Is there really only one way?.......... yep

This is, of course, a matter of opinion, but given our current culture, I don’t think there’s a more simple, yet significant, scripture for us Christians to be familiar with than John 14:6. This is where Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” We live in a culture where everybody values “tolerance” so highly. And the thing is, they want to not just “tolerate” all religions, behaviors, and beliefs, but they want us all to recognize that they are all equally valid and equally true. We often hear people say “whatever religion you believe is right for you” and “I think there are many paths to God”. This mush-mouthed, cowardly way of looking at God and truth is completely void of conviction and is really hard to respect. People resist the idea of there being one truth, or one right way to believe and live because that means that they have to become accountable for the way they live their lives. It means that there are, then, consequences for their actions. And who wants that? Our sin nature demands that we be able to live the way we want. No rules. No constraints. Reject anything that points out sin or wrong behavior. We can all relate to feeling that way. But we, as followers of Jesus, know that there is an absolute truth and that there really is only one way to God and eternal life.

Common sense alone says that there can’t be “many paths to God”. Talk to a true follower of the Muslim faith, a devoted Jehovah’s Witness, a born again Christian, or a devout Jew and they will each outline a very specific and exclusive way that they believe eternal life can be attained – and they are all vastlydifferent! How could they all possibly be right? I’m pretty sure that none of these religions would agree with the “many paths” philosophy. As Christians, our response to the “many paths” philosophy is found in John 14:6. Jesus didn’t say He was a way, He said that He is “…the way”. There is no other way, there aren’t many ways, just the way. He didn’t say that He is a truth, He said He is “…the truth”. There aren’t other truths, just the truth – everything else is a lie. He didn’t say that He is a life, He said that He is “…the life”. All other roads lead to death. This is often criticized as a very narrow view, and that’s exactly right --- it is. But scripture says, “Small is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to eternal life”. So if you are accused of being narrow-minded because of your Christian faith, consider it a compliment!

I know we all have our favorite scriptures and our own styles of sharing our faith, but given today’s emphasis and obsession with “tolerance”, I think John 14:6 is one that we should always have in the holster and ready to go.

By David Thompson