II Corinthians 10:5

"Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

December 10, 2008

I Just Happen to Believe...


Last night, I was watching ABC reporter Cynthia McFadden interview George W. Bush on the role that faith has played during his time in office, and how it will continue to affect the rest of his life. While I have always liked George Bush, I must say that this answer especially was quite disturbing.


“I do believe there is an Almighty that is broad and big enough, loving enough that can encompass a lot of people. I don't think God is a narrow concept. I think it's a broad concept. I just happen to believe the way to God is through Christ, and others have different avenues toward God…”

Of course, this response is quite shocking. However, Mr. Bush’s politically correct reply seems to be an all too common response to Christianity these days, even among Christians. We hear things like, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere”, or “If Christianity works for me, great, but I’m not going to say that it’s right for everybody”, or, “God is so big, there isn’t just one way to Him.”


I will briefly answer each one of these common objections to believing that Christ is the only way to heaven.

First, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere.”
Well isn’t it possible to be sincerely wrong? For example, hundreds of years ago, very intelligent men sincerely believed that the earth was flat. Adolph Hitler sincerely believed he was doing the world a favor, and even thought he was doing God’s work. Being sincere isn’t enough. We can sincerely believe whatever we want to, but that doesn’t mean that it’s right. We must sincerely believe and follow after the truth-“that which conforms to reality as it actually is”.


Second, “If Christianity works for me, great, but I’m not going to say that it’s right for everybody.”
It is extremely contradictory to believe for yourself that Christ is the only way to heaven, and then tell someone else that they can believe what they want and still make it heaven. If you truly believe that Christ is the only way, then you have to believe that no other way to God is possible. You can’t “have your cake and eat it too”. Either Christ is the only way to heaven-for everybody, or He isn’t. “Christians (should) reject pluralism in part, because defining elements of different religions contradict each other. Judaism teaches that Jesus is not the Messiah. Christianity teaches that He is. Jesus either is the Messiah or He is not. Both groups can’t be right. The notion that Christianity and Judaism (or any other religion for that matter) are somehow equally true is contradictory, like square circles. –Greg Koukl

Third, “God is so big there isn’t just one way to reach Him.”
Jesus Himself, while He walked on the earth told His disciples, “…‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:6) God is God. He can do whatever He wants. He has set up the ground rules. He tells us on what terms we must come to God- through Christ alone. “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim 2:5-6)

When we as Christians don’t insist that Christ is the only way to Heaven, we are being no different from the rest of our relativistic culture. We must tell people that if Christianity is right, then all other religions are wrong. Telling our culture that they can believe whatever they want as long as they’re sincere about it, or that there are many roads to God, might make them feel warm and fuzzy inside during this life, but it will do nothing to save their eternal souls. Susan Schaffer Macaulay, daughter of Christian philosopher Francis Schaffer, says, “…I believe that the world around us has a definite shape…all kinds of facts make up that shape. And I believe that only one explanation of truth and life-and only one religion or philosophy-will fit all the facts. The other options won’t work. Finding the right one is like sorting through a pile of keys for the one that fits.” We must boldly assert that we know the Truth, and that the Truth has set us free.

Meagan Wanschura


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you got it down, Meagan.

Riley said...

Apologetics, Meagan!!!

Yes, Bush's policy is better than his theology.

Here are some more comments from our president:
http://hotair.com/headlines/?p=25256

His comment that the Bible is "Probably not" literally true is perturbing.

Anonymous said...

I agree Meg. Good insightful article. In response to Aronne, however, I would argue that Bush's domestic policies have been far worse than his beliefs....Brian

Riley said...

Well, though his policies certainly lack in areas, the theological beliefs he has exhibited are (in my humble opinion) far more off the mark.

We can't blame the president for everything!

Anonymous said...

I heard this interview also and I too was very disturbed by the Presidents answers. He sounded just like most of the unprincipled Christians that make up the politically correct church of our day. For him to say the Bible was probably not literally true was more than perturbing it was an abomination. And I agree that his policies, as of late anyway, have been at least just as bad as his theology.

Anonymous said...

Well said, Meagan.

I think I heard something similar to this before...very disappointing. Postmodernism is swallowing up America if it hasn't already.

Sorry Mr. President, this squishy view of God just won't do...