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Is there one way to God? Part 2: "It depends on your perspective . . ."

An Introduction

I had began a series on the question "is there one way to God?" and this post has been long overdue. It is a second part following up on Part 1. In the first part, I had given the cultural context that the dilemma in asking this question finds itself in. In summary, our postmodern context seems to reduce the fundamentals of a given worldview and strongly appeals to emotion.



That is why it is commonplace in our culture to say things like "you only live once" or in dissecting moral issues, "what's right for you may be wrong for me." It is such responses that form the basis of a relativistic view on reality and life. In this post we shall analyze such a worldview and see how it is at odds with understanding the biblical message.

Aren't you being too exclusive?

We are living in a world and continent that is globalizing. Despite the fact that there are some nuances towards the perspectives and applications of globalization within an African context, even as the OECD observer notes, it is a reality that has an effect on our socialization. Whereas some may look at it from only an economic perspective, globalization has a direct impact towards culture, ethics and even religious life. Africa as a global village therefore has a conglomeration of ideas, thoughts and religions, more so within urban spaces. The question of one way to God is usually asked when one considers the diversity of religions such as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism among others. Hence, saying "Jesus is the only way" is usually seen as an insult to other religions, in the opinion of some, Christians being termed as exclusivist.

We are all exclusive . . . 

In spite of their similarities, these religions have foundational ideas that automatically exclude the others. For instance, Islam holds that Jesus Christ is only a prophet whereas Christianity holds that Jesus Christ besides being a Prophet, Priest and King, is God. Likewise, modern Judaism disapproves the idea that Jesus Christ is the messiah whereas the New Testament scriptures reveal Jesus as the messianic figure envisioned in the Old Testament. Buddhism places its idea of "salvation" (nirvana) on quenching the passions while Christianity understands the passions arising from the sin nature: Point is that holding to one belief system consequently excludes the others.

       "Holding on to one belief system consequently excludes the others "

On the other extreme, an atheist or agnostic may denounce religion as being too arrogant to offer a solution to the human predicament. In thinking this way, they place themselves above religion hence ironically displaying their arrogance.[1] In summary, quoting Dr. Tim Keller, Vern Poythress quips 'We are all exclusive in our beliefs about religion, but in different ways.'[2] Therefore, we are all exclusive in different ways.

The solution?



The task then remains to let the biblical claims to speak for themselves. Some of the main claims that the bible make are: 
  • that God loves humanity and provides a way for its restoration.
  • that humanity's idea about life and reality is distorted as a result of sin.
  • that Jesus Christ as both God and man provides a bridge between the two.
  • that man and woman has to respond to this personal God.
Unfortunately, we all bring our own set of assumptions in our reading of the bible. However, when we let the bible speak for itself, we come to experience a restored vision of life, an abundant life and a joy that lasts. It is this joy that C. S. Lewis pursued in his formerly atheistic worldview but found it in God.[3] John and Paul the Apostles also paint this picture of the full life in Christ (John 6:35-36, 10:10, Philippians 1:21). The exclusivity of the Christian worldview includes all who are willing to put their faith in this creator and redeemer God. It is inclusive to all races, all tribes, noblemen and commoner alike. The vision of Christianity is for all people, under-girded by precepts of the author and creator of human beings themselves. After all, it is usual that a designer has the manual of how a masterpiece watch should operate and not the other way around, no matter our emotional appeal. This manual in the form of the bible is a trustworthy source of objective truth and life.

-----------------


[1] Vern Poythress, Inerrancy and Worldview: Answering Modern Challenges to the Bible (Wheaton IL: Crossway, 2012), 20
[2] Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Scepticism (New York: Dutton, 2008), 13
            [3] C. S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy (GB: HarperCollins, 2002)

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