That’s Narrow-Minded!
Religious pluralism generally refers to the belief in two or more religious worldviews as being equally valid or acceptable. In practical terms, religious pluralism is a view that all religions are equally valid. More than mere tolerance, religious pluralism accepts multiple paths to God or gods as a possibility and is usually contrasted with exclusivism, the idea that there is only one true religion or way to know God.
While religious pluralism has been in existence since at least the seventeenth century, the concept has become more popular since the latter half of the twentieth century in western Europe and North America, and continues now well into the 21st century. Today, in 2024, religious pluralism here in the West continues to strengthen. And the reason? It’s politically correct!
In light of the current religious climate, we briefly address a rather important spiritual issue, the exclusivity of Jesus and His gospel, as raised in this objection:
It’s narrow-minded to think Jesus is the only way to God.
To begin, we need to acknowledge this objection is not only about Jesus, it’s also about the Bible itself.
People often equate our exclusivity claim on Jesus and God’s Word as somehow dismissing any and all aspects of their religion and holy books. And this paradigm sets the Christian up to be attacked as bigoted, racist, and narrow-minded. Apologist Norman Geisler frames well the exclusive nature of the Bible while at the same time affirming other religions:
“Christianity does not claim there is no truth in non-Christian religious books. It only claims that the Bible is true and whatever is contradictory to the Bible is false. There is much good and true in non-Christian religions. For example, most religions are in harmony with the Bible’s teaching that we should respect our parents and that murder is wrong. Christianity doesn’t teach that only the bible contains truth. It only affirms that the Bible is true and that everything that contradicts is is false, since contradictions cannot both be true.” – Who Made God? and Over 100 Tough Questions of Faith, pg. 138.
So, while there are some commonalities in various religions, at their core, every world view, religion, and philosophy is by definition exclusive and excludes other truth claims. That’s what makes a truth claim a truth claim.
If all religions are different paths to the same place, then why do the paths contradict each other? For example, Buddhism is pantheistic and says there is no personal God, and everyone can reach “godlikeness” on his own. Islam says that Jesus was just a prophet, and not the only way to God. Christianity says that there is a personal God, and that the only way to Him is through Jesus (John 14:6).
Once, I was witnessing to a friend of our family named Dale. His religious paradigm was Hinduism, which believes that reincarnation is the way to nirvana (more commonly called moksha), a reuniting with Brahman, the universal god or universal soul. I asked Dale if he believed in reincarnation and wanted to get to nirvana. He said yes. I added that most people want to go to heaven, paradise, or nirvana. The big difference is how we get there. Jesus said He is the way.
As we think about answering this objection, we should note Jesus didn’t say He was a way to God, but the only way to God in John 14:6:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Such a claim is either totally true or totally false. Additionally, Peter, in speaking to an exclusively Jewish audience in Acts 4:12, affirmed Jesus as the only way to salvation:
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
The way to God is narrow (Matthew 7:13-14) and exclusive. Yet the beauty of the gospel is the inclusiveness of its message:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
If Christianity is true, then we must accept all of Jesus’ teachings. He doesn’t give us the option to pick and choose.
In explaining and defending the exclusive nature of Jesus and the gospel message in addressing this objection, it’s certainly healthy to ask the individual raising the objection their view on the matter.
We might ask, “Well, tell me how you think we get to God and why you believe that?” Remember, defending one’s worldview or giving an apologia, is not exclusive either. In other words, the one you are speaking with must be held to the same standard as you, defending what they believe and why they believe it.
In having faith conversations with people, we may make valid and powerful points articulating and defending our view. But sometimes in asking others to articulate their own view, our question may reveal a lack of clarity on their part as to why they hold to such a position of antagonism and thus create doubt.
And this doubt about their own position may be a tool the Holy Spirit uses to draw them to the truth that Jesus is the way!
A tremendous book that details the absolute claims of Jesus and the Christian message is Christ Among Other gods: A Defense of Christ in an Age of Tolerance by Erwin W. Lutzer.
It’s a book that can strengthen your faith on the matter and may be used as a resource in sharing with others grappling with the issue of exclusivity.
May the Lord grow our witness in articulating powerful and clear answers to this hot button objection that reflects the heart of many today who have not yet met Jesus.
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).