There Can’t Be Just One True Religion

Sure there can. There is only one answer for many things despite our best efforts to prove otherwise.

Here is the way I see it – yes, as a Christian by way of inheritance*. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (esv). Jesus didn’t say He was ONE of the ways or A way. He said THE way.

Jesus made provisions for all nations and not just one people. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20a. He didn’t come to establish a religion for a single culture. He came to save everyone.

Jesus commissioned more than one person and more than one type of person to spread His Good News. I recently read Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur. I devoured it. It shows how Jesus didn’t choose amazing men to follow Him. He picked ordinary, hopelessly flawed individuals – which gives me hope.

Jesus also chose Paul the Apostle who wrote: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul represented Jewish religious power and authority. He was a great speaker, unlike Peter. He was well-educated. He spent time on both sides, he persecuted the early Christians and he was persecuted.

These are the men Christ chose. And He also called people like me. Can I tell you the number of times I was not chosen to be on a team? Can I tell you the number of times that I was not accepted? Can I tell you the number of times it was pointed out to me that I didn’t belong, that I was a waste of space, that I was a loser? Or that I didn’t have the skills, talent, education, personality, character necessary. But Jesus chose me.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are. 1 Corinthians 1:25-28

Simplify. Jesus is the way. He chose His followers to spread His story to everyone else. We are Plan A. There is no Plan B. In some respects we have succeeded – Christianity is prolific. In many respects we have failed – inquisition, Holocaust. Heck, many people find Christians to be very UnChristian. Good grief. I agree.

But it is not about me, or us, or any of us. It is all about Jesus. And many self-described atheists like Jesus. If the Christ-followers, myself included, were more Christ-like, we would be a force to be reckoned with.

And this is what gets me – they like Jesus. They like what He stands for. They like what He preached. They like His style. They think He is a great preacher, teacher and prophet. But they also believe Him to be a liar. Contradictory in my opinion.

I realize that this rambling stream-of-consciousness. I realize that I’m not about to convince a skeptic with my Bible-based logic. But I am remembering how I got here and why I stay here. But if I am gonna stay here. I need to do a better job as a Christ-follower. I cannot complain about the state of things, if I am not willing to work for change.

We require oaths out of thirteen year-olds and are surprised when they are unable to keep them. What adult succeeds?

*I am a Christian and I am raising my children as Christian. My parents are Christian. Their parents were Christian. Their grandparents were Christian. We can trace our Christianity back many generations. I pray that we can watch our children and grandchildren pass our beliefs forward into the future.