Jason Esposito: This is the second part of the article about other religions and what we believe as Christ-followers – the first part was posted a couple of weeks ago. Please do read, respond with your comments and questions.

Some will say it is not fair that there is just one way to God. Think about the world we live in and the rebellion that has been part of mankind since the beginning. The evil that so saturates all cultures. Perhaps the better question is to ask why, despite our rebellion, God provides any way at all?

As John writes, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12

Christ is the path - the only path - to the top of the mountain, but the Bible and Christianity do not have a corner on truth.

Ecclesiastes 3:11
“God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.” NLT

Romans 2:14-15
“Even when Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, instinctively follow what the law says, they show that in their hearts they know right from wrong. They demonstrate that God's law is written within them, for their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right.” NLT

There is truth in other religions. The Quran shares several truths with the Bible. The emphasis on one God, not a pantheon of gods, for example. Another key tenet of Islam is giving to the poor. Muslims and Christ-followers share many of the same moral concerns, from pornography to abortion and divorce. Confucius said, “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.” This is sometimes called the negative Golden Rule, which is in line with what Jesus said, “Do to others what you would have them do to you…” Buddhism is in harmony with Christianity on the issues of respecting our parents and that murder is wrong.

We must commit to have honest dialogue with others. It is important to be so confident in what we believe and so humble with it that we feel no need to attack others out of insecurity. We must break through the walls of suspicion and meet the person on the other side of the fence. In doing so, we meet people where they are at, just like Christ met us where we were at. A recent study came out revealing that all forms of Christianity in the United States, and that includes Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox etc., are in a state of decline. They are no longer growing while adherents to Islam and various forms of Buddhism and other Eastern religions are on the rise. The day is coming and has partially arrived, where we must be willing to engage our neighbors who believe another religion with prayer, love and understanding.

As we engage, the claims of Christ cannot ultimately be avoided. Jesus clearly said,

John 14:6
“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” NIV

Jesus died on the Cross so we could have life. The Quran teaches that Jesus did not die on the cross. Hinduism believes in a pantheon of gods and at its core says everything is god. Hindus also believe in reincarnation, which is in stark contradiction to what the Bible says. Buddhism understands craving as the core issue of man and the resolution is the cessation of craving through the Noble Eightfold Path.

We can’t get away from Jesus. He is central. He is the way and the truth. He is life.

Today we stand at a Jesus encounter. The central figure of history, the only man who claimed to be God and was, in fact, God.  The one who conquered death to give us life on this side and the next of eternity. Jesus asked the disciples who he was.

Matthew 16:13-17
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is? They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” NIV

Peter - the man who so often stuck his foot in his mouth. Peter - the man who would deny Christ three times before his crucifixion. Peter - that one who would be jealous of John. Peter - always the speak-before-you-think guy gets it exactly right. He hits the nail on the head. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what I think, it doesn’t matter what the person next-door thinks, it doesn’t matters what the individual on the other side of the world thinks. What matters is what you think about Christ. What matters for me is what I think about Christ. We don’t have to be scholars; we don’t have to be perfect (none of us is). We just need to be like Peter - a man willing to believe. Willing to say that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. He is the Christ, the way, the truth, and the life.

Jason Esposito
Senior Pastor