Essay 59
(2-7-05)
IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY WAY TO
GOD?
That was the true Light which gives light to every person who comes
into the world. – John 1:9
That passage from John 1:9 alone should give us pause if we have an
exclusive view of the Christian faith. The Light that has come into the
world – which the darkness could not apprehend – is the Christ, who is
more than what we call “Christianity,” That Light – by virtue of coming
into the world (and apart from any human initiative) -- has put some light
into every soul that is born into this world.
That means there is something of the light of Christ in every Buddhist,
every Muslim, every Hindu, every pagan, and every atheist. Even every
Hitler, every Nero, every Osama bin Laden, every terrorist. The light may
not always break through – except perhaps in a tormented conscience (until
it is seared!) – But it is nonetheless there.
But the light sometimes – perhaps often – breaks through. The judgment
scene in Matthew 25:31f, clearly shows that some will be blessed for
serving Christ who never knew they were serving him – apparently having
never heard of him. They fed, clothed, ministered to, and visited Christ
in prison when they showed such mercy to others. When they were blessed
and invited to enter the eternal kingdom, they asked, “Lord, when did we
see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?” The answer
came back that they did it to Christ when they did it to others.
This is a mind-expanding truth for those of us who may have too narrow a
view of the openness of God. These blessed souls were obviously not
“Christians,” for they didn’t even know they were serving Christ. This
amazing judgment scene welcomes pagans into the eternal kingdom – because
they responded to such light of Christ as they had. As pagans they showed
what God most honors – mercy. God may not care whether they are Baptists
or Buddhists if they “Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God”
(Micah 6:6).
Add to this the remarkable statement by Paul in Philip. 2:10 that “At the
name of Jesus every knee should bow . . and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father.” Is every
Buddhist knee to bow to Christ? Is every Hindu tongue to confess that
Jesus is Lord? While we can’t be sure what context the apostle has in
mind, it is apparent that to him the impact of Christ upon humanity is of
cosmic proportion.
It was no less the case when the gospel message first broke from the
confines of its Jewish context. The apostle Peter was overwhelmed to see
that God’s saving grace reached out – not to the Jews only – but to the
whole pagan world: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But
in every nation whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted by
him” (Acts 10:34-35).
It could hardly be plainer. Whoever – in whatever nation or circumstance –
reverences God (in reference to such knowledge he has of him) and does
what is right (according to the light of his conscience) is accepted by
God. Such ones may not be in covenant relationship with God, but they are
“accepted” by him.
Would this not be true of any Iraqi (Muslim), or Indian (Hindu) or
Japanese (Buddhist)? If they honor God in their lives, and do what is
right – walking by such light God has given them – they are acceptable to
God. It was a staggering truth to Peter with all his exclusiveness. It may
be equally staggering to us. This is because our parochialism blinds us to
the magnanimity of God.
Paul alludes to this light that God reveals to all nations and all
religions – who may be beyond the pale of Christianity -- in Acts
14:16-17: “God in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their
own ways. Nevertheless he did not leave himself without witness, in that
he did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our
hearts with food and gladness.”
This is parallel to Acts 17:30 where Paul tells pagans in Athens that
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men
everywhere to repent.” The “allowing” or the “overlooking” refers to God’s
patience and longsuffering, but the coming of even greater light – the
light of the gospel – called for repentance.
But the call for repentance is implied in Acts 14:17, for in giving
witness of his presence – in the good things of nature – God is calling
for the response of the human heart. It is akin to Paul’s searing words in
Rom. 2:4: “Do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and
longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to
repentance?”
These two discourses in Acts 14 and 17 are the only ones in Acts given by
Paul to pagan audiences. In them both he makes it clear that God reaches
out and bears witness of his glory and goodness to pagans as well as Jews.
It is also clear that God expects them to respond – in faith and
repentance – to such witness (testimony of his presence in their lives) as
he gives them. Even before the gospel reaches them – the ultimate motive
for repentance – they were to turn from idols to serve the living God, as
the pagans in Thessalonica had done (1 Thess. 1:9).
The apostle explains that some pagans made this response even though they
were “without the law” – by obeying “the law written in their hearts.” He
goes on to say that some of them will therefore be “excused” in the day
when God judges the secrets of men (Rom. 2:15-16).
In view of such openness on the part of God, it is not surprising that we
would find some of his truth in the great religions of the world beside
Christianity. And it is a saying worthy of all acceptation that wherever
there is truth it is God’s truth. If there is truth in the Koran, it is as
much God’s truth as truth that is found in the Bible. This is because all
truth is of God. And God’s truth is God’s truth wherever it is found –
even when quoted by Satan himself!
A current news item illustrates this. A judge in Yemen – which is
notorious for its terrorism (Remember the Cole!) – decided to take on some
of the incarcerated terrorists, who were devoted Muslims, in a theological
debate. Armed with copies of the Koran, he made the prisoners a daring
proposition. If they could defend their actions by the Koran, he would set
them free. But if he showed them that the Koran teaches that their
terrorist behavior was wrong, they would change their ways.
The judge was a good listener. He listened one by one to the Muslim
militants as they tried to support their position by the Koran, which they
professed to follow. They couldn’t. Then the judge kindly turned to one
passage after another that taught Muslims not to attack civilians, to
respect other religions, and to fight only in self defense – and under no
circumstance are women and children to be killed!
One passage he read from the Koran seemed to have struck home: “Whoever
kills a soul, unless for a soul, or for corruption done in the land – it
is as if he had slain all mankind entirely.”
He has converted so many of the terrorists that it has received
international attention, and they have assisted in hunting down leading
terrorists. Security authorities in several European countries – as well
as our own State Department – have invited him to share his new approach!
The judge is of course a good Muslim, and he is showing some fellow
Muslims that they have it wrong. And from their own sacred writings!
Are the truths the judge read from the Koran from God?
We find some of the same thing in the teaching of Buddha. His “Four Noble
Truths” have to do with recognizing that human suffering is the universal
problem of life, and that it is caused by selfish desires. And the “Noble
Eightfold Path” – right understanding, right purpose, right speech, right
conduct, right mode of livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and
right concentration – is the way to joyous fulfillment.
If there is truth here, is it not from the Maker of heaven and earth, the
giver of all truth?
A few years back I gave a lecture to educators in Ukraine. I pointed out,
borrowing from Hans Kung, that unity among nations can be realized only by
a unity of world religions. But not the doctrines of those religions, but
their ethics – their morality.
I pointed out that all humanity can unite upon one ethical principle,
which is found in all religions in one form or another – the Golden Rule.
In Confucianism it is expressed negatively – “Do not do to others what you
would not want them to do to you” – but it is nonetheless there.
Is the Golden Rule a truth from God? Isn’t it still the Golden Rule
wherever it appears?
I started out asking if Christianity is the only way to God. Strictly
speaking, no religion is the way to God. It is the humble and contrite
heart – which is the essence of religion – that is the way to God. As
Christians we can believe that Christ is the way – the only way – to God,
and yet believe that Christ reaches beyond Christianity.
But whoever is saved – whether the saints of the Old Testament (who were
not Christians) or honest and good hearts among pagans – it will be only
because of Christ, who died for every person. It is not any religion that
saves us, but God’s mercy.
And who are we to set limits on God’s mercy?
[TOP].