Christian faith and religious tolerance
In recent days the issue of religious tolerance and diversity has been playing centre stage on most affairs of our time. For example: On national day prayer meetings and worship services, political leaders and dignitaries gather in worship and prayers and representatives of various religion assigned to lead in prayers in tailored sequence. This also happened after 9/11. The new religious America demands new paradigm regarding the expression of faith. In the name of diversity of religion, there is a fresh call for tolerance and ecumenism. Emphasis here is that all gods are to be treated equal. Such worship upholds God but excludes Jesus Christ. No one cares to ask- which God? The concept here is that all religion led to the same God. How true is that? The only-way-Jesus does not fit into this new religious order. Whatever tradition that appears to express supremacy over another is excluded. Whatever pre-eminence Jesus holds over other gods is stripped and denied, just to “get along” with the plurality of gods and alternative faith; or-else named intolerance and insensitive.
If you could pause and ask, “Why do the coalitions of other religion conspire to exclude the name Jesus? Is it just to push Him out of the track or to discredit his supremacy and bring all to a level ground? Can Jesus really be denied of what he paid for with His blood? I just doubt. It’s not about what the coalition of other religion agree to do or not to do. It’s about what God had predestined and His answer or solution to man’s problem of sin. Joseph M. Stowell, author of: ‘The trouble with Jesus’ wrote, “Jesus is exclusive in His claim that He’s the only solution for man’s sin problem and the only way to God. And that indeed He is God. Jesus is the central issue that separates Christianity from Hindus, Muslim, Jews, New age adherents and advocates of any other form of religion. His claim is unique.” He said, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE: no man cometh to the Father but by Me [John 14:6]. Of course no other religious leader made such claim. Luke, the Physician reaffirmed, “There’s no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved [Acts 4:12]. Anne Graham Lotz was quoted to have put it juicy on Moody broadcasting’s National Program – OPEN LINE: “Jesus is the only way, but He’s not exclusive. He welcomes all to His offer of eternal life. No one is excluded at the cross.” [Heb.2:9b]. Indeed, this is awesome.
The scriptures recognize that many gods exist. The first commandment warns, “You shall have no other gods before Me” [Exodus 20:3].This is no suggestion but a commandment. Apostle Paul reiterated, “Even though there be so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth called gods and lords, yet there is for us only one God, the Father who is the creator of all things and for whom we live, and there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created and through whom we live.” He further urged Christians “to flee from idolatry.”[I Corth.8:5-6; 10:14].
Among all religious leaders, Jesus Christ is the only one who had a permanent solution to man’s moral problem. He died on the cross and defeated death through His resurrection. We can stake our faith on a number of things, but we believe that the Resurrection is the best place; the Resurrection is our sign and hope. This event has an exceptionally well documented historical fact. To attempt to equate Jesus with other gods is considered world’s wisdom and vileness. Jesus is not in any competition or claims equality with, but rather He’s distinct from and above all other gods. Through the resurrection He was undeniably affirmed as Lord and God. [John 20:28; Acts 2:36].
The problem of downsizing the God of the bible to equal other gods is not new. Both the prophets of old and New Testament disciples faced this odd. Moses warmed the children of Israel to decease from religious diversity. Prophet Isaiah revealed there’s none like Him among all gods. Prophet Elijah at Mount Carmel proved the same truth when he confronted the Baal worshippers: “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him [1Kings 18:21]. The rest is now history. To the Colossians, Paul declared: “Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God ….through Him and for Him God created everything visible and invisible…; holds all creation together. Christ is the head of the Church. He’s the first of all those who will rise from dead. The invisible God live in Christ and by Him reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and earth, through His blood on the cross” [Col.1:15-20]. These valid credentials testify to the supremacy of Jesus Christ.
Christians are “called out people” from the crowd to proclaim the new life in Christ. Neither interfaith worship service nor secularization of religion shall diminish Christians’ claim that Jesus is Lord and Messiah. On a positive note, interfaith worship offers Jesus’ servants’ rare privilege to reveal the mysteries of God’s grace in times of unexpected crises and fear, as uncertainty overshadows hope. The Messiah is sought to restore hope and comfort. It occasioned God’s work to triumph in the midst of calamities and paganism. Paganism describes “a society that embraces a wide-open spirituality, with a multiplicity of gods and no central moral authority.”
Today, some people are mad when a Christian declares that Jesus is the only way or prays in Jesus name. They’re quick to describe Christians as intolerant and insensitive. But it was the magnanimity of the Christian foundation that gave other religion freedom and liberty to practice their belief. “The American democratic system did not spring from Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto or Moslem traditions. Christian ideals and doctrines offer the environment supportive of freedom of speech and religion among others. The bible, not the Koran, Vedas, Tripitika or other so-called holy books, is the source of the nation’s philosophy on the value of mankind and how they treat one another and be governed.” This is the height of religious tolerance. Today, this moral code book –the Holy Bible, is no longer tolerated in public places. Christian prayers, Bible studies and Jesus name had been kicked out of schools by those who had hugely benefited from them.
The painful irony is that Christians do not frown at people of other religion for upholding their confession. We believe that our confession is true and the centrality of our faith; so we keep it clear and strong. Tolerance is not to compromise the truth or equate every idea/ claim. We must proclaim your faith, for most people by huge margin come to Christ through the witness of another person. Jesus assures, all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth; go invest yourself in others, who in turn will do the same. As many as adhere, He promise His presence always, even to the end of age.
. “We are living in a time where sensitivities are at the surface. You can practice anything as long as you do not claim that one is a better way. You can hold anything as long as you do not proclaim Jesus Christ publicly, it’s right.” Our confession: Jesus is the only WAY; the TRUTH AND LIFE as well as LORD and GOD stand firm. “To say every religion is true is to say that no religion is true. This is neither intolerance nor insensitive but the truth. “If early Christians endured martyrdom, would we not endure unpopularity?”
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.