewing world religions.

What’s the problem? All people have an internal sense that something is not right with the world. We seek reconciliation and peace from the evil that we see in ourselves and in the world around us. In some way or another, this is the root goal of all religions and philosophies. However, not all religions agree on what is on top of the mountain. For Christians, the top of our mountain is a God who loves us and desires to know us personally. For Muslims, the God at the top of the mountain seems similar to ours, but is one who is inaccessible in the personal sense that our faith teaches. In reality, the Christian and Muslim Gods are very different. If you are Hindu, not one god is atop the mountain but hundreds. Only by conquering the cycle of reincarnation can one achieve oneness with Brahman. For Buddhists, there is nothing on top of the mountain. By controlling one’s Karma, one can break the cyclical reincarnation and achieve Moksha, or final release from the suffering of life. For secular humanism, the top of the mountain is reaching personal completion and fulfillment through ethics, philosophy, and introspection.

Obviously, these belief systems cannot all be leading to the same place, as they all disagree on the place they are leading to. So what sets Christianity apart as truth? As Christians, we are not saying that there is no value in other faiths. In fact, there is much value in the teachings of other religions. All espouse ethical living and personal betterment. However, Christianity does claim to have the monopoly on truth when it comes to salvation. This is because of all the religions and belief systems on earth Christianity makes a unique claim. Other religions say to “do this” or “follow this” rule or teaching and you will achieve salvation or completion or release. Only Christianity says to TRUST in the One who has already done it for us. This is a claim unlike any other! Our God doesn’t ask us to find A WAY through learning or rules. He claims that He Himself is THE WAY: John 14:6, and that salvation is of Him alone: Ephesians 2:8-9.

So is it arrogant or boastful of us to claim that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation? Many think so. However, if I were to tell you that 2+2=4, and that it could only ever equal 4, you wouldn’t say I was being arrogant. And why not? Because it is true. And the same is true with our faith. It is not arrogant for us to claim to be true what we in fact know to be true. So therefore we should be all the more motivated to speak the truth in love to others about the grace of God available through Jesus Christ. We don’t claim other faiths and beliefs to be of no value, but we also don’t shy away from the truth of salvation as revealed to us in God’s Word.