The only way (1-800-JESUSCHRIST)

Let's say I gave you my phone number and you tried to call me, but you didn't dial the number I gave you. Would you still expect the call to go through to me? Of course not.

Would you say it's unfair, mean, or offensive of me to expect you to call me on that specific number? What if you believed another number might work? If you dialed the wrong number, would you be right in saying, "How mean and judgmental of you to not accept my phone call! If you were fair, you would have answered my call." That's ridiculous, right?

Let's say you talk to my friends and ask about my phone number. They confirm my specific number, the same I gave you. But you get angry. You're furious at my friends for thinking your number inferior. You say to them, "How can you say that your number is more accurate than the one I dialed?! How arrogant of you to think you know the truth! My number is as good as anyone's." On top of that, you erroneously accuse my friends of using an arbitrary number to pretend to talk to me.

Unfortunately, this is how some people treat God. God has clearly revealed himself in the Bible, because he wants to be known. He wants you to give him a call. In John 14:6 Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." God has given you his number. It's called 1-800-JESUSCHRIST

Don't say God hasn't been clear. Don't say his number is unknowable. Don't say he's offensive for insisting you come to him by the way he laid out.

An hour ago I heard a professed Christian deny that Jesus is the only way. He refused to confirm Jesus' words about him being the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through him. He was afraid of being labeled a bigot. He was afraid of what other people thought of him. He clearly lacked faith to believe that Jesus really is the only way. He just denied Christ.

This is what I had to repent of, too. I used to adhere to religious etiquette to the "T". My justification was that I didn't want to offend anyone. But one day Pastor Bruce told me something that really convicted me. He said that when you keep the truth to yourself so you won't be ridiculed, you're not loving people, you want them to love you. The truly selfless thing to do would be to confront in love and humility, and accept whatever abuse might come your way as a result. You know they might hate you for it, but your love is greater than the fear of retaliation. That's real love.

Either Jesus is the Truth or he's not! What a pointless faith to half-heartedly believe only some things about Jesus. You know, like "Jesus is great, but he's not the only way". Either he is everything he claimed to be, or nothing. To claim Jesus as your Lord, but accept other faiths is ridiculous. Either Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, or not.
To accept other faiths as valid is a complete failure to grasp Christ's clear claims of exclusivity. He clearly claimed to be the exclusive truth, he has forced the issue, so you must either completely reject him or completely accept him. There is no middle ground.

This last fall, one of my students asked me, "Do you accept people of other faiths?" I answered, "More than that, I love them!" Yes, I love people of other faiths, and so should you. But that doesn't mean that I agree with them. I can and must still steadfastly hold to Jesus being the only way.

Oh and by the way, God says for you to call him. His number is 1-800-JESUSCHRIST