Is Jesus Christ the only way to God? Salvation? Peace? What do you say to someone who believes that "It's intolerant to say that Jesus is the only way to God?" What would be your defense? What scriptures might you want to have memorized for sucha an occassion? What evidence do you have that backs up your beliefs? Let us know what you think!
I'm not sure I would memorize some scriptures for that because if they are claiming intolerance then they are likley not going to respond nicely to me throwing out my favourite proof texts. This is an interesting question though. As an evangelical Christian I do believe that salvation ultimately comes through Jesus alone - but as someone who has been around a while I have seen that this coming to the Father happens a lot of different ways, and that this is all the work of Jesus. So for me it is more about unfolding the language of the Father than about some preconception of how Jesus works that I focus on. We have developed a slogan in our community: 'one step closer to the Father'. This is our motto for how we interact with folks - we pray, lead, share, urge and sometimes model coming to the Father.
ReplyDeleteHowever, your question is also about the uniqueness of Christ's claim. I think my above perspective lets me be pretty respectful to other religions and faith traditions. I don't tend to be alarmist about people religious affiliations, instead I pray for opportunities to bring clarity about the claims of Christ. I am an honest folk so I have had to give an answer for why I believe that Christ's claims are unique - but typically I respond that every religion has claims that are unique to it even if it is a claim that all religions are equal. That is still a claim as the absolute answer. So why shouldn't we also brand that as intolerant? The claim of intolerance is true - but not all intolerance is wrong. For instance hardly anyone would argue that to be intolerant of pedophilia is a bada thing. We want our kids to be safe. Now I know there is a world of difference here, but the assumption that intolerance is wrong is the problem.
What we have to decide is what is acceptable intolerance? If the claims of Christ are exclusive to individuals then we have a problem - well they are but at the same time they are not. There is no qualifier as to who can or cannot recieve Christ. So in a sense it isn't set up to exclude folks, but rather to provide a means of inclusion. Which likely brings us to issues of incompatability, exclusive claims are incompatable with other exclusive claims. But that is the way it is supposed to be. Would you trust a religion that didn't make specific and potentially exclusive claims? I mean the whole point of a religion isn't to make everyone feel like they fit in no matter what their belief, but rather to form a community of people based around a specific understanding of God. Religion defines the core values/beliefs/claims of a group of people. If it doesn't then we have to ask the question what is the point. So the fact that Christ's claims are intolerant shouldn't be a surprise.
Now one final matter - these claims are not to be used to be intolerant of others. When we think we are better than others we miss the entire point of Christ's message. So there is tension there as well.
Summer days drifting away, but uh, oh those su-umer nights...
ReplyDeleteHow sad...I just realized you were singing Grease! Nice...
ReplyDelete