This is the third of four posts responding to questions I often get asked as a Christian: “Who do you think you are? How do you know you’re right? Can every other religion be wrong?”
While I believe the “clash of civilizations” theory is over-wrought, there is unquestionably greater religious tension and persecution today than has been the case in many of our lifetimes. Having lived in Africa, I know first-hand how such tension can erupt into violence.
A common Western answer to this problem is promoting “tolerance.” The unstated but implicit assumption is that tolerance can only be based on a worldview that denies any sense of ultimate truth. If all truth is relative and a matter of culture or personal choice, then all religions are simply taking different paths up the same mountain—with all belief systems ultimately arriving at the same place, tolerance can reign supreme.
But is this an accurate description of reality, or even logical? Look at this passage in Hebrews:
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Hebrews 1:1-3)
Buddha…Mohammed…many world religions have key prophets, and could agree with the first part of this verse. But no other world religion has the audacity to claim their prophet is God in the flesh. An absolute core conviction of Christians is the deity of Jesus Christ—he was not only a messenger of God, but God incarnate, God in human flesh—100% human but also 100% God.
The Jewish faith does not accept this—it is the height of blasphemy to the Jew. Islam does not accept this—the fact that Allah, who is distant and aloof from the world, would enter the world and then die as a human being is inconceivably abhorrent to the Muslim. Are these inconsequential differences? No. They are fundamental. Either Jesus is God or he is not. Someone must be wrong.
Or consider another basic premise of most world religions: “do these works—follow this way of life—and you will gain favor with God.” Christianity is 180 degrees opposite, for it proclaims there are no works you can do to achieve favor with God—just trust God, ask for forgiveness, and it’s yours for free.
Most world religions say, “Do this.” Christianity says, “It’s been done for you.” In most religions, you will never know…and can never know…if you’ve done enough to merit God’s favor. Christianity offers an assurance of God’s favor based on what GOD (not us) has done.
Could these two diametrical approaches both be true? One is based on the premise that salvation depends on what humans can or must do. Another is based on the premise that salvation depends on that humans recognizing they can do nothing. Someone must be wrong.
But while truth has become relative for many in Western society, something else has happened concurrently. Although Christianity is growing rapidly in many other parts of the world, it has lost much of its institutional and cultural power in the West.
This actually frees Christians from the institutional power many of our neighbors have resented about us. There are so many people around us today who have rejected Christianity—not because they tested it and found it lacking—but because they could not stand the institutional package in which it came to them.
Now things are different. Now we Christians are increasingly out on the margins with everyone else. We are just one option in the great marketplace of belief systems available today. Our case for the truth of the gospel will have to be made with more humility…and with a genuine desire to serve and listen to others.
In other words, we need to start where they are, rather than where we are. I think this is a good thing. The best way to answer, “Who do you think you are?” is with a humble heart to listen and serve.
