There Really Is Only One Way

You've probably heard people say through the years that there may be surface level distinctions between various world religions but if you strip them down to their essentials, all religions fundamentally teach the same thing and so it doesn't matter which one you follow.

In other words, all spiritual paths lead up the same mountain. Because all religions basically teach the brotherhood and sisterhood of men and women and the universal fatherhood of god.

I will admit that there is some common ground that is shared by many of the world's religion's, especially when you look at the level of basic values and statements and beliefs about morality.

And that is a good starting point when we have a dialogue of respect between people who respect different faith systems. But at the same time there are significant differences between the world religions that cannot be ignored.

In fact, with this one outlandish assertion by Jesus (that He is the only way to heaven - John 14:6), Jesus put Christianity in a separate class by itself. Because if the path to God is through Jesus then Christianity cannot be reconciled with any other religion.

This uniqueness of Christianity is rooted in the uniqueness of Jesus himself. For instance, other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you how to find the truth." But Jesus says, "I am the truth."

Other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you the way to salvation." But Jesus says, "I am the way to eternal life."

Other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you how you can become enlightened." But Jesus says, "I am the Light of the world."

Other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you many doors that lead to God." But Jesus says, "I am the door."

For a long time people have tried to harmonize the various religions of the world but there are drastic and irreconcilable differences between Christianity and all other belief systems. Every other religion I have ever studied is based on people doing something through their struggling and through their striving to somehow earn good favor with God.

So they use a Tibetan Prayer Wheel or they have to go on pilgrimages or they have to give alms to the poor or they have to avoid eating certain foods or they have to perform a certain number of unspecified good deeds or they have to pray in a certain way or they have to go through a cycle of reincarnation or they have to pray over a beaded crucifix.

They are attempts by people to reach out to God. But Jesus Christ is God reaching out to us. Jesus taught the opposite of what those other faiths teach.

He said nobody can do anything to merit heaven and so you might as well stop trying. We are all guilty of wrongdoing.

That is consistent with human nature. We know that not a single person would claim to be perfect. Jesus also said that this wrongdoing separates us from God because our God is holy and perfect.

And when we accept his sacrifice on our behalf, we become reunited with God.

All other religions are spelled: DO. Because they teach that people must do a bunch of religious rituals to somehow work their way to God. But Christianity is spelled: DONE.

Because Jesus Christ has done what needed to be done on the cross. We just need to receive it.

R.C. Sproul said this, "Moses could mediate on the law, Mohamed could brandish a sword, Buddha could give personal counsel, Confucius could offer wise sayings, but none of these men were qualified to offer an atonement for the sins of the world."

Jesus alone is qualified. And you have to think through the question of various world religions on a purely logical level. Would it not be the height of irrationality for God to go to one side of the word and to whisper into the ears of people: "This is who I am, this is what I am like, this is what is necessary for you to become reconciled with me."

And then for God to go to another part of the world and say to another group of people: "I know I told them this, but actually I am very different from what I told them."

That would make no sense and be utterly illogical. God would have to be schizophrenic in order to tell people contradictory ways to reach him.

So it does matter what "path" you follow in your spiritual journey. The only thing that is true about all religions leading to the same place is that all of them but following Jesus Christ will lead you straight to hell. Jesus Christ really is the only way to God!