1/21/96

I’ve selected a rather difficult but interesting topic for this morning.

I’d like us to consider the question -- What about other religions?

It’s a question that I’m often asked -- therefore something many people think about.

The difficult part is that I like to share with you various theories on a subject, and

then tell you were I come down on an issue.

But I like to be liked, and there’s no way that we all will agree on today’s issue.

My approach is a typically moderate approach therefore-offends people on both sides

Margaret Thatcher -- The problem with standing in the middle of the road is that

you get hit from both directions.   -when did Margaret Thatcher ever stand in the middle

I think it’s interesting to consider what various people think about an issue.

ILL. I attended a seminar last Fall, the presenter talked about 4 separate approaches

to a topic, and he described each of them.  3  out of 4 respectfully.  1-condescending

So, I hope I won’t be guilty of that.

The topic of other religions is a relevant topic, for American has become a religiously,

diversified nation.

Years ago is wasn’t that way.

But today in America we have more Moslems than we do Methodists.

In fact, there are 4 times as many Moslems as there are congregationalists.

The fastest growing faith in our inner cities today is Islam.

That’s why Louis Farakan has become so well known. --why he’s a leader . . .

There are today in American more Moslems than there are Jews.  7 mil to 6 mil

When we talk about other religions we are talking about at least 2/3s of the world.

What about the people of other faiths?

Do they know God?     Do they know God as well as we do?

Will they get to heaven?   Are all religions the same?

Let’s look at two passages together to give us some help with these questions.

ACTS 17:16   (p. 964)

Paul -- great evangelist of the early church, Jew, Rabbi by training, converted many

In Athens--his goal is to tell people about the good news of Christ, I like his style

Please read the passage:  17:16-18    skip 19-21

Please read the passage:   22-28

I would summarize Paul’s

strategy this way:

1. He knew there beliefs -he quotes their religious poets.  He knew their religion.

2. He built a bridge-he looked for what he had in common with them & affirmed it.

3.  He presented the uniqueness of Christ to them.

So, he is respectful, affirming, kind, and uniquely Christian.

I believe that’s where we need to be.

That’s how we need to dialogue with people of different faiths.

But what about the religions themselves?

Do other religions contain divine truth?   I believe they do.

Do people of other faiths know God & have a relationship with God.

 I believe that many do.

There are basically three main camps when it comes to viewing other religions.

1. The All Religions Are Created Equal Camp.

2.  The Unique, Special Revelation Camp.

3. The Only Revelation Camp.

In the theological sense, revelation does not refer to the book of Rev.,

But rather it means, does a religion reveal the truth about God?

A revelation is a revealing -- of God’s character, God’s will & God’s ways.

Is Christianity the only religion that reveals God?

The Only Revelation Camp would say, "YES."

Christ is the only way.

We have the only true, accurate picture of God.  Other religions are false.

Now, the "All Are Created Equal Camp" would strongly disagree with this.

This group believes in what theologians call  "Common Revelation."

Which means that God’s truth can be found in all kinds of places & certainly in

other religions.

In fact, they would say that all religions present equally valid ways to God.

Some in this camp sometimes don’t delve into the uniqueness of each religion,

they focus instead on what they all have in common.

There are central messages in all the great religions that seek to unite us to

God & to one another.

-for instance the golden rule-found in most of great religions of the world.

Others, however, in this camp, enjoy & celebrate the uniqueness of each religion,

and would say:

"Jesus is one of many ways to God."

"He is

our Messiah, but there are other ways that are equally valid & true

The folks in the middle camp focus on the uniqueness of Christ and would say that

he presents the clearest revelation of God that the world has ever seen.

Other religions are filled with wonderful truths about God, but Christ is the ultimate

decisive word on the subject.

So, do you see the three camps?

Common Revelation. -- they’re all equally valid & true

Special Revelation-Christianity is the unique & clearest revelation of God

Only Revelation camp -- Christianity is the only true revelation of God. You can

probably tell which camp I am in.

I’m not in the "Christianity is the only way" camp.

ILL. Our Book Club is presently reading-- Who Needs God by Rabbi Harold Kushner.

ILL. When I applied for the position of pastor of this church I sent a video tape of 3 sermons.

One of them was on one of the 10 Commandments.

In the sermon I told a story about two monks on a journey.

It was a pretty good story, & it really made the point of the sermon come alive.

What I did not mention in the sermon that the 2 monks were actually Buddhists monks.

In seminary we study world religions & I came across this great story about 2 monks.

And it’s a story that reveals divine truth.

So, I’m not in the Only Way camp.

But I’m also not in the "All Ways are the Same’ camp."

I want to hold on to the uniqueness of Christ, the incarnation of God.

The ministry of Jesus along with his Cross & Resurrection give the world a

unique & wonderful picture of God’s love, a picture that I believe is unparalleled

and without equal.

ILL. The president of Princeton Seminary Dr. James McCord, used the analogy of

planets revolving around the sun.

And how planets spin off from the star that they revolve around.

Christianity is one of many planets revolving around this person that we call God.

There are other planets out there, & there’s definitely some good ones.

But I believe that Christianity is the closest to the sun.

I don’t feel that that’s an intolerant position.

I was reading Eli Wiesel -- brilliant Jewish author & a true man of faith.

And he said that Moses was the greatest man who ever lived.

I don’t take offense at that.

If we were to ask someone of the Islamic faith, they would say -- Mohammed.

A Buddhist --tough question ( Buddha within you)

But the point is, one need not be offended if I say that Jesus of Nazareth is the

greatest man who ever lived, and the one who I believe reveals most clearly God’s will.

There's one other passage that we have to look at, just briefly.

It’s John 14: 1-6  (p. 938)

Vs. 6 is the favorite verse of the "Christ is the Only Way" camp.

In fact, it’s what Christ says that causes the difficulty.

"I am the way. No one comes to the Father but through me."

What folks in my camp say about this verse is this:

"Jesus says that he is the way to know God as Father, as a loving parent.

"People of other religions may know God in a general sense & in ways that are very

real and meaningful to them.

But Christians know God as a loving parent.

Christians can enjoy an intimate, personal relationship with God, because of Christ.

And Christians can have the assurance of going to the Father’s house because of Christ.

Do people of other religions get to the Father’s house?

I certainly think so.

ILL. Let me close by telling you Billy Graham’s opinion on today’s topic.

Billy was on Larry King Live one nite on CNN.  --asked about other rel.

Billy said, "People will be judged based on the teachings of their own religion.

People can only be faithful to the light they have received.

That’s how people before Christ were saved, & how people who have never heard of

Christ can still go to the Father’s house.

However, said Mr. Graham, what ultimately saves people is what Christ has done for

them on the Cross.

Christ truly did die for the whole world.

Or, has a priest friend of mine once said, "Some people are going to get to heaven and

be surprised that it’s Jesus of Nazareth who got them there."

Well, that’s enough food for thought for one day.

Each camp has something important to teach us though.

One camp preaches tolerance and inclusiveness.

Another camp urges us to have the assurance of salvation, of knowing that we’re going

to the Father’s house.

And the camp in the middle lifts up the uniqueness of Jesus, the Christ.

Let’s close in pray.

 Lord, if what I have shared is faithful to your word and to your will, then implant

these truths deep in our hearts. And if what I have shared is unfaithful to you, then

remove them completely from our minds and memory.  Lord, make us a people who

are supremely kind and uniquely Christian. I pray this in Christ’s name.  Amen.

Rich Knight